Have any more?

I'd be honored to clean up some of your leftover grime bigbossman! :D Thanks for the help. And I won't thank that Bill guy until he wishes me a Happy Birthday tomorrow! :bday: I just hope I remember to do the same!

happy BIRTHDAY !

:beer:

I have a Simplex Criterium on my Gitane and it shifts just fine. No way I would ever be seen riding on a red label Prestige, though. I had one once on a Raleigh Grand Prix and it was a POS.

I like the looks of the Criterium, but would consider using a SX610 like Dirtdrop to save my original.

I still have the original Criterium from my '74 PX10. It worked fine until one of the pulleys split in two. I have a Campy NR on it now. I can't say it shifts any better. I'd rather have a Super LJ.

Thanks bigbossman! The Simplex Prestige RD arrived today. Onto the Gitane Mixte it will go.

I've one Simplex RD left - yours for the price of shipping. It is missing both jockey wheels. PM me if interested!!

I actually got one at the local bike kitchen for free, they were going to throw it out!
Both jockey wheels in "meh" condition, working but not a work of art.

Sorry to bring up this old thread, but I found some period (70's) literature that says when Gitane couldn't get enough derailleurs from Simplex, they would use Sun Tour models instead! (the reccomendation in the book, is to buy the Sun Tour Gitanes if you can find them).
So if you're worried about keeping a Gitane authentic, you shouldn't feel too guilty about switching the simplex out for a sun tour. Or if you find a Gitane which already has Sun Tour components, it may just be one of those off-day ones that came from the factory that way.
Thought somebody might find this info interesting.

I will vouch for the statement that Gitane did use SunTour derailleurs on some of their lower end bikes. Tour de France models all had Simplex due to the Simplex dropouts and Super Corsas used Campagnolo. I had a SunTour equipped Gran Sport Deluxe many years back.

As far as replacement jockey wheels go-Can those generic ones be used? I think I have some and I will check later to see if they fit.

I used some jockey wheels from an old SunTour to replace the broken ones in the Simplex Criterium on my PX10.

Thanks for the answer on the TdF's. I was just going to ask what they did about the unthreaded Simplex derailleur hanger.

My Gitane Interclub I bought new in "72 had the red label RD - for a couple of years - then it broke and the shop sold me a Suntour that was still on it when I sold it about 10 years later. Gitane was also using Japanese cranks back then. Mine came with a Sugino.

Yet Another Simplex Fan
 

Hello, I am new to the Forum. I need exercise so I got my Motobécane Grand Touring out of my storage locker and started cleaning it up. IIRC, I upgraded it to a Criterium rear derailleur when I purchased it in the late 70's. I have the jockey wheels that have a ball bearing and metal wheel in the center which is overmolded with the plastic toothed wheel.

IAC, one of the wheels had the plastic overmold disintegrate into several pieces. The odd thing is that the other wheel seems to be fine. So, I also need a replacement wheel. I wonder how many people need these, or do they just buy new Asian derailleurs.

So, if somebody has a bucket of pieces I would be willing to at least pay the postage. More if it is in good condition.

Will also try the LBS for SunTour wheels.

I note that somebody on ebay is trying to sell the wheels for Prestige (which don't have ball bearings) 2 for +/- $15.00 plus postage from the UK. He probably isn't aware of the fact that VeloOrange is selling a whole derailleur for less. :)

VO also has a mostly metal one for $50. Which I may wind up buying.