More Campy triple questions

[mtnbke]

Okay I noticed this Campy triple group on the Bay:

I've been meaning to build up a bike with a Campy triple build (see this thread):

http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=91413

Well, I stumbled across these Campy bits and I fell in love with them:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290577663060

The elegant lines on the rear changer reminds me of my Superbe Pro touring mechs.

So I was wondering what these actually were, and what speed. Any ideas?

The bike I was planning on building onto has 126mm rear spacing, but I wanted indexing rear shifting. I can pull that off with 8speed, and even 9 believe it or not, but I really prefer the stronger chain of 7/8 speed.

Is there a set of Campagnolo downtube shift levers that index in 7/8 speed? Would they work with these derailleurs?

[fiamme red]

Looks like a third-generation Rally.

http://velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx?ID=9601aced-cd61-4ce8-8b9e-1e18951d4593

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10703870@N06/5267625799/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/58008403@N04/5630897889/

[oliver1850]

The front is a Victory. You can tell it from the Triomphe by the 2 hinges in the clamp, where Triomphe only has one. I don't believe a Victory triple crank was made, so I doubt that there's enough swing to shift a triple.

The rear is from the Syncro era, but I can't find it in any of my late 1980s catalogs. It must be meant to index, as it has an adjusting barrel. I have the instruction sheets for Syncro and Syncro2 down tube shifters, as well as the chart from the 1988 Parts Catalog. None of the charts list the Rally. There were 4 different 7 speed downtube index gears that I know of, color coded for different RDs: blue = Record, Super Record, Victory, Triomphe, and Athena; green = Chorus with a narrow range freewheel; black = Chorus with a wide range freewheel; grey = Croce.

The Rally may work with the blue 7 speed index gear, or it may not.

[mtnbke]

Why does Campy have to be so freakin' complicated?

[oliver1850]

Part of the problem with early Campy indexing was that they wanted to make it backwards compatible. Instead of making a clean break and leaving all the friction era parts behind, they designed the index shifters to work with the old stuff too. I believe that much of the bad reputation that 7/8 Campy index systems have is due to people mixing parts that weren't designed to work together. When it was introduced it wasn't that difficult, providing you read the tech docs. They even told you what chain worked best with several different brands of freewheels. It's harder now, because not all of the parts are readily available, and in this case the compatibility information is lacking. I'm sure it's out there somewhere, hopefully someone who knows will contribute it.

[sean]

ready for some head exposions?

http://www.cadre.org/bike_stuff/Campagnolo/Shifters/Syncro_Setup/syncro2.jpg

Regina even made a line of chains and freewheels called the Synchro to work with all that mess.

[sean]

If you really want indexed, I would cold set the rear and do a Racing T setup.

Otherwise, go with a campy rally (1st or 3rd generation) and some Simplex retrofriction shifters. They work really well together. Also, a regular Nuovo Record front derailleur will work with a triple crank.

Campy did make a triple specific FD during the 80's era called the 980, but it wasn't so hot. You can actually get them for pretty cheap if you look. They made a matching rear that was horrible, don't bother.

[mtnbke]

If you really want indexed, I would cold set the rear and do a Racing T setup.

Otherwise, go with a campy rally (1st or 3rd generation) and some Simplex retrofriction shifters. They work really well together. Also, a regular Nuovo Record front derailleur will work with a triple crank.

Campy did make a triple specific FD during the 80's era called the 980, but it wasn't so hot. You can actually get them for pretty cheap if you look. They made a matching rear that was horrible, don't bother.

Cold setting is not an option (aluminum frame). Indexing is a must....

[R2D2]

ready for some head exposions?

http://www.cadre.org/bike_stuff/Campagnolo/Shifters/Syncro_Setup/syncro2.jpg

Regina even made a line of chains and freewheels called the Synchro to work with all that mess.

Except nothing ever worked with SYNCHRO!

[oldpotatoe]

Except nothing ever worked with SYNCHRO!

That's not true. As was mentioned, if the proper and very complicated tech docs were actually followed, it worked well. I just tuned a Syncro 2 shifter setup, 8s, with a Campagnolo 8s rear hub and first gen 'alphabet' cogs and it worked well.

BUT with the next to last gen(2 spring, wee barrel adjuster on the RH shifter) and last gen(3 spring) and 1990 and later RD, that worked as well as anything of the day.

[oliver1850]

I agree with Peter. I just built a bike with Syncro2 shifters, a first generation Chorus A/B rear derailleur, and a Sachs 7 speed freewheel. I've only ridden 2 short rides on it, but it worked fine right off the stand with no adjusting needed.

I still think Syncro's bad rep is mainly due to people not being careful about the parts mix they used.

I coincidentally rode my 6 speed friction bike last night. It has a 980 RD, currently controlled by SunTour Powershifters. The 980 is a short cage, bought new for $15. I put it on to preserve a nice SuperRecord. I can't tell it from the SuperRecord when riding. It is what it is, Campy's bottom of the line, but it's perfectly functional.