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Can a Suntour aRX FD handle a triple?

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Can a Suntour aRX FD handle a triple?

Old 09-21-20, 05:40 PM
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Can a Suntour aRX FD handle a triple?

Going to reconfigure my Bridgestone 400 as a triple and hoping to use the original Suntour aRX derailleurs. RD is long cage and should be fine. Tentative plan is front rings 50x45x28 with rear 14-28 6spd freewheel.

Stated specs on aRX FD are pretty conservative. Anyone have experience using on a triple?

I have a Mountech FD as Plan B but am hoping to stick with the aRX. Thanks all!
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Old 09-21-20, 06:04 PM
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Oops one to many clicks of the mouse plonz
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Old 09-21-20, 06:07 PM
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Originally Posted by malcala622
Oops one to many clicks of the mouse plonz
Crikey... you sure got that right! Can't seem to find a mod when I need one.
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Old 09-21-20, 06:20 PM
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Originally Posted by plonz
Going to reconfigure my Bridgestone 400 as a triple and hoping to use the original Suntour aRX derailleurs. RD is long cage and should be fine. Tentative plan is front rings 50x45x28 with rear 14-28 6spd freewheel.

Stated specs on aRX FD are pretty conservative. Anyone have experience using on a triple?

I have a Mountech FD as Plan B but am hoping to stick with the aRX. Thanks all!
I use an arx on a triple, no issues
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Old 09-21-20, 06:43 PM
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I've got that gearing (7-speed) on my Raleigh Competition. I don't know if the FD is an aRX or just an aR, nor what the difference is between them. Works quite well. SunTour Power (ratchet) DT shifters.

Now, one thing I do routinely with the SunTours using triples is replace the bushing sleeve over the cage bolt with a stack of #4 washers so if the chain drags over it, it isn't wearing anything. I also make the stack a little shorter than the bushing to narrow the bottom of the cage and speed up shifting. I have to do more corrections to trim. but I've never spent so much time in the small cog that I've killed a FD with cage wear there. (I' killed a few with wear in my racing days where "the gear" was far more important than derailleur rub.)
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Old 09-21-20, 06:50 PM
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I'm using the ARX on a triple, no issues.
This thread probably needs moved out of sales
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Old 09-21-20, 06:57 PM
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Thread moved from Sales to reggly C&V.
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Old 09-21-20, 07:16 PM
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Apologies to all for rookie errant post location.

And gratitude to all for the insight on the capabilities of the aRX front derailleur. Looks like mine is going to see some triple duty!
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Old 09-21-20, 07:36 PM
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I would say yes it will but suggest you go with a triple intended FD which will work better since the ARX is nothing special why not go with something you know will work better. I have same era slightly rough needs clean up similar looking Dear head I would let go of for basically shipping.
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Old 09-21-20, 08:20 PM
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ARX is a very fine, light derailleur.
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Old 09-21-20, 08:27 PM
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Easy-Peasy-Cino-squeezy. It was in the one last year, anyway.



IIRC that's a 52-40-30 up front and six cogs in back spanning 14 - 32.
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Old 09-22-20, 04:18 AM
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Originally Posted by zukahn1
I have same era slightly rough needs clean up similar looking Dear head I would let go of for basically shipping.
I appreciate the offer. I think I’ll stick with the aRX for the time being. If needed, I have a Mountech which I’ve used in a triple before.
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Old 09-23-20, 09:51 AM
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Sometimes, with a front derailleur intended for two chainrings, you can get it to work with three. And sometimes you can't. So whether it's intended to work or not, it's worth a try.
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Old 09-23-20, 02:26 PM
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Originally Posted by 79pmooney
I've got that gearing (7-speed) on my Raleigh Competition. I don't know if the FD is an aRX or just an aR, nor what the difference is between them. Works quite well. SunTour Power (ratchet) DT shifters.

Now, one thing I do routinely with the SunTours using triples is replace the bushing sleeve over the cage bolt with a stack of #4 washers so if the chain drags over it, it isn't wearing anything. I also make the stack a little shorter than the bushing to narrow the bottom of the cage and speed up shifting. I have to do more corrections to trim. but I've never spent so much time in the small cog that I've killed a FD with cage wear there. (I' killed a few with wear in my racing days where "the gear" was far more important than derailleur rub.)
For WGB - I am staying digital photo illiterate so no photos but the description of the washers on the FD cage:

At the bottom of the cage of all SunTour FDs is a bolt that goes through both plates of the cage, head on the outside and threading in to the inner cage. Between the two cage plates, the bolt is hidden by a black plastic sleeve. I've used gearing combinations extreme enough that the chain dragged on that sleeve in the inner chainring and small cogs. This can wear out that bushing quickly. So:

I unscrew the bolt, then screw it back in without the sleeve but instead running it through somewhere around 10 washers (I don't count; just make up a stack a little shorter than the bushing but buying plenty more - they like to run away). For washers, I buy regular steel numbered washers just big enough to slide over the bolt (ie #4 or so). I go to Ace Hardware with the bolt. Get the washers and and another bolt of the same diameter and pitch (it is a standard metric thread). An all-thread bolt so if the nice SunTour one bottoms out with the shorter stack I can just swap bolts and try again.

This is nothing very earth shaking. But it does give the FD a surface the chain can rub for many miles doing no harm at all. Regular steel washers are never going to harm a hardened steel chain. If you use that rubbing combo a lot, you might have to replace 50 cents worth of washers in 5 years. Hope this makes it clear.

Ben
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