I picked up a Gitane Gran Sport De Luxe Mixte thats all original and in great shape except for the rear derailleur. The cog teeth are 1/2 broken off on the pully wheels but it shifts through all the gears. I'd like to keep it all original "French". Is it worth repairing (anyone have any Simplex pully wheels or a busted up derailleur I can use for parts?) or should I just replace it with another derailleur? It's one of those black plastic ones so I know it's not worth much. Just saw one like it on ebay but if someone has something I can use PM me. Thanks...

I know you said "keep it all French", but go with a Suntour.

I used to save all the cheap Simplex derailluers that had broken jockey wheels - until I realized that it was damn near every one I saw. They are junk, and are either broken or waiting to break.

I had the same situation on an early seventies PX-10. I found the pulleys from an old SunTour derailleur in my parts box fit the Simplex Criterium derailleur perfectly.

Concur. Either replace the entire derailleur or just the jockey and tension wheels with SunTour.

The Simplex Prestige – which is probably what you’ve got here – actually shifts pretty well. If you’re determined to keep it French, I'd do the pulley wheel transplant. I’ve done it and a couple times to other people’s bikes and felt like it was a good fix.

There's a couple different types of Prestige, too. The ones with red labels are the absolute bottom-end; ones with white labels are of sturdier construction, and apart from the universal problem of peanut-brittle jockey wheels, they've never given me any trouble.

Geezzz, this is a step into the Wayback machine! The first bike part I ever bought was a Sun Tour V GT RD to replace the Simplex that came on my Atala. Nixon was President....
If you're going to ride this bike I'll agree with the 'replace with Sun Tour' bunch. But if you have to restore the Simplex I'll send you a jockey wheel.
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(who just scrounged a Huret Luxe Super Touring RD to keep his daughter's Ficelle 'all French'. And it needs a jockey wheel, too!

Which is the problem. Replacement wheels are hard to find, because most are already broken. And those that aren't will be soon......

We're suggesting using SunTour pulley wheels.

Ahhh.... maybe I learned something new today..... Forgive my ignorance, but Suntour jockey wheels work on Simplex units?

[Carson/on]
I did not know that......
[Carson/off]

Huret, too. Don't ask how I know that........
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Yeah, but it begs the question..... Why would I cannibalize a good Suntour RD to save a POS Simplex?

Velo-Orange has new Simplex low end models in stock for $13, can't beat it:

https://www.velo-orange.com/sisxde.html

I have not one, but two 5 gallon pails full of old Sun Tour, Simplex, Shimano, Falcon, Huret, ect low-end RDs.
Cannibalization just isn't an issue.
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(but I still need one of those toothless Huret wheels.....)

That's a great question... but sometimes ya just gotta have French. Plus, I have access to plenty of spent Suntour r derailleurs.

French - yes: fries, kiss, tickler, onion soup, drains

French - no: cars, foreign policy, derailleurs

Any questions?

I respectfully have to disagree... Simplex and Huret have made some pretty decent stuff. It is too bad that Simplex is so often judged by its most abundant but inferior product… the Prestige. My wife has some version of an LJ long cage on her Peugeot and I think it shifts very nicely. I’m about to throw a SX630 on my Woodrup. (And if you've got a long cage Jubilee you want to toss out, let me know. )

Well I'll buy them off of you.

What about those that have a stamped steel "SIMPLEX" front, with no label, same as those at Velo Orange?

-Kurt

TIOS,

I just got home and rooted through my parts bin. I have a complete Simplex red label RD that you can have, and I'll even pay for postage.

PM me with where to send it.

I have a Simplex SX610 from the '80s on my Gitane Tour de France. It wouldn't be on my favorite bike if I didn't like the way it shifts. I paid $10 for the last one I bought.

Wow,
This brings back memories of my 71 Dawes Galaxy with Simplex derailleurs. Replaced the rear with a SunTour V-GT, and the front with a Huret. Those parts eventually made their way over to my 56 Dawes Courier frame, where they still reside today... and still work fine, last I checked. That made me also remember my first helmet... a bright YELLOW MSR... weighed a ton and was hotter than ..... Great in the winter tho.

Pete

Wow, the turmoil I started with this simple thread! I just wanted to try to keep the bike original since that is what C&V is all about, right?! If the bike still didn't have what looks to be the original black cloth tape on it still then maybe I'd consider another derailleur. Glad I could get some useful knowledge thrown out there as mine is so limited in these regards.

Bigbossman, thanks for the RD offer. I think I'll take you up on that. I'll PM some sending info.

TIOS,

Don't thank me - thank Bill.

Oh.... just to be clear - it is complete and fully functional, but you get the joy of cleaning it...

Bill is keeping track of all whom you should thank, Mr. TIOS.