help identify this

[alorio1]

Chances are, he did not remove the bottom pan to remove the broken tooth, its been there since you bought the bike. Also most gears don't just knock one tooth off, its usually several, and if he did fish out what he thought was all the teeth he did not count the number of teeth missing and left one hidden in a place he could not see. After start-up and ridden for a while it finally made its way to the bottom pan where you found it. Thats just my theory and I could be way off Base.

 

[m-cman]

How long did the PO have the bike and how many miles did he put on it? A 1990 may have had several PO's and one of them may have changed the gear. If the subsequent owner(s) put few miles on the bike, maybe it hasn't had enough heat cycles to turn yellow. Just an idea.....

 

[unblind]

How long did the PO have the bike and how many miles did he put on it? A 1990 may have had several PO's and one of them may have changed the gear. If the subsequent owner(s) put few miles on the bike, maybe it hasn't had enough heat cycles to turn yellow. Just an idea.....

Talked to owner again today to confirm he had never replaced anything in the 4 or 5 years and 6k miles he had it. ( cool old guy )
I did show a friend of mine and he seems to think the same as me , it must have been replaced at some point - otherwise there wouldn't be such a dramatic difference in colors of the gears. :ummm:

 

[gamorg02]

i agree.