Campy front derailleur won't shift

Mike Lackey said:

Folks, I've got a really strange problem. I've got a Centaur front
derailleur that won't push the chain onto the big ring.

Forget the limit adjusting screw, forget adjusting the cable.
Problem is that with the limit screw completely counter-clockwise,
and the cable disconnected, I cannot physically move the derailleur
(with my hand) far enough. There's just not enough travel in the
dang thing to move the cage over the big ring. Which means either
(a) the derailleur is mounted too far in, or (b) the crankset is
mounted too far out, or (c) maybe a little of both.

Here are the pertinent details. First, the frame is a Calfee, with an
oversize seat tube. The derailleur is a Centaur braze-on type
mounted with one of those clamp-on adapter do-bobs.

Question #1: is anybody out there using a Centaur braze-on front
derailleur with an adapter thingy on a bike that has an oversize seat
tube? I wonder if this setup places the derailleur too close to the
seat tube initially?

I don't know the adapter makes much difference but it's not the main
problem......

Quoted message said:

Next, the bottom bracket is the cheaper Centaur/Veloce type, English
thread, while the crankset is Chorus. Just eyeballing the bottom
bracket, it looks like bottom bracket extends out a bit farther than
"normal", pushing the crankset out just a bit farther.... which
leads to....

Question #2: Can any of you Campy gurus tell me if the axle length
of a Centaur/Veloce bottom bracket is longer than axle length of a
Chorus bottom bracket?

Centaur/Veloce BB is 111 or 115.5mm (there are two versions; 111 is used
for both double & triple cranksets, 115.5 for triples with oversize seat
tubes). Chorus double is 102mm. Big difference!

Quoted message said:

I'm also wondering if perhaps it's a combination of a bottom bracket
that is a bit wider than ususal, and the Centaur crankset is designed
to make up for this by moving the chainrings in a bit closer. By
placing a Chorus crankset on this bottom bracket, the chainrings have
moved out a bit farther than normal.

Question #3: Can any of you Campy gurus tell me if a Chorus crankset
and a Centaur crankset would place the chainrings in the same
position, given that the bottom bracket is not changed?

Centaur/Veloce/Mirage/Xenon crankset will place the rings further in on
your existing BB, at least if it's a "double" BB. I'm not sure about the
Chorus triple BB (I think that's 111mm but asymetrical; Centaur/Veloce is
symetrical; check www.campagnolo.com).

Quoted message said:

I could spend yet MORE money to but a Chorus bottom bracket and buy a
genuine clamp-on front derailleur, but I've already spent enough on
this "project", and I'd really like to try and use what I've already
paid for.

You bought a bad combination. You need a Chorus BB. Front derailleur
should be ok.

~PB

Mike Lackey said:

Folks, I've got a really strange problem. I've got a Centaur front
derailleur that won't push the chain onto the big ring.

Forget the limit adjusting screw, forget adjusting the cable. Problem is
that with the limit screw completely counter-clockwise, and the cable
disconnected, I cannot physically move the derailleur (with my hand) far
enough. There's just not enough travel in the dang thing to move the cage
over the big ring. Which means either (a) the derailleur is mounted too far
in, or (b) the crankset is mounted too far out, or (c) maybe a little of
both.

Here are the pertinent details. First, the frame is a Calfee, with an
oversize seat tube. The derailleur is a Centaur braze-on type mounted with
one of those clamp-on adapter do-bobs.

Question #1: is anybody out there using a Centaur braze-on front derailleur
with an adapter thingy on a bike that has an oversize seat tube? I wonder
if this setup places the derailleur too close to the seat tube initially?

Next, the bottom bracket is the cheaper Centaur/Veloce type, English thread,
while the crankset is Chorus. Just eyeballing the bottom bracket, it looks
like bottom bracket extends out a bit farther than "normal", pushing the
crankset out just a bit farther.... which leads to....

Question #2: Can any of you Campy gurus tell me if the axle length of a
Centaur/Veloce bottom bracket is longer than axle length of a Chorus bottom
bracket?

I'm also wondering if perhaps it's a combination of a bottom bracket that is
a bit wider than ususal, and the Centaur crankset is designed to make up for
this by moving the chainrings in a bit closer. By placing a Chorus crankset
on this bottom bracket, the chainrings have moved out a bit farther than
normal.

Question #3: Can any of you Campy gurus tell me if a Chorus crankset and a
Centaur crankset would place the chainrings in the same position, given that
the bottom bracket is not changed?

I could spend yet MORE money to but a Chorus bottom bracket and buy a
genuine clamp-on front derailleur, but I've already spent enough on this
"project", and I'd really like to try and use what I've already paid for.

Look at your chainline. Your crank is out there!
Your ACH BB is 111 (or 115)mm wide, Chorus cranks want a 102.

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

"A Muzi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Mike Lackey said:

Folks, I've got a really strange problem. I've got a Centaur front
derailleur that won't push the chain onto the big ring.

Forget the limit adjusting screw, forget adjusting the cable. Problem

is

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

that with the limit screw completely counter-clockwise, and the cable
disconnected, I cannot physically move the derailleur (with my hand) far
enough. There's just not enough travel in the dang thing to move the

cage

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

over the big ring. Which means either (a) the derailleur is mounted too

far

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

in, or (b) the crankset is mounted too far out, or (c) maybe a little of
both.

Here are the pertinent details. First, the frame is a Calfee, with an
oversize seat tube. The derailleur is a Centaur braze-on type mounted

with

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

one of those clamp-on adapter do-bobs.

Question #1: is anybody out there using a Centaur braze-on front

derailleur

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

with an adapter thingy on a bike that has an oversize seat tube? I

wonder

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

if this setup places the derailleur too close to the seat tube

initially?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Next, the bottom bracket is the cheaper Centaur/Veloce type, English

thread,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

while the crankset is Chorus. Just eyeballing the bottom bracket, it

looks

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

like bottom bracket extends out a bit farther than "normal", pushing the
crankset out just a bit farther.... which leads to....

Yes, I have an older Carbonframes tetra custom that requires an italian
threaded bottom bracket. I use an older Edco Competition bb that has a 116mm
wide spindle with a Record 9 crankset 51x39 and C-Record ft der. Works
perfectly.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Question #2: Can any of you Campy gurus tell me if the axle length of a
Centaur/Veloce bottom bracket is longer than axle length of a Chorus

bottom

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

bracket?

I'm also wondering if perhaps it's a combination of a bottom bracket

that is

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

a bit wider than ususal, and the Centaur crankset is designed to make up

for

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

this by moving the chainrings in a bit closer. By placing a Chorus

crankset

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

on this bottom bracket, the chainrings have moved out a bit farther than
normal.

For me, I use the wide 70x116 Edco bb because anything narrower will cause
my inner chainring to touch the chainstay.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Question #3: Can any of you Campy gurus tell me if a Chorus crankset

and a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Centaur crankset would place the chainrings in the same position, given

that

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the bottom bracket is not changed?

I could spend yet MORE money to but a Chorus bottom bracket and buy a
genuine clamp-on front derailleur, but I've already spent enough on this
"project", and I'd really like to try and use what I've already paid

for.

Quoted message said:

Look at your chainline. Your crank is out there!
Your ACH BB is 111 (or 115)mm wide, Chorus cranks want a 102.

I agree, check the chainline. The crank on my bike is *out there*, but it
works.

Thanks to all who've replied. It's (painfully) obvious I've got a
mismatched crankset and bottom bracket.

Dangit!

Mike Lackey
Madision, AL

"Mike Lackey" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:Aujec.13861$wP1.31586@attbi_s54...

Quoted message said:

Folks, I've got a really strange problem. I've got a Centaur front
derailleur that won't push the chain onto the big ring.

Forget the limit adjusting screw, forget adjusting the cable. Problem is
that with the limit screw completely counter-clockwise, and the cable
disconnected, I cannot physically move the derailleur (with my hand) far
enough. There's just not enough travel in the dang thing to move the cage
over the big ring. Which means either (a) the derailleur is mounted too

far

Quoted message said:

in, or (b) the crankset is mounted too far out, or (c) maybe a little of
both.

Here are the pertinent details. First, the frame is a Calfee, with an
oversize seat tube. The derailleur is a Centaur braze-on type mounted

with

Quoted message said:

one of those clamp-on adapter do-bobs.

Question #1: is anybody out there using a Centaur braze-on front

derailleur

Quoted message said:

with an adapter thingy on a bike that has an oversize seat tube? I wonder
if this setup places the derailleur too close to the seat tube initially?

Next, the bottom bracket is the cheaper Centaur/Veloce type, English

thread,

Quoted message said:

while the crankset is Chorus. Just eyeballing the bottom bracket, it

looks

Quoted message said:

like bottom bracket extends out a bit farther than "normal", pushing the
crankset out just a bit farther.... which leads to....

Question #2: Can any of you Campy gurus tell me if the axle length of a
Centaur/Veloce bottom bracket is longer than axle length of a Chorus

bottom

Quoted message said:

bracket?

I'm also wondering if perhaps it's a combination of a bottom bracket that

is

Quoted message said:

a bit wider than ususal, and the Centaur crankset is designed to make up

for

Quoted message said:

this by moving the chainrings in a bit closer. By placing a Chorus

crankset

Quoted message said:

on this bottom bracket, the chainrings have moved out a bit farther than
normal.

Question #3: Can any of you Campy gurus tell me if a Chorus crankset and

a

Quoted message said:

Centaur crankset would place the chainrings in the same position, given

that

Quoted message said:

the bottom bracket is not changed?

I could spend yet MORE money to but a Chorus bottom bracket and buy a
genuine clamp-on front derailleur, but I've already spent enough on this
"project", and I'd really like to try and use what I've already paid for.

Thanks in advance,
Mike Lackey
Madison, AL