Rourke Looks like I might have no resistance

[biggs682]

An hour in the garage sorting a few things out and a much smoother bike still got a few more to do .

Even had time for a 3.5 mile test ride

 

[biggs682]

Another 8 mile evaluation ride this morning , current single speed gearing is set up for the Milton Keynes flatlands so any hills were duly avoided

Thinking of 2 x 8 gearing with down tube shifters but that might change.

 

[biggs682]

This morning's garage session involved fitting some levers , rear mechanism , new chain and then some adjustments .

The short test ride went well with all 16 gears available

 

[biggs682]

Longest ride to date this morning 19 miles but after 5 miles the gears started changing by themselves so after a few adjustments that didn't work I headed home

 

[Smokin Joe]

Nice chain

 

[GuyBoden]

Nice gear levels, Simplex SLJ?

 

[biggs682]

Nice chain

Better than the previous green one for sure

Nice gear levels, Simplex SLJ?

Simplex yes not sure if slj though

 

[Ming the Merciless]

What are the marks on the right fork blade?

 

[midlife]

Shifters are Simplex Retrofriction, regarded by many as the finest friction shifters made

 

[biggs682]

What are the marks on the right fork blade?

It's got Rourke on it plus a couple of small areas of paint loss .

Shifters are Simplex Retrofriction, regarded by many as the finest friction shifters made

That's not what I called them this morning when they were changing gear by themselves

 

[biggs682]

Swapped the Shimano sis rear mechanism for a Altus one made no difference so swapped the lever for a suntour one and all seems good so fingers crossed

 

[GuyBoden]

Simplex yes not sure if slj though

They were known as Simplex SLJ or later as Simplex Retro-Friction. Great Levers.
http://velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx?ID=91d3c48f-c79e-429c-86ae-e38000ac1ac6&Enum=104

Shifters are Simplex Retrofriction, regarded by many as the finest friction shifters made

Yes, seen as the best shifters in the 70's and early 80's.


I've never seen a pair of the original levers without the cutout:

These:

 

[Fab Foodie]

Longest ride to date this morning 19 miles but after 5 miles the gears started changing by themselves so after a few adjustments that didn't work I headed home

View attachment 547933

Grand job!

 

[GuyBoden]

That's not what I called them this morning when they were changing gear by themselves

You might need new springs in the Simplex SLJ levers:
Here's how to install the strings:
https://peugeotcoursepb12.wordpress.com/2017/12/02/simplex-retrofriction-shift-lever-installation/

 

[biggs682]

Had it confirmed yesterday as built in July 96 so not as old as originally told but that doesn't surprise me.