I was trying this new 7 speed cassette (stuck on a 9 speed hub) on my Supercourse and noticing that the chainline was crap. Then I noticed that there was a lot of space between the small ring and the chainstay. I got to thinking, should I break down and buy a cotterless system (naw, costs money) steal the spindle out of my 3 speed (naw, I'm gonna put that bike back together some day).
What if I took the old 32 cog off the freewheel that came with the bike that I don't use any more and drill some holes in it and get some bolts and nuts and washers from Home Depot and stick that behind there.
WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?
Well, I spent at least an hour trying to get the chainrings true enough for the old derailler, then I realized that the derailler pivots were worn out (I was having shifting problems before I started this adventure). So I got a newer Shimano thing from a mountain bike that I parted out last year.
One of the bolt heads rubs on the chainstay. I'll have to grind them down a little.
The spacing is a little tight between middle and high. It's easier to shift from low straight to high and then drop back down. I'll have to play with some different washers.
Sometimes, when you shift from low straight to high, it just throws the chain right off the outside and it tangles in those huge accorn nuts I have there. Maybe the new derailler will help that? Any ideas?
There's a new squeek down there. Maybe a loose cotter, maybe that stack of nuts and washers is gonna be a problem.
It would look blingier if I took a nice chrome cog from a cassetts, the kind with 6 spokes and stuck it back there. It would almost look stock, like this one;
https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT
Took it for a ride tonight. I'm pretty happy with it. it's a 52/40/32. If I buy a shiny cog, I might go with a 34. I'll have to ride it some more before I decide.

I love it! Consider getting nuts and bolts from an auto parts store to replace those from the Depot, though - they're probably mild steel.

It looks like the FD is mounted a bit high. That and making sure the limit screw is adjusted properly should stop the dropped chain.

+1 A ghetto triple!

Ben,

You are a true craftsman! Great work.

"WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?"

Well, some campified all-alloy weight weenie might sneer a bit, but other than that, it looks totally cool to me. Or, do I mean, in spite of that? Or, mainly because of that? Dunno, but I think it's great!

I pulled a total-P-O-S MTB junker out of the trash a couple months ago to scrounge a couple items off it, such as brake levers and a few odd nuts and bolts, and afflicted by a sudden inspiration I grabbed the crank as well. It's a steel 28-38-48 ashtabula style boat anchor, rings riveted and swaged together, a total horror; but I believe there is enough metal on the 38T ring that with careful grinding and drilling I can fit it to the Stronglight 93 on my PX-10. I won't be making it a triple, but I thought the 38T might be more useful than the 45T on there now.

Consider getting nuts and bolts from an auto parts store.

Exellent idea.

It looks like the FD is mounted a bit high.

Yup, but if I lower it, it hits the chainstay or the RD cable. I need to think about that some.

You are a true craftsman! Great work.

Thanks! To quote Peter Pan, "Oh, the cleverness of Me!"

I won't be making it a triple, but I thought the 38T might be more useful than the 45T on there now.

Sounds good. I don't know exactly how usefull the 40 on mine is given the 14-34 freewheel that I have on it now, or the 12-34 cassette I have in mind for payday, but it does space things out better for the chainline.

Well, some campified all-alloy weight weenie might sneer a bit,

I've got a Nouvo Record RD with a homemade long cage to show them! Of course the steel 3 speed fenders won't help me.

"I've got a Nuovo Record RD with a homemade long cage to show them!" ...wow

I've done this myself. It worked like a charm, even used the old shifter too. It was on a Motobecane from the 70s.

Very clever!!

Make sure there are lock washers also. So the bolts don't constantly loosen from use.

I have to admit, I didn't make the long cage NR. It came on an old and much modified Allegro Special. But it has inspired me to push boundaries here and there

Looks like it's mounted high so the front derailleur clears the chainstay.

That's what he said!

Get some of that sray-on chrome plating (comes in a spray can). Remove and degrease the cog. Mask off the teeth. Spray with chrome plating.

It will be bit_chin! :-)

Will that spray chrome work on headlugs too?

I think St. Sheldon would approve!

Now that's a compliment!

I have a bud who did something similar with an SR crankset, and a 24 tooth sprocket from a freewheel, and it worked perfectly. He used stainless steel washers to space it properly, and as far as I know is still using the set-up today almost 25 years later. And, it looks good too. Great inventive thinking on your part that harkens back to the "golden" days of cycling!

I admire your can-do attitude!

And I love how much more onomatopoetic than "squeak" is

But why do I hear Sheldon Brown's voice in my head saying "one is meant to drive, the other, to be driven"?

"spray chrome"..LOL!