ArgoMan

Hi all. I like to scan eBay and other sites for good deals on older frames and often come across the description "Campagnolo Dropouts". It's something I always wondered about. I understand what the dropouts are and do, buy why the distinction by citing that a particular frame has Campy Dropouts? Is there something I need to be aware of if I wish to mount a Shimano or Sram rear derailleurs to a Campy dropout? Maybe such dropouts will limit a frame builder in some fashion that I'm unaware of? Learn me here please....

79pmooney

Dropouts. No, Campy dropouts are not magic. But in the '70s and before, there was more than one standard as to where the "B-screw" stop should be located, the threads for mounting the derailleur and to a lesser degree, the overall shape. Notably the French Simplex and Huret dropouts. In the '70s, the Japanese basically copied the Campys. Styles were a little different but the threads were nominally the same and the stop similarly located so Campy derailleurs worked on the Japanese dropouts and vice versa.

The Campy dropouts were a long horizontal dropout in the '60s. In the '70s the long ones became less common and a slightly shorter, still horizontal one dominated. In the mid-'70s, the vertical dropout appeared. The Japanese basically followed that trend. In the '80s, it was short horizontal or vertical for both Campy and the Japanese. (This is based on my observations, not formal study. My eyes stared opening to this in the early '70s.)

I've owned: Lambert, Campy late '70s horizontal, Huret horizontal that I had a framebuilder modify to the Campy derailleur stop standard, SunTour and Shimano horizontal and titanium vertical on a custom build. All are quality dropouts. I'm betting framebuilders had their preferences and felt certain ones suited their processes and tastes better but all can be part of a first class frame. The ones I have had issues with have been the plate dropouts on my Peugeot UO-8. But I cannot separate that into dropout quality/strength vs the Simplex derailleur I put into the spokes several times!

Edit: Campy dropouts tend to drive a higher price on the frame/bike market.

Fox Farm

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