hi i've got two questions.

I have a limited knowledge about bikes as i'm learning, i'm trying to do up an old carlton touring bike 1979/80 5speed? or 10speed? (it has a 5 speed cassette but 10 options of gearing) for everyday use. i have just bought new wheels for it as the others were ruined but the rear wheel is a about 2mm too wide to fit in the drop outs, i can pop it in the drop outs relatively easily but i am concerned this might be bad for the frame, it's only ever so slightly too wide.

The other thing is that i need to get a new rear derailer for it as the other on is knackered after 30 years of use, it has a tooth missing on the cog. I've seen supposed 5 speed deraillers on ebay for about a fiver? is there a specific type i need? everything else is on the bike is original, apart from the wheels. I have also bought them with a cassette this time instead of a freewheel, will this make any difference to the derailleur?

Don't worry about 2mm. How may cogs on the cassette?

Hi noah,

It's a 5 speed cassette, it's a lot smaller than my old freewheel in terms of teeth on the largest of the cogs but the lower cogs are quite similar.

Find yourself an old Suntour derailleur and you'll be fine. Is the broken derailleur a Simplex Prestige?

It's a suntour, i'll keep an eye out for one on ebay for one. i have a shimano 6 speed derailleur i've just realised on an old bike someone gave me last year, it has the same attachment as my suntour to get it on the frame, would this work for the time being? it's in good condition, the suntour looks better though.

In a friction set-up, the Shimano should work fine.