Threading
Peugeot bikes prior to approximately 1980 have French threading for both bottom brackets and forks/headsets. Around 1980
Peugeot began converting over to British threading or 'B.S.A.' During the conversion period they also used 'Swiss' threaded
bottom brackets. All 3 types of threading, French, Swiss and British were not used at the same time. Full conversion to British
threading was completed by 1986 and possibly sooner.
Information on dating the transition away from French threading (metric tubes) is partialy based on an E-mail from the Reynolds
Tubing company based in England. Reynolds has documentation of Peugeot using metric and Imperial tubing in the U.K during
1978, Imperial only in the U.K. for 1981 and metric only for the French market in 1980. Its very clear the transition began
around 1980. Information is also based on first hand accounts from Peugeot owners with bikes from a known year and Peugeot
catalogs.
Forks/headsets
HEADSEATS WILL BE FRENCH OR BRITISH THREADED ONLY.
French headsets have 25x1 threading. Slightly less than 1 inch (25.4mm) across with a pitch of 1 thread per mm.
British headsets have 1' (25.4mm)x24 t.p.i threading. They are slighly larger diameter than French headsets (25.mm) with a
pitch of 24 threads per inch or 1.058mm versus the French pitch of 1mm.
The easiest way to determine if your Peugeot has French or British threading is to remove the stem and check for a stamping,
22.o will be French while 22.2 is British If you cant find a stamping you next option is to measure the stem. If it measures 22
mm or less (mine measure 21.97) its French. If it measures 22.2mm its British. Replacement French headsets are becoming
difficult to find and problems arise when replacement parts are needed. Peugeot forks can found on Ebay in like new condition
for reasonable prices. French headsets are more difficult to find and can be expensive. If your in need of a new one there are
several solutions. Choose the one that best fits your needs.
1. Replacement French headset. Direct replacement but can be difficult to find and sometimes expensive.
2. Hybrid headset. If only the lower portion of your headset needs replacing, British headset parts will interchange with the
lower half of a French headset. The netire lower half needs to replaced as a unit.
3. Replace fork and headset. Convert to British!!!. British headsets and fork are inexpensive. A full conversion can be
reasonable. Parts needed are:
a. Fork
b. Headset
c. Stem (British forks take a larger 22.2mm stem)
d. Handlebar (British stems take a larger diameter handlebar)
Some people like to cut corners and 'shim' a French 22.0mm stem up to the 22.2mm British size. This is easily done by cutting a
thin soda can. Remember you only need a thickness of .1mm for the shim. I'm not a proponent of shimming stems and dont
recommend this technique.
Peugeot bikes prior to approximately 1980 have French threading for both bottom brackets and forks/headsets. Around 1980
Peugeot began converting over to British threading or 'B.S.A.' During the conversion period they also used 'Swiss' threaded
bottom brackets. All 3 types of threading, French, Swiss and British were not used at the same time. Full conversion to British
threading was completed by 1986 and possibly sooner.
Information on dating the transition away from French threading (metric tubes) is partialy based on an E-mail from the Reynolds
Tubing company based in England. Reynolds has documentation of Peugeot using metric and Imperial tubing in the U.K during
1978, Imperial only in the U.K. for 1981 and metric only for the French market in 1980. Its very clear the transition began
around 1980. Information is also based on first hand accounts from Peugeot owners with bikes from a known year and Peugeot
catalogs.
Forks/headsets
HEADSEATS WILL BE FRENCH OR BRITISH THREADED ONLY.
French headsets have 25x1 threading. Slightly less than 1 inch (25.4mm) across with a pitch of 1 thread per mm.
British headsets have 1' (25.4mm)x24 t.p.i threading. They are slighly larger diameter than French headsets (25.mm) with a
pitch of 24 threads per inch or 1.058mm versus the French pitch of 1mm.
The easiest way to determine if your Peugeot has French or British threading is to remove the stem and check for a stamping,
22.o will be French while 22.2 is British If you cant find a stamping you next option is to measure the stem. If it measures 22
mm or less (mine measure 21.97) its French. If it measures 22.2mm its British. Replacement French headsets are becoming
difficult to find and problems arise when replacement parts are needed. Peugeot forks can found on Ebay in like new condition
for reasonable prices. French headsets are more difficult to find and can be expensive. If your in need of a new one there are
several solutions. Choose the one that best fits your needs.
1. Replacement French headset. Direct replacement but can be difficult to find and sometimes expensive.
2. Hybrid headset. If only the lower portion of your headset needs replacing, British headset parts will interchange with the
lower half of a French headset. The netire lower half needs to replaced as a unit.
3. Replace fork and headset. Convert to British!!!. British headsets and fork are inexpensive. A full conversion can be
reasonable. Parts needed are:
a. Fork
b. Headset
c. Stem (British forks take a larger 22.2mm stem)
d. Handlebar (British stems take a larger diameter handlebar)
Some people like to cut corners and 'shim' a French 22.0mm stem up to the 22.2mm British size. This is easily done by cutting a
thin soda can. Remember you only need a thickness of .1mm for the shim. I'm not a proponent of shimming stems and dont
recommend this technique.
| Cycles Peugeot |
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Bottom Brackets
Bottom brackets can be either French, Swiss or British threaded. Left=adjustable=non-gear side. Right=fixed=gear side.
French bottom brackets have 35x1 threading thats right hand threaded only on both the adjustable (left) and fixed (right) sides.
Swiss bottom brackets have 35x1 left hand threads on the gear side (fixed) and right hand threads on the left (adjustable)
British bottom brackets have 1.370"x24 threading thats left handed on the gear side (fixed) and right handed on the non-gear
side (adjustable). 1.370" diameter threading converts to 34.798mm while 24 tpi converts to a pitch of 1.058
In general if you have a 70's model Peugeot it will have French threading. Bikes produced around 1980 and later will have
either French or Swiss threading and bikes produced in the early to mid eighties will have Swiss or British threading. Peugeots
1981 U.K. catalog clearly states a '35X1 thread L.H. fixed cup' indicating Swiss threading. By 1986 all bikes were built with
British threading. Check the cup on the crankset side for a stamping, some are marked while others are not. Swiss cups can be
identified by a 'ring' on the outer circumference of the cup or a 'gold' coloring.
All cups on the non-gear/left side un-thread in the direction the crankarms move while pedaling
French fixed cups (gear side) un-thread in the direction the crankarms move when pedaling backwards.
Swiss and fixed cups un-thread in the direction the crankarm moves while pedaling forwards.
British fixed cups un-thread in the direction the crankarm moves while pedaling forwards.
If you need a replacement bottom bracket your needs change depending on the style of BB.
French bottom brackets need to replaced with French bottom brackets only.
Swiss bottom brackets should be replaced with Swiss only. British bottom brackets may fit as the threading is very close. British
cups in a Swiss frame will be a little lose or sloppy as the British thread is a slighly smaller diameter but its also a slightly
different pitch. Because of the difference in thread pitch they may not thread all the way in. Some times they work, sometimes
they dont. British bottom brackets are readily availble at any local bicycle store.
Bottom brackets can be either French, Swiss or British threaded. Left=adjustable=non-gear side. Right=fixed=gear side.
French bottom brackets have 35x1 threading thats right hand threaded only on both the adjustable (left) and fixed (right) sides.
Swiss bottom brackets have 35x1 left hand threads on the gear side (fixed) and right hand threads on the left (adjustable)
British bottom brackets have 1.370"x24 threading thats left handed on the gear side (fixed) and right handed on the non-gear
side (adjustable). 1.370" diameter threading converts to 34.798mm while 24 tpi converts to a pitch of 1.058
In general if you have a 70's model Peugeot it will have French threading. Bikes produced around 1980 and later will have
either French or Swiss threading and bikes produced in the early to mid eighties will have Swiss or British threading. Peugeots
1981 U.K. catalog clearly states a '35X1 thread L.H. fixed cup' indicating Swiss threading. By 1986 all bikes were built with
British threading. Check the cup on the crankset side for a stamping, some are marked while others are not. Swiss cups can be
identified by a 'ring' on the outer circumference of the cup or a 'gold' coloring.
All cups on the non-gear/left side un-thread in the direction the crankarms move while pedaling
French fixed cups (gear side) un-thread in the direction the crankarms move when pedaling backwards.
Swiss and fixed cups un-thread in the direction the crankarm moves while pedaling forwards.
British fixed cups un-thread in the direction the crankarm moves while pedaling forwards.
If you need a replacement bottom bracket your needs change depending on the style of BB.
French bottom brackets need to replaced with French bottom brackets only.
Swiss bottom brackets should be replaced with Swiss only. British bottom brackets may fit as the threading is very close. British
cups in a Swiss frame will be a little lose or sloppy as the British thread is a slighly smaller diameter but its also a slightly
different pitch. Because of the difference in thread pitch they may not thread all the way in. Some times they work, sometimes
they dont. British bottom brackets are readily availble at any local bicycle store.
| Swiss cups are easily identifiable by a ring around the circumference. They may also be yellow/gold in color |
| click image |
Derailleurs
Early Peugeot frames do not have threaded derailleur hangers. Derailleurs were attached with a fixing bolt that threaded into
the derailleur from the inside of the hanger. Later Peugeots from the early 80's on used Campagnolo style threaded derailleur
hangers. Derailleurs for Campy style dropouts have either an integral fixing bolt or a fixing bolt that threads into the derailleur
through the hanger.
Early style hangers will only accept original style Simplex derailleurs as direct bolt-ons. Early style frames can accept Campy
style derailleurs with modifications. Frames can either be be drilled, tapped and filed or a bolt-on hanger can be added.
Early Peugeot frames do not have threaded derailleur hangers. Derailleurs were attached with a fixing bolt that threaded into
the derailleur from the inside of the hanger. Later Peugeots from the early 80's on used Campagnolo style threaded derailleur
hangers. Derailleurs for Campy style dropouts have either an integral fixing bolt or a fixing bolt that threads into the derailleur
through the hanger.
Early style hangers will only accept original style Simplex derailleurs as direct bolt-ons. Early style frames can accept Campy
style derailleurs with modifications. Frames can either be be drilled, tapped and filed or a bolt-on hanger can be added.
| Installation of a Campy style derailleur may require drilling of the hanger and tapping with 10X1mm tap. A tab will need to be filled into the hanger to properly position of the derailleur tang. |
| Campagnolo style hanger with tab for Campy type derailleur tang, threads and notch for Simplex style tang. |
| 5 mm allen bolt threads into rear derailleur. Tab for Campy style derailleurs can be seen below fixing bolt. |
| A bolt on hanger can be added to Simplex style dropouts which will allow the use of Campy style derailleurs. Sawing off of the old hanger may necessary!!! DO NOT DREW YOUR FRAME UNLESS ITS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY |
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| click image |
| click image |
| click image |
Freewheels
Freewheels through at least 1982 have French threading. B.S.A. freewheels will thread on as the diameter is larger by .1mm
but may become tight and have difficulty fully threading due to a difference in thread pitch
Freewheels through at least 1982 have French threading. B.S.A. freewheels will thread on as the diameter is larger by .1mm
but may become tight and have difficulty fully threading due to a difference in thread pitch
| French threads 34.7 X 1 B.S.A. freewheels are .1mm larger in diameter with a different pitch. Pitch differences are the limiting factor |
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