I asked and added ....
>> I am not sure what front derailleur to use but I want to keep the
>> roller guides on the BB intact. That leaves me looking for a clamp on
>> front derailleur where the cable anchor point is on the non-drive
>> side. see pic ...
>>
>> http://homepage.mac.com/
>>
>> Im not fussed with make or brand but would like something that could
>> handle a 34/48 double chainring set-up and works/shifts well.
>
>> I like the unusual braze-on feature, wish to keep it in place and aim
>> to make it work as a reliable rider. Standard seat tube diameter. Bang
>> for bucks is my scene. What should i be looking for??? How 'bout
>> something reliable for a triple front? Aks-ing too much?
>
> Maybe an answer to my own question, but I am thinking a Suntour Spirt
> front derailleur may be what Im looking for with regard to my frame
> specific search for a solution that works (see below). Thing is I have
> no idea if they work well - what say ye?
>
> http://www.rivbike.com/
> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
>
Steve Kurt responded:
> I used the oddly-named Spirt for 14 years on a Raleigh Gran Sport,
> which
> was equipped with the required downtube braze-on. It worked just fine,
> imho, which means it was worked as well as any decent front derailleur
> of
> the time.
>
> Nice looking cable roller, as well a nice BB shell! It definitely
> deserves
> to be utilized!
> However... the Spirt may not be what you want. The Spirt has the
> cable
> clamp to the derailleur *body*, and uses the cable housing to actually
> move
> the parallelogram. This is opposite of every normal derailleur, and
> wouldn't work with the roller on your frame.
> Have you considered a nice SunTour Cyclone from ebay, or a standard
> Campy
> NR?
> or did I miss a key element of your question?
Thanks for responding with info Steve. The placement of the roller guide looks like it was/is positioned for a Campy gran sport f/der (51-63) in that the roller is a little forward on the bb shell and there isn't a clear path that the cable could make to wrap around the seat tube for a conventional cable anchoring point without rubbing.
I have looked at more front derailleurs recently on ebay and various classic sites than farmers have seen dawns. I have seen a few by Simplex and Huret where the cable anchors in the position I need (directly above where the roller guide sits) but I don't know much about them and they are used. I don't think I want to pay the price of an early campy model after seeing recent ebay auctions (and I question if it could handle a 34/48 OK). I saw the Spirt (the name is cool) and knowing it uses a portion of housing to push up the lever arm/guide I though to do a little fettling by using a cable end crimp (you know, to stop cable ends from fraying - costs nothing for 50 of them), and cut off the closed end so I can slide it along the derailleur cable nib side up and use it as a stop. If I crimp it where needed and then add a little ferrule that is used for the end of cable housing over the crimp then I could have something akin to a stop along the cable that would sit along its length and fit into where the lever arm would need to push. It might take me a cable end crimp or 2 to get the position right but as the Spirt is set up starting from the outer ring and pulls in when tension is applied it shouldn't be too hard. Once I know the position is correct I can add a spot of solder at the crimp/ferrule stop. It may sound complicated but I can picture it - it would act like using housing but without doing so and leaving the otherwise bare cable to pivot over the rollers as intended.
There are plenty of new Spirt f/ders available cheap, it looks good and might well handle the gear spread I require and I think I can make it work with my improv. crimp&ferrule stop along the cable length. Also, will not look too clumsy or an eyesore. I see new Spirt's locally that would cost me all of $10 and a bit of change in total. It appeals because Id like to leave the roller guides intact (Flying Scot used them in early-mid 50's) and repaint it for use now with what parts I have (period or not) but leaving the option of fitting it as original should I figure out just what it is. Long stays, eyelets for fenders, nervex pro lugs and even a clamp on front derailluer is all new to me (Im a sucker for italian stuff from the 80's), which is why I fancy building it up to use and taste and hopefully do a spot of touring. Everything else is easy and if I can bridge the fron der. hurdle, then it's a green light for the frame to be stripped and prepared for paint ..... I'll prolly go to hell for adding water bottle bosses though but the rest remains as is.
The only thing Im not sure of is whether the Spirt can handle a 34/48 front and ultra 6 (122mm) rear with something like 14/28. I think it should ...... I would sure like 3 rings up front and tighter rear cogs but am not sure if it will be expecting too much from the humbly named Suntour Spirt (which dates back to '66 if I read correctly).
Thanks for the input.
Everyone is welcome to critique or suggest a better alternative.
ciao
Ben Kamenjas
Sydney, Oz