leecycle

Came across an old road bike that I think is an early 70s Peugeot PX-10. Its missing its head-badge and been spray repainted red, but the original white color is visible in some spots. Very little rust and the chrome plating is in excellent condition.

The tell-tale signs: Am I correct in thinking that it is a PX-10? Not sure of the date of manufacture, but guessing early 70s due to brakes being stamped "Dural Forge" instead of "Racer". The serial number is also a bit of a mystery: 44273.

Grand Bois

I don't see anything that says it's not, and I think it may be earlier than early seventies.. The bars, levers and cables need some attention. I don't think either wheel is original.

DanielWilde

If the original colour is white, these brakes and dropouts indicate it has been built between 1964 and 1969.

leecycle

The front wheel is definitely a replacement with a Suzue hub and Araya red label clincher. Same for the back rim as it is a Weinmann clincher rim; at first I thought that the Normandy high flange hub might be original but then noticed that it has "13 79" stamped on it (which I take to be a date code). The plan is to remove all components and try to remove the red spray paint to reveal the original white.

Grand Bois

They were still using those dropouts in 1974, but on the PA10.

Grand Bois

The rear hub looks like a Normandy Sport, not the original Luxe Competition. If it were mine, I'd look for some Maillard 700 hubs. They're much better than the originals, which all seem to have pitted cones.

RoyIII

Looks like a PX10 to me. I love that Stronglight crankset. What are you going to do with it?

jyl

When you have it stripped down, you might weigh the frameset. That should help confirm the material. Compare it to known PX-10 frameset weights. I can weigh mine, as it remains in pieces. I'd bet it is a PX-10.

zukahn1 

Based on the parts and lug work I would guess it is either PX/PY-10 or a Jeunet 640. The PX is the most likely candidate since it was the most produced sold high end French bike out numbering all the likely others put together.

leecycle

Started to remove components and noticed that the Simplex rear derailleur has ball bearing pulleys and the back cage has "1 70" stamped on it. Assuming that the rear derailleur is original, I guess that suggests that the frame is a late 1969 manufacture and that the bicycle was built up in early 1970.

zukahn1 

Just curios did the former owner manage to drill screw up anything other than the brake levers? This is a really nice bike I hope the drilling stopped at just the levers.

leecycle

Yes, thankfully, the previous owner with the drill and the itchy trigger finger stopped after the brake levers! The drilling of the levers looks particularly amateurish; matches the paint job.

miamijim

The frames were all more or less the same from say '65-ish through '74. Peugeot seemed to changed lug combinations and fork crowns for no particular reason. The serial number under the BB means nothing. Based on the RD code its a '70 model or newer and was probably built in spring of '70 at the earliest.

Grand Bois

It looks like a Jeunet 640 based on the parts and lug work? I don't see it.

Jeunet model 640

dddd

I believe it's a 1970 model, based on the derailer dating and on the use of Dural Forge calipers.

The Calipers and crankset could both be 1970 from other examples I've seen, and as zukahn1 pointed out, there was high production volume on these in 1970.

This bike's original head badge is riveted-on metal foil, with shield pointed on the bottom. Downtube "Peugeot" lettering is small.

These earlier PX10's had close to 72-degree frame angles, which makes for calmer steering and also makes the frames feel small for their size.

miamijim

No.

Road Fan

The left rear dropout has that tooth hanging down from it. I think it was Miami Jim who had a link on identifying PX-10s, and it said those teeth suggest (together with decals, angles, and lugs) that it's mid-60s. I have one with terrible original decals, and it decodes to 1967 or 1968.

Rear derailleur needs the cage spring tightened to tense up the chain, and the front mech needs to be mounted lower, 1 to 3 mm above the large chainring. I'm not sure there's an issue with the handlebars, but I'd go through all the cables and at least square up the ends of the outer cables, add ferrules to them, and careful re-set-up them. I'd also take apart the calipers and clean every thing, lube the main pivots, and lube the points where the springs bear on the aluminum caliper material. If the shoes are ok, they will work like butter. Even better if you get a set of new modern inner and out cables and install with the same treatment.

Road Fan

Hmm, I didn't know that!

Road Fan

Ok, MJ, we know what you think it isn't, but what do you think it is?

auchencrow

The Simplex dropout hook for your thumb was used on 60's bike but also on my '71, and sporadically on bikes as "recent" as [MENTION=27118]Grand Bois[/MENTION] 's 1974 PA10. (The Dural Forge calipers and derailleur date suggest just a slightly earlier vintage than mine).
It's a good find, [MENTION=60110]leecycle[/MENTION] - one that I would seriously consider restoring to the original paint color with repro decals and stock Mafac levers. Wouldn't need much else.

leecycle

Yes, its definitely worthy of restoration. I've removed all of the components, except for the crankset (trying to borrow a %$#@&! Stronglight extractor). I tried some 3M Safest Stripper on the fork and the steerer tube is back to its original white, but on the chromed crown, the red paint came off with the original white. Unfortunately, the red re-spray is pretty thick, I may have to start with hand sanding followed by a light application of the paint stripper to save the original paint.

clasher

If you're near Kitchener I think the co-op there has a stronglight extractor. Or I might, dunno.

miamijim

The bike is very conflicting.

The only solid piece of evidence suggesting a date of 1970 is the RD...

1970 PX10 crankset: Stronglight 93 crankset. This bike has 49
1970 PX10 brakeset: Mafac Racer. This bike has Dural Forge
!970 PX10 decals: Square badge with a flat bottom. This frames rivet pattern suggests a the older triangle shaped badge.

Most of the parts look period correct and they look like they've been on the bike for decades so it gives the appearance they're original PX10 components. Its old, the frameset suggests '65-ish thought '74. The RD suggests '70. Other components do NOT suggest '70.

leecycle

Thanks for the offer, but I'm in the Ottawa area.

leecycle

Another date of manufacture clue?

On the underside of the BB, there is no seam and the drain hole is tapped and a bolt and rubber washer is installed.