Tech 500 rd?
02-19-21 | 08:43 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Long time part timer
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 228
Likes: 200
Tech 500 rd?
Greetings,
I was looking around in the boneyard for a rear derailleur and found this one: a TECH 500. I have never heard of this derailleur and web searches came up empty except for one passing BF reference on a 2013 post. To me, it appears to be at the lower end of the RD spectrum. Being a curious type I thought I'd ask if anyone here knows anything about this brand.
The bike is a late 70's Kent Diplomat with a 14-28T 5spd Falcon Freewheel.
Many thanks!
I was looking around in the boneyard for a rear derailleur and found this one: a TECH 500. I have never heard of this derailleur and web searches came up empty except for one passing BF reference on a 2013 post. To me, it appears to be at the lower end of the RD spectrum. Being a curious type I thought I'd ask if anyone here knows anything about this brand.
The bike is a late 70's Kent Diplomat with a 14-28T 5spd Falcon Freewheel.
Many thanks!
02-19-21 | 12:27 PM
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 2,921
Likes: 1,786
From: Long Island, NY
Bikes: Trek 800 x 2, Schwinn Heavy Duti, Schwinn Traveler, Schwinn Le Tour Luxe, Schwinn Continental, Cannondale M400 and Lambert, Schwinn Super Sport
It looks similar to the Falcon and SunRace rear derailleurs. Yes, it is bottom end, however, this design seems to work acceptably if nothing is bent. Just my opinion.
02-19-21 | 01:53 PM
#3
Patina Avoider
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,272
Likes: 1,067
From: Maryland, USA
Bikes: Drysdale/Gitane/Zeus/Masi/Falcon/Palo Alto/Vitus
Looks Larky to me; then again, so many derailleurs do.
__________________
Larry:1958 Drysdale, 1961 Gitane Gran Sport, 1974 Zeus track, 1988 Masi Gran Corsa, 1974 Falcon, 1980 Palo Alto, 198? Vitus 979. Susan: 1976 Windsor Profesional.
Larry:1958 Drysdale, 1961 Gitane Gran Sport, 1974 Zeus track, 1988 Masi Gran Corsa, 1974 Falcon, 1980 Palo Alto, 198? Vitus 979. Susan: 1976 Windsor Profesional.
02-20-21 | 04:41 PM
#4
Thread Starter
Long time part timer
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 228
Likes: 200
Epilogue
I yanked the RD off the bike and gave it a once over. When I took the pulley wheels out and cleaned them I noticed this:
This plus the Falcon freewheel on the bike - along with a Falcon FD on it as well - I guess makes this one some sort of a Falcon variant. It is very similar in appearance to this Falcon model and the center/center measurement of the pulleys is the same:
Falcon SS derailleur (1st style) (disraeligears.co.uk)
I'm building a parts bin bike and this RD should do the trick capacity-wise so I'm going to give it a whirl.
Posting here for posterity in case anyone else ever finds one of these things and wonders what the heck it is
02-21-21 | 04:04 PM
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 143
Likes: 7
From: Hampton Roads
Bikes: Cannondales: '85 ST400, '86 SR800, '87 SM600
Ditto That
Yep, I've got one also though a long cage version. It was a replacement on a 84 Schwinn High Sierra I saved from the bone yard! Doubt I'll use it.
