Front pull FDs?? what bikes used them?

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03-18-14 | 03:53 PM

Chombi

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Bikes: 1986 Alan Record Carbonio, 1985 Vitus Plus Carbone 7, 1984 Peugeot PSV, 1972 Line Seeker, 1986(est.) Medici Aerodynamic (Project), 1985(est.) Peugeot PY10FC

Front pull FDs?? what bikes used them?

Maybe the spec was before my time, but I had been encountering Simplex FD's that have their operating arms ahead of the seat tube, instead of the more usual to me, aft of the seat tube line. What bikes might have been built to have FD cable guides that directed them to the front of the FD mechanism? Also, I did not notice, but might these front pull Simplex FDs have shifting cable casing stops that I did not see?

03-18-14 | 04:26 PM

Catnap

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From: Ridgewood, Queens

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Can you name any models of Simplex FD that exemplify what you're referring to?

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03-18-14 | 04:34 PM

zukahn1

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True front pull top normal FD are pretty rare only a couple of lesser produced Simplex and Sachs/Huret models. Even then the Simplex's where push/pull rode.

03-18-14 | 05:23 PM

Grand Bois

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From: Pinole, CA, USA

I've got to see a picture!

03-18-14 | 07:39 PM

Chombi

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Grand Bois

I've got to see a picture!

I'll try and find a link/pics to one when I get home tonight.

03-19-14 | 12:14 AM

Chombi

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Bikes: 1986 Alan Record Carbonio, 1985 Vitus Plus Carbone 7, 1984 Peugeot PSV, 1972 Line Seeker, 1986(est.) Medici Aerodynamic (Project), 1985(est.) Peugeot PY10FC

Hah!, I think I finally found the answers to my questions....
Simplex Super Prestige LJ Gold Front Derailleur | eBay
I noticed on one of the pics of the bottom of the FD (3rd pic in auction ad) for sale at eBay that there is a cable casing stop integrated into the hinge of the FD clamp that then points directly to the front mounted cable clamp for the derailleur top arm. Quite an ingenious design, that integrated cable stop. I don't believe I've seen this on other FDs.....
I guess these front pull FDs were used on older bikes with cable stops for the derailleurs on the lower downtube, and before the time when derailleur cables got routed under BB shells....

Last edited by Chombi; 03-19-14 at 12:23 AM.

03-19-14 | 06:14 AM

Grand Bois

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From: Pinole, CA, USA

There's nothing unusual about a FD with a stop. All of my French bikes have them. That's how it was done in the seventies and early eighties. That one has the stop unusually far forward, so the housing would have to wrap around the tube a bit farther than most.

Two of mine use these:

https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.as...113&AbsPos=202

Last edited by Grand Bois; 03-19-14 at 06:34 AM.