Re: [CR] Chain for 3 spd Cyclo derailleur

(Example: History:Norris Lockley)

In-Reply-To: <28dcb8780907132203l6747cb8cqcc063892339b17aa@mail.gmail.com>
References: <28dcb8780907132203l6747cb8cqcc063892339b17aa@mail.gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2009 06:32:22 -0700
To: John Wood <braxton72@gmail.com>, Classic Rendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
From: "Jan Heine" <heine94@earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [CR] Chain for 3 spd Cyclo derailleur


At 11:03 PM -0600 7/13/09, John Wood wrote:
>Hi CR folks,
>I'm trying to set up a cyclo based 3 speed drive train on a 1950's French
>bike. At the time I got the frame, I also got what was purported to be the
>R. derailleur, shifter and crank/bb from said frame. A standard 5 speed
>chain will not fit the chainring, which seems 1/8" compatiable. 5 speed
>chain seems to fit the 3 speed cyclo freewheel fine. Is it most likely that
>the crank is incorrect, or did old cyclo 3 speed drivetrains in fact us 1/8"
>chains? Thanks much for the assistance.

The old Cyclo 3-speeds probably were intended for 1/8" chains. Even the 4-speeds fitted them at first.

This 1934 Reyhand is equipped with a 4-speed derailleur and 1/8" chain

http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com/images/1934ReyhandFull.jpg

The 5-speed chains were narrower, and became popular in the late 1930s.

I am not very familiar with 3-speed Cyclos, as they mostly were found on lower-end bikes, but it is possible that the pulleys were switched for all Cyclos when the 5-speed was introduced... Does yours have an aluminum arm, a chrome-plated steel one that looks forged, or a pressed-steel one that usually is black? The former were the most expensive, the latter the cheapest.

If a 1/8" chain fits, I'd run that.

Jan Heine
Editor
Bicycle Quarterly
140 Lakeside Ave #C
Seattle WA 98122
http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com