strichzwei

I recently purchased a davidson frame with what I think are 8 speed campagnolo "chorus" shifters and derailleurs, no wheel set. I would like to buy a wheel set and cassette to build this bike up but need to make sure of what I have.

I am not yet allowed to post pictures (too few posts), so can someone let me know how to identify what I have, are there serial or model numbers on the components that help identify what I have?

Thanks,
Scott

Spaghetti Legs 

If there’s a question of 8 speed, just take the right shifter and click all the way through, you should get 7 clicks. Campy 8 speed is my favorite for all around looks, reliability, and ease of set up. The only downside is if you do a lot of climbing, you’re limited to 53-39 and 13-26 for stock gearing. There are some tricks to getting the right cassettes, but in general avoid the pre Exa drive, which will have each cog individually lettered A-H.

https://branfordbike.com/new-page-1

Another good resource for helping to identify old parts

https://velobase.com/ViewBrand.aspx?...6-f75628ea75e7

kunsunoke 

It's possible to run a Shimano 7+1 cassette setup (e.g. a standard Shimano 7-speed cassette cluster, plus one additional cog with 7-speed spacing) if you have an 8-9-10 speed compatible freehub body. The spacing will be identical to that of an eight-speed Campagnolo cassette, and you'll get better shifting with the Ergopower 8-speed shifters.

I've got that setup on two of my bikes.

P!N20

So are we talking Ergo levers/brifters like these?



Or down tube shifters like these?



The Chorus Ergo levers usually have 'Chorus' printed on the lever arm, if they don't they could be Record.

Chorus downtube shifters don't really exist, they were either Record or Veloce. (Although Velobase does list a graphite Chorus downtube shifter set.)

Also check the rear dropout spacing as 7 speed is 126mm while 8 speed is 130mm.

Campy 8 speed rear derailleur models all look quite similar. From about 1995? they started printing the model names on their components.

T-Mar

The combination of an exposed P-pivot bolt and a fixed, slant parallelogram of the rear derailleur, would make it very early 1990s and 8 speed compatible. Based on the solid cage section for the jocket pulley, it would appear to be 1992 Athena. Photo assist...

strichzwei

Oh wow, I wasn't expecting so much feedback without pictures thanks guys!
And then, T-Mar was able to post my pictures somehow, whaaat?! thanks!
Really appreciate all the help!
Scott

P!N20

Levers are Record, 1st gen Ergopower: https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.a...m=125&AbsPos=4

billytwosheds 

And looks like the return spring on the shift lever is broken.

strichzwei

You guys are reeaaally good.
Someone mentioned to me that parts to repair that spring may be NLA.
Is that true?

Dave Mayer

I've been riding some Campy Record 8-speed Ergopower shifters for the last week or so on a Vitus 979. Bike rides great and the shifting is flawless. Campagnolo totally had their act together by 1994 with this gear.

Your shifters may be a couple of years earlier, due to the alloy shifter bodies, but they should work great as well, when combined with the matching derailleur, and new cables/housing and expert setup. This assumes that your G-springs are not worn out, or spring carriers broken, or the bodies were not cracked in some kind of collision. If these shifters were used as they should have been used, then there is a high probability that the G-springs are kaput, as they are good for maybe 15k of riding. BTW: your rear derailleur will struggle to handle a 28 tooth rear cog, as they were made for racing blocks. And make sure you use correct Campagnolo-compatible cables with the smaller heads, to avoid them jamming in the shifters and causing all kinds of extraction misery and profanities when you try and replace them.

As far as the broken paddle spring- I've taken apart many Ergopower shifters and never seen this problem. Parts? Nope; your likely only avenue is to tear apart and scavenge off of another right shifter.

I love 8-speed Ergopower, but my sober advice is to go with something newer, unless you have some high degree of sentimental value with this kit. 11-speed Centaur is great stuff, if your frame can handle it.

strichzwei

Well Dave Mayer, thanks for sobering me up. That is really the advice I wanted, I was concerned with one frustration after the next. I will give davidson (impulse) a call and ask him what that frame will handle.

thanks guys!

Scott