hello all,

I got an early 70's Peugeot the other day with the intentions on bringing it back to life. The chain and rear derailleur had years of dirt and grime buildup. After removal and cleaning off the filth I notice one of the jockeys was broken. After a quick internet search I learned two things: one is that these jockeys are notorious for breaking and two being that the replacements offered on ebay ask for an absurd amount of $40 for two jockeys. Does anyone know where I can get a replacement for cheap. Doesn't have to be simplex either, I am willing to substitute with suntour or other compatible jockeys.

Thanks

https://www.flickr.com/photos/56994630@N02/5328065237/

You might consider getting a replacement dérailleur. When the jockey wheels broke on my own similar unit, I found it cheaper to buy a (dusty) replacement from my local recyclery than to get new jockey wheels for the old dérailleur.

Yep, pick up a $2 Suntour Honor or something like that and pilfer the jockeys. I keep a stash of cheapo derailleurs just for spare parts. And do check carefully for cracks if your Simplex is of the plastic variety - it's no fun when they let go miles from home.

....use it instead. Anything would be an improvement over the Simplex Red Label RD. While you're at it, inspect the plastic mounting collar for the FD. It's probably cracked, too.

This is an example of the appearance of a common Simplex front derailleur failure. This one will likely fail soon...

The top one is the jockey pulley. The bottom one is the tension pulley. Just to make it confusing, both are idler pulleys.

Replace that derailer with something better. Most any derailer is better. I'm a fan of French bikes and French components, but not of the cheap Simplexes. The plastic has turned brittle and they're unreliable.

SunTour pulleys fit, but unless the derailleur is a derelict, the SunTour derailleur will be an improvement. (I know I'm piling on)

Avoid like the plague.

I have two plastic Simplex RDs, both are broken in some way. One had the plastic around the H/L adjustment screws crack and break off. The other had one of the pivots points gouged out by the spring resulting in total loss of tension.

The metal bushings in the pulleys also made some gouges.

Let me dangle the ones I rehabbed from the dump in front of ya'all. Can't wait to mount them and make them purr!

Thanks for the recommendations.
And Gran Bois thanks for the clarification of jockey and tension pulley.

+1 - check your local bike co-op if you have one.

I would also vote for just replacing it. Plastic Simplex anything will eventually break or become too brittle to be reliable. Look for something like this if you can: