Deore 18AX

Deore 18AX Aug 6, 2013 12:44:36 GMT

Quote

Post by Jem on Aug 6, 2013 12:44:36 GMT

I got this one from eBay in early 2013. The pictures were poor and I couldn't quite see what I was getting but I really wanted a Viscount tourer.

Most things on it were original, from the racks to the pedals and the front and rear derailleurs. I took quite a long time fettling it, and taking it apart and touching up the rusty spots on the frame with light grey undercoat from Halfords.(the pics are pre-cleaning)

I had it on the road and although it felt different (maybe due to the extension on the handlebar stem?) it also still felt like a Viscount.

Anyway, one of the teething problems was the rear derailleur not quite making it into the biggest sprocket. I was going to live with it but decided to strip the RD down and re-grease the springs as they lacked a bit of twang.

I will post up the outcome on the tech area when I get time, but in brief, the first 2 turns of the thread bolt on the bottom jockey just disappeared and wouldn't get a grip. I got a guy at work to re-cut a smaller thread on it and made do with that.
I couldn't find any Deore RD's of that era in keeping with bike.

Also, in the mean time I was lusting after the original 3 ring chainset of 52/42/32 that would have been on it new.
I found a couple in the US but with posting I couldn't really justify spending more on that single part than the whole bike cost me.

But low and behold, a Deore 18AX in better condition than mine came up for sale a few months back with all original parts.
So, I bid on it and won and although I have yet to pick it up, here are a few pictures.

Here is Cycle magazines very favourable review of it from June '82
By the way- the Showa Japanese racks are really amazing in themselves and such a great design. I love them.