tonyfourdogs

Apologies if this should be in mechanics, but I thought you vintage folks would be more likely to know the answer.

Rather than describe it, I've taken pics (including the front derailleur it was attached to). What I want to know is: how the heck do I get it off?! (I've already opened up the tabs top and bottom which someone else suggested to me)

Many thanks

noobinsf 

It’s the Suntour Endless Clamp, and this thread has guidance on removal:

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...p-removal.html

scarlson 

I put one of those endless-clamp Superbe derailleurs on my Vitus 979 a few years ago. Yours is a Cyclone M2 so it should be similar. The thing to do is, as I recall, to remove the threaded "stud" from the band clamp using the phillips head indented in the end of it. Then it should come apart easily.

Careful when you bend those top and bottom tabs back in.

You are gonna reuse that derailleur, right? It's one of the lightest front mechs you can get without going to carbon fiber.

tonyfourdogs

Thanks @scarlson & noob

I didn't notice the philips fitting in the mount, so now it finally makes sense. I just tried to take it off, but it's on damn tight. Given it a little penetrating oil to help it reconsider its actions and I'll go back to it later.

Not planning on reusing the front mech, no - I'm going to list it on ebay as I have way too many bikes and way too many parts (and not nearly enough cash!)

Wish me luck!

masi61

Good Luck! I would suggest making sure your Phillips screwdriver is a good fit. Putting the wrong size in there will cam out that little stud which could ruin the stud. You can still remove the stud (destructively by clamping the threads with a vice grip) but you want it to be undamaged so it still has some value on eBay. I’m thinking a medium Phillips (#2) might be the right one. I’ve recently learned about Japanese standard (J.I.S.) screwdrivers which are similar to Phillips but ever so slightly different (less pointy) and often grip much better with no cam out damage.

clubman 

Note the scarring on the seat tube. It's a difficult gear to orient without causing paint damage so consider a protective clear tape when you put it back on.

Ex Pres 

Is the stud possibly left-hand thread? It seems like there is something odd about these things, last time I had one.

seypat

The endless band is the only Suntour product I don't care for. I got a couple of them. Let's see, from this point, take a Phillips screwdriver and insert into stud. Make sure the Phillip's end fits snugly into the stud. Lefty loosy until stud comes out. The band will come unhinged and you can remove it. Next step is to not put it back on. Find another FD with a regular clamp and install it instead. The main problem with the endless band is adjustment.You have to take the Allen bolt out, then loosen the stud to make any kind of adjustment. A Phillips with an end meaty enough to fit snug into the stud is too big to go into the Allen hole. I have had on slip on me as well. Put something else on.

79pmooney

That stud probably is JIS, not Phillips. The right Phillips should work but it isn't ideal and will not get a full "grab" if that is indeed JIS. (I believe the difference between Phillips and JIS is that the Phillips comes to a self-starting point whereas the JIS is square across the bottom of the slots, so without the guidance effect but also offering more slot and ultimately stronger. Someone else should chip in here. First -is this JIS and second, is my description of JIS correct?

(I just know I've stripped too many Japanese FD limit screws with Phillips screwdrivers and have learned to use very square, good fitting slotted screwdrivers. Even needle-nosed vicegrips work better.)

Ben

gugie 

Nope, standard right hand thread. I've put them on dozens of bikes over the years.

CycleryNorth81

I scrapped the paint on the downtube trying to adjust the front derailleur this morning. Thankfully the band did not gouge the downtube. This design sucks.

SurferRosa

I like this design. It's very light and looks good on '80s bikes. Sorta like a braze-on model.

I do file the clamp edges and apply grease so it doesn't scar the paint when adjusting it.

CycleryNorth81

If you look closely you can see the scratch marks left by the band on the downtube. The scratch is right above the metal band.

Miele Man

It's been nearly 4 months since the OP. I wonder if he ever got it off?

Cheers

tonyfourdogs

Haha thanks for thinking of me! Yes, I got the damn thing off. I listed it on eBay and it's strange, but nobody wants to buy it....