Suntour Seven Rear Derailleur Overhaul - Disassembly/Re-Assembly

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

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[@StumblingCorgi]

Hey RJ just wanted to say your videos have been extremely valuable to me. I've been slowly converting an old saint tropaz to a single speed sanding, painting, and all sorts of tweaks and cleanings. Your overhaul videos are perfect for someone with little to know bicycle knowledge like myself. This video is perfect because I wanted one of these tiny gears for a tumbler I'm building to clean my spokes and nipples. Thanks a lot and keep making great useful videos.

[@Krindol]

Hi RJ. Once again, you tackled the specific project I needed to overhaul my 70s Centurion. Disassembled and reassembled with confidence - big thank you!

[@chungalunga18]

RJ you are really the best. Thanks man for all your videos.

[@jonbuckley7406]

Alright, RJ, I just picked up a Univega Safari Ten with this rear derailleur. I've saved countless dollars on your videos and tool hacks ( I especially love the headset press, and bottom bracket press with basic nuts, bolts, and washers.) Here goes nothing! Thanks again, from Oregon!

[@StarCityFAME]

Thanks for this RJ... I have a Suntour Hero on an old used Schwinn and it seems to be pretty similar to the one you show here on your video. Love your channel!

[@mklzzzz]

Thank you so much. Thanks to this video I could re-assemble my suntour honor [looks just like the same] in spite of the bike mechanic who said it was broken when it was just a spring case.

[@davidgeis1849]

Awesome, thanks RJ. You've gotten me out of a bind many times!

[@markanthonyaguilera1668]

Still the best tutorial!!

[@chipspb]

Hi, good tutorial, thank you! Which pulley from modern rear derailleurs are compatible with Suntour Seven? The original pulleys is worn out.

[@hamstergraphics]

Great. Thanks, going to tackle this on a Suntour Honor. Looks almost identical. My cage won't move at all.

[@hamstergraphics]

I got it! I think someone most have tried repairing it before. The one thing that got me was having to remove the lock pin to "set" the spring tension at around 10:10 of the video. Shifting smooth now. Sears 10 road bike.

[@helderambo2211]

very good RJ !

[@marty2001]

Hi RJ. Do you have a Suntour XCM Lite rear deraileur you could do the same demonstration for? The XCM bolt for the top guide pulley is inside the deraileur housing and I can't figure out how to get at it. Thanks in advance.

[@ziyadzezo4713]

so good

[@mikeylindseysadventures4212]

love it thank you so much I have same groupset on my 1984 Raleigh Wyoming Touring

[@mjville]

Hey RJ, thanks for the video. What type of bolt do you use to mount the hangar for this type of derailleur?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

You don't. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eoCYh2anoLxja8k

[@alevxzx]

Was not able to get the bugger off by myself 3:15, so decided to google it and sure thing there is a video by RJ to the rescue. It seems that they put some sort of glue on purpose, as I have the same yellow dried out residue there.

[@Patrickb24v]

great video

[@ngarber]

FYI, that screwdriver socket is called a drag link socket.

[@neilfroggycrompton2466]

nicely done +rjthebikeguy i solved the problem that was stopping me viewing ur videos,my wifi screwed up ut update last week,after uninstalling/reinstalling it seems to b working again,thx for ur help :) (y) btw do u do ur videos in one take?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

No. I shoot them in little segments. And sometimes I reshoot segments if I don't like them. Mostly the intro and the closing.

[@that70sschwinn]

Nice job...

[@bristolfashion4421]

god I remember when they were everywhere... I have a Cyclone 7000 on my bike it v. nice.

[@timwallis526]

Hey RJ. Have just started taking apart on old Suntour Hero. Wondering what your thoughts are on using a dry wax based lube (White Lightning Clean Ride) on the internals of the pulleys?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Don't know. I haven't tried it.

[@cup_and_cone]

Tension pullies come greased from the factory. If you're taking the time to remove and clean them, I'd grease them. Wicking oil is good substitute for on-bike maintenance when you don't want to take the cage apart.

[@johnbaca8692]

Thanks for the vid. Is it better not to apply a little grease to the large pully assembly spring? Do you not lube the 4 pivots in the der. housing?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Large pully assembly spring? I usually put a drop of the synthetic chain lube at each of the 8 pivot points of the main body. Or maybe a little Tri Flow.

[@johnbaca8692]

I'm refering to the large cylindrical spring that was not turning properly due to old sticky grease - the largest spring in the der.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

It was the bolt itself that was sticking. Grease on the spring won't hurt. But the bolt is what really needs the grease.

[@armanlabrada3114]

Thanks for your video. I am going to clean my rear derailleur as well. Can you tell me how to mount the derailleur onto the frame? There is a small wedge with a screw on the end of the mounting arm. Does the wedge go inside or outside the frame (between the mounting arm and the frame)?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

I have no clue what wedge you are referring to.

[@armanlabrada3114]

@@RJTheBikeGuy the little tab that is screwed in by where the axle passes through. It's not present in your video.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

@@armanlabrada3114 I am guessing you are talking about the hanger. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eoCYh2anoLxja8k

[@mukeshpandya4171]

I think we saw another video of derailer where flange opens and closes based on tension/ pedaling.. i think that was awesome design.. This one too is pretty neat. You make it look so simple but no its not! Please can you give suggestion on how to wash those greasy hands and clean those black greasy rags, cleaning those bike chains etc?

[@TuneDownUtilities]

For cleaning my hands I use a hand cleaner with sand/wood flour/granules (search for "hand cleaner" on amazon) for cleaning my chain I usually use the cheapest cleaning cloth I can get at my local department store (It's 6 rags for ~1.50€)combined with the park tool chain cleaning thing. unless the rag is to dirty or ripped, I handwash them and reuse them. 1 rag usually lasts twice in summer and one time in winter.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

I use Gojo orange hand cleaner with pumice in it.

[@mukeshpandya4171]

TuneDownUtilities Thank you, i live in apartment so its hardly a choice, i use normal soap and disk scrubber to scrub all grease off hands.. while i use cotton rags (buy a pack of kilos) and reuse the rags after washing from the wasted water from the loads of washing machine, each cycle the discarded luke warm water does a trick i use that water to wash all greasy rags. It works but not as good as shown in some videos. Thanks for the tips.

[@mukeshpandya4171]

RJ The Bike Guy sorry mate, i honestly have no idea what you mentioned never heard anything of that sort in Aus....Thank you.

[@atelierbqam5933]

Hello RJ, I have a Suntour seven from the 80's but there seems to be a problem with the pivot bolt. It has a bad "tension" and the derailleur will fumble when on the smaler gears. I was wondering if the problem could be with the fact that there is only one washer behind the pivot bolt?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJjMf6iAg96hg8U

[@michelchartrand5964]

@@RJTheBikeGuy still me different account. Thanks for the vid but the suntour doesnt have a spring around its pivot bolt.

[@zombpocolypseiscomin]

super interesting!

[@BuffSquadBigBenni]

Thanks for the video. RJ, what is your opinion on Squirt Lube?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

I don't know it.

[@BuffSquadBigBenni]

It's a brand (the most popular one, I believe) of wax based lubricant for bike chains.

[@sharkp21]

I can suggest the next video on how to determine how many teeth can have at most the front plate of a crankset, and rear biggest pinion for a rear derallieur to 8 or 9 speed such as Shimano XT. i mean i installed a 50/39 front crankset and a 12/32 back cassette and with a shimano xt i'm having troubles with chain length. thanks

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4OUdImNmMyola8

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e33WfKWdidljpbs

[@zkomins]

do all derailurs disassemble like this? The only service I have ever done to a derailur is removing the pulleys to clean up and regrease

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Nope. I have a few other videos of derailleur teardowns.

[@thebeardedcyclist9518]

This was great, I have a 1983 Fuji Berkeley with most of the original components still intact, including the Suntour 7 rd. I watched your long cage vs short cage derailleur video, and I'm looking to upgrade the Suntour 7 with something similar for friction shifting. The max capacity on my drivetrain is 24 teeth. I'm eyeing a Sunrace RDM-10 (only available in long cage) with a max capacity of 35T, which is meant for friction shifting (at least, according to Sunrace), and a RDM-15 short cage with a max capacity of 26T, but the specs say 5 speed....I assume that means indexed, but would it work with my friction shifters?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

I wouldn't assume indexed. Actually I am guessing it's not. But an indexed derailleur should work fine with friction shifters anyway.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

You could always go to indexed shifting. Personally, I love indexed shifting.

[@thebeardedcyclist9518]

Great, thanks for the advice :D

[@thebeardedcyclist9518]

OK, dumb question...will a Shimano Tourney (RD-X35) work with my 24 max capacity drivetrain even though it is meant for a 6-7 speed drivetrain?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Maybe. If you are going to 8 speed, you might spend a little more to buy a nice 8 speed derailleur. Tourney is pretty low end.

[@blakeworsham3026]

I feel like I'm always waiting for you to break out the "marine grease". What brand do you use?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

I think it is Peak. But it's just what is available at the auto parts store.

[@blakeworsham3026]

Cool, just finished a vintage lotus legend and just started a vintage lotus unique. Keep up the good work? Do you do patreon?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

No, I don't do Patreon, but thanks!

[@TheRedRota]

Why not?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Just not interested in asking my viewers to donate money. My production costs are not much anyway.

[@zecamr]

7:22 estou tentando soltar essa peça mas esta dificil! É de uma bicicleta de uns 40 anos!

[@carmi02]

Thanks i was able to clean up and my wife is on the road

[@TonyVeart]

RJ have you got Sachs Huret Derailleur to do a teardown on?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Maybe. I will have to look.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

I have a couple of them at least. Is there a particular model you were wanting?

[@TonyVeart]

Hi RJ that would be really great if you could do a video. I am trying to restore a Batavus Champion all I can see marking wise on the derailleur is that it is a Sachs Huret ECO made in France in 1987. Many Thanks!

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

The derailleur is the one from this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZ6qpIutep16fMk Does that look similar?

[@TonyVeart]

Looks very similar if not the same one.

[@JogieGlenMait]

on what bike is it usually used with?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Old ones.

[@JogieGlenMait]

like town bikes?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Road bikes.

[@theprogg569]

cool

[@the.communist]

id never be able to put that back in place again!

[@ziyadzezo4713]

I love you

[@ellisoncastellanos4063]

you wouldnt happen to have a suntour alpha 3000??

[@paulschultz7955]

Did you ever get it figured out? I have a 3000 I just disassembled 😂

[@Zezims]

Every time I touch any of my chain, derailleur, or freewheel parts, my hands get incredibly dirty. No matter how much cleaning I do, it still is pretty black down there.... how can I fix this?

[@corylannon8546]

You might be over oiling the chain, excess oil will grab dirt and hold onto it. I usually clean everything real good, then oil and run through all the gear combos then wipe off the excess oil after a few minutes. Seems to work okay. I also try to clean my chain/gears/pulleys after every rainy ride. Getting it 100% clean is not really feasible though.

[@Zezims]

Cory Lannon thanks

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

I use Finish Line Dry chain lube and apply one drop per link. That is after a thorough cleaning. That usually doesn't leave the chain all oily. kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZm7kmNtebyigbc

[@gregx6524]

If your chain rings are aluminum, the black is from them as they wear.

[@billzielke6798]

RJ, you made me cringe a bit when you were tightening that stopper bolt. I could see where the Phillips might slip and run you through your palm. Otherwise, good video, as always!

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

I wasn't pushing down much at at all.