sced

I have a Nuovo Record rear derailleur from a 1973 bike that I am restoring. Velobase shows that its max cog and chain wrap sizes are both 26T. What can I expect the max sizes to be if the derailleur is used with a Roadlink? Thanks in advance!

"https://www.velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx?ID=D8DE34D4-C66F-4C8A-AF5B-0EF99D40F702&Enum=108&AbsPos=62"

Narhay

I am running mine on 28T cogs on 2 bikes without issue. Not sure about the roadlink but as a short cage derailleur you are going to be constrained by the chain wrap. Even if you can fit a 32 in the back unless you're running a very close ratio chainring setup your chain capacity just wont be taken up.

tiger1964 

Not to increase capacity, but I've been wondering for a while if one could use a NR with a Roadlink, filed down to allow the RD to pivot forward with the parallelogram more horizontal to make the geometry more Crane-esque.... would it word and would it improve performance?

fietsbob

Seek out a Campag Rally # 3450 .

Lascauxcaveman 

I've used a Pat 72 NR with a 32T cog. That was with NR 52/42 up front. Big/big was super iffy, but everything else was fine. Depends on the chain length, position in the dropouts, and of course the length of the hanger. I've got one of those road link hangers but haven't tried it yet.

sced

How many speeds?

Lascauxcaveman 

IIRC, it was a SunTour Perfect 14-32 six speed freewheel.

sced

I'm wondering if a NR RD + Roadlink + 7sp 14-32 will work

Lascauxcaveman 

Maybe. What's the chainset up front look like? How confident at determining chain length are you? How much leeway do you have on your drop outs?

Michael Angelo 

Super Record Cages on a Nuovo Record derailleur will shift 28T with ease.

sced

42/52 rings, good at links, Campy horizontal dropouts. - I am willing and able to give it a try, but am wondering if anyone has done this successfully. I could go 30 max at back or a different RD.

tiger1964 

This AM's eBay asking prices on a Rally are $200 to $450, ouch.

Last ride 76 

Ive got one for a lot less if you want.... What the???? he's right! posting mine now. Less to BF members...

dddd

Regular NR and with horizontal dropouts can handle 14-32t Ultra-6 using 48-42 chainrings. All shifts are good and everything looks PROPER. Axle position is critical.

The Road Link is going to increase the chain gap over the smaller cogs and not in a good way, especially using modern, flexible chains.

Swinging the NR forward to mimic the Crane won't work very well because of the absence of the dropped knuckle (you will lose the ability to clear such a large cog as it swings forward). The Rally with dropped knuckle was made for the job to accommodate a wider gearing range.

Lascauxcaveman 

I think 30T should be relatively easy, based on my experience with 32T. But it's hard to guess about any other possible differences in the setup I did with the stuff you're working with. My advice is just give it a try. First without the Roadlink.

Kabuki12

I was stoked to get a 14/28 freewheel working on my 1972 ItalVega for last years Eroica California event. With a pat 72 NR dereailleur and 52/41 front rings everything is happy. I showed Wes who at the time was helping with the event and he told me 32 is possible if you remove the axel stop screws and pull the wheel as far back as you can. I have not tried it but I am tempted as I live on a hill and am now running 28's on a couple of my bikes. The other bike running a 28 just got switched to a patent 82 Super Record and it works perfectly , big to big , no problem.

dddd

Depending on the chain length and on the exact chainstay length, you might not want to go all the way back, only as far as needed for the pulley teeth not to contact the largest cog. But I agree that moving the axle back is like "where the rubber meets the road" after installing a bigger freewheel, not only is the pulley moving downward but the cog is moving behind the pulley center as well.

nlerner

Just go Shimano Deore/XT/XTR and close your eyes when shifting.

tiger1964 

Hmm, wouldn't the RoadLink emulate a dropped knuckle, if ground down to permit the rotation? That said, the RoadLink does not look long enough; I thought they used to make (or someone did) longer ones. I'm tempted to try it, just for fun, but unlike the OP my largest cog is 24T "your results may vary".

dddd

If you were to grind the stop on a RoadLink that far, I don't think that there would be any metal left to act as a stop.

ascherer 

I had a Pat. 78 shifting on a Shimano 7-speed 28 without breaking a sweat. I'm sure 30 would have worked, maybe 32 with positive vibes...

SurferRosa

A while back, I saw a way too tall for me Eddy Merckx bike listed for $750 locally. I was trying to justify buying/flipping it just for its Rally rear mech. That's the only way I'll likely get my hands on one.

dedhed

https://www.somafabshop.com/shop/pro...0?category=974

tiger1964 

I just got one and the "tooth" location on the roadLink allows the Nuovo Record RD to swing REALLY far forward (no grinding); in clock terms, no longer 5 o'clock, more like 3:30. I can loosen the RoadLink back and tighten the upper bolt enough that it really wants to stay put when pulling on it by hand, but in use...???

One of those on the way; I need to await Soma cage, new chain and 13-32 IRD freewheel to see if it all works together.

cocoabeachcrab 

i'm going to attempt an '83 super record RD with 16-30 regina 5 speed with 42/52 out front, so when my frame gets back from groodys in a few weeks i'll see wazzup i have a roadlink on hand, but i think by tweeking the chain length i can make it work sans link.