[CR]Simplex retrofriction levers - lubricate?

(Example: Racing:Jean Robic)

Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 23:26:48 -0800 (PST)
From: "dan kasha" <dankasha@yahoo.com>
To: CR <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: [CR]Simplex retrofriction levers - lubricate?

I worry this might start a war ...

I know that one should not lubricate a campy NR shift lever unless one likes ghost shifting, and this subject has been covered at length here.

But I had a pair of Simplex RF levers that were just not working well. They were stiff feeling when pushing the levers forward. And they would slip sometimes despite this stiffness.

So I decided to take them off, and though I did not try to fully take them apart, I noticed that there seemed to be old grease/oil in there. So I put a bit of light oil in the mechanism, and they now feel great.

And they worked beautifully on a ride today. So the questions I have are:

1) Were they lubricated when new? 2) Should they be lubricated, and with what? 3) Can they be taken apart completely, are they easy to re-assemble?

Thanks in Advance, Dan Kasha Seattle Wa PS My total mismatch bike: simplex levers, Suntour Sprint rear derailleur, Shimano twist tooth cogs, Dura-ace front derailleur, Campy Athena Cranks, Dura-ace BB, TTT bars, SR post, Brooks Pro, Modolo Pro levers, Modolo speedy calipers, MA2 rims, Conti 28mm tires on a off topic frame made for a wonderful ride today.

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