Benelux mid-50's derailleur - not adding tension - any ideas?

[DCLane]

I've been working on the Carlton I picked up from @Jfk262 last November and am almost done. However, I've hit one final snag which I can't resolve. The rear derailleur doesn't appear to add tension and, as a result, the chain slips quite a lot and I can only get three of the five gears.

It's a 1955 Carlton running Benelux gearing, I'm unsure of which type but it appears to be 1949-1953 Cyclo Benelux. To say I'm unfamiliar with these would be an understatement. It's been removed, after being coated in gunk, rust and grease for many years, cleaned and re-greased before re-fitting with a new cable outer and inner.

The bike originally as picked up and derailleur looked like this:

Progress has been made, with the Carlton now looking a bit tidier:

However, the rear derailleur just doesn't shift properly. Current photo of it:

Any suggestions would be gratefully appreciated.

 

[Gillstay]

Is it just that your chain is too short ? Does it improve if you move the wheel as far forward as you can ?

 

[DCLane]

Is it just that your chain is too short ? Does it improve if you move the wheel as far forward as you can ?

The chain is the same length as previously and no, moving the wheel doesn't appear to change it. I can only get the three middle gears.

 

[Gillstay]

Then I think there must be a spring displaced somewhere stopping the jockey wheel being pulled backwards and thus giving tension to the chain. Not that I know anything about Benelux.

 

[classic33]

Appears to be "missing" the outer spring arm, and to have acquired an additional locking arm(which appears to have been removed and replaced at some stage) which may be holding the cage under tension in use.
Has the spring moved whilst being cleaned?

 

[Poacher]

Your link to rymotunes confused me!
Have a look at the excellent photos on disraeligears - it looks like a Mark 7 (2nd style)'
See if there's anything missing on your example - could be a problem finding spares, though!

Edit: also have a look at the documents tab - there's a page on fitting instructions, a Raleigh "Care for your cycle" booklet and a Cyclo Benelux catalogue. The value of the disraeligears site rivals the sainted Sheldon Brown's!

 

[tyred]

It looks slightly different from the one on my Raleigh Trent but from memory, you will notice that the tab of the spring can be seen where I have put the red mark and if you slide that cover back, you should find a large nut which locks it against the arm. If you undo it slightly, you can set the tension by rotating the spring and doing up the nut again when you are happy with the tension. One of those things where three hands would be useful!

 

[normgow]

The chain still appears to be too short. Maybe the previous chain was too.

 

[tyred]

I'd say the chain seems too short too as I look at it.

My Trent is at my parents' place so I'll take a picture of how it's set up at the weekend.

I played around with chain length as I recall as the chain was missing when I got the bike.

With a bit of practice, it works perfectly well, but it's not a fast change like modern derailleurs.

 

[Jameshow]

My guess would be a weak be broken spring...

Replace with di2 best bet.....

Gets hat, coat leaves....🤣

 

[biggs682]

Definitely looks like something is not right but then I have not seen my Lenton for a while.

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/my-50s-raleigh-roadster.196906/

Like @tyred said I remember slacking a nut off and turning the coil then tightening it up

 

[DCLane]

Thanks for the suggestions, which I’ve tried out today.

@Gillstay @tyred and @normgow – the chain was shortened and it definitely wasn’t this. It's now back to the original length.

@Gillstay – I also tried the spring tension. This may have helped here.

Yes, @classic33 – the outer spring arm looked to have moved. Getting it back into place helped a bit.

Thanks @Poacher – the link helped but it looks like the whole derailleur is pretty worn.

@tyred – that helped. The nut’s been adjusted.

 

[Paulus]

Thanks for the suggestions, which I’ve tried out today.

@Gillstay @tyred and @normgow – the chain was shortened and it definitely wasn’t this. It's now back to the original length.

@Gillstay – I also tried the spring tension. This may have helped here.

Yes, @classic33 – the outer spring arm looked to have moved. Getting it back into place helped a bit.

Thanks @Poacher – the link helped but it looks like the whole derailleur is pretty worn.

@tyred – that helped. The nut’s been adjusted.

Can we take it that it's kind of working now?

 

[DCLane]

Can we take it that it's kind of working now?

Mostly - I can get 6-8 gears of the 10 - but my thought is that it probably needs a replacement derailleur. The cage is quite battered, the spring unit a bit rusty.

But at least it works.

 

[tyred]

I just remembered I promised a picture of mine but forgot!