20 year old derailleur

[po90260]

Will I notice improvement by replacing a 20 year old derailleur?

I just replaced chain and cassette and wonder if shifting will improve with a new derailleur?

Schwinn 354 Road Bicycle (1991)
Frame: Schwinn 5000 Aluminum
Crankset: Shimano Exage300EX biopace double
Front Derailleur: Shimano Exage 400EX
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Exage 300EX 7-speed

[nfmisso]

maybe a little; but not likely. What issues are you seeing with your present one?

[po90260]

(05-08-2012, 12:08 AM)nfmisso Wrote:  maybe a little; but not likely. What issues are you seeing with your present one?

It was really difficult to adjust. I think I may have gotten it right; I'll find out when I ride.

I was wondering about springs and responsiveness and adjustment improvements of newer designs.

[Joe_W]

Well, the springs of rear dérailleurs do wear, so when adjustment becomes impossible (even with new cables) it may be time to replace it.

[po90260]

(05-08-2012, 02:51 AM)Joe_W Wrote:  Well, the springs of rear dérailleurs do wear, so when adjustment becomes impossible (even with new cables) it may be time to replace it.

I wonder if there is a direct replacement for the Shimano Exage 300EX 7-speed. Maybe Shimano has a suggestion. Yeah, everything wears out.
I ride so that I don't wear out too soon from all of my sitting in front of computers.

[nfmisso]

http://www.amazon.com/Shimano-RD-2300-R-derailleur-Smart-cage/dp/B002UZORHU/

is probably your best bet. You will probably need to replace your chain with an 8 speed chain, and a 7 speed chain will rub the derailleur cage - did on my RD2200

[Joe_W]

Replacement part also depends on whether the dérailleur is screwed into the hanger fixed to the drop outs or the dérailleur has a hanger attached to it that is held in place by the axle.