What would you do: Campagnolo Frankenderailleur

[Canuk]

Just picked this up, for cheap! It's a 79 super record with obviously a donor face plate from a gran sport. Mill it down, polish it, paint , anodise? I don't think the back plate is even the same, it's from a much later Super ..

 

[Nob]

Maybe this

 

[Jesper]

I like the GS plate better than newer SR models; the old SR with NR style plate is better looking and functions the same. Have some fun! I am getting ready to do a couple SR and NR RDs since many have fairly heavy abrasions (though not function damage; no bent cages), replaced parts, etc.

I had a couple examples like Nob submitted, but I cannot find them or any imagery I thought I had. I "skeletalized" both the parallelogram and cage plates; as well as doing some drillium on the knuckles and polishing out scratches. A couple units had alloy replacement pivot bolts (also stock on some SR units c.'78-'79) that are easy to do what is shown here on the heads; but doing that with Ti bolts will not be fun and I recommend avoiding that except to grind/file away the head surface even with wrench flats and polish (will not affect wrench seating/engagement) as the head on that example has compromised integrity due to the manner in which it was done; should have had smaller diameter borings).

 

[Coalfield]

A vintage expert modified a NR for me - I can pass-on my experience that it isn't the greatest solution to achieve a lower gear range. Works, butt.... not quite as good as one might hope for. (And Yes, I know this isn't what is being considered; however, it is very CampaFranken!).

 

[Nob]

Well this is the other mech I have

 

[Jesper]

@Nob very nice! Those large bolts look great; better proportioned.

 

[Nob]

@Nob very nice! Those large bolts look great; better proportioned.

It’s on this machine

 

[Jesper]

@Coalfield I've tried a few combinations; left side mech worked better than any Camp. mech made through to the late '80s. Even shifted onto smallest cogs with way more ease than my NR stock units. Never cared about large cogs since my max was 26t at the time. It has a sprung "B" knuckle design; fairly heavy unit even without the beefier Camp. long cage.
One "Rally" is stock with long cage, but essentially functions like a NR, SR and NGS of the era with a little more range (probably similar to your set-up). Stock long cage says 13 - 36 == 36 - 54; I do not see it doing 36t (I'd believe it for the drop design, but not the inline) but I have no FWs of that range to test it on. Fairly lightweight @214g with the stock cage.
I've not tried the aftermarket cage yet; 15mm longer than Camp's stock long cage.

 

[Nob]

Another Campag Frankenstein with aero cage

 

[Nob]

I had another lovely Campag RS rear mech with a wonderful Berner Jockey Cage set sadly had to sell it on as it wasn’t getting any use after this bike was stripped down & sold off in my downsizing program.