I'll start by mentioning I'm very new to modifying and repairing bikes so I may say things which seem stupid to the more experienced on the forum, but just ask me to explain, I'm aware.
I've got a 17 inch Marin Muirwoods frame. I fancied trying out drop handlebars, so I bought some and the vertical brakes to fit. After fitting cables and going to a test cycle I find the brakes firstly do not bite hard enough to stop the bike, neither to the fully release when I loose the brakes. The cable does not fully pull back through tight, just hangs loosely through the hole the end fits into in the brake lever.
I have a set of V brakes, all set to the highest tension (those sets of 3 holes on the frame). I have experimented with tightening and loosening the screw that affects the caliper springs. The cables are perfectly taut. With the arms so far from the rims I believe the levers aren't pulling the pads tight enough then the arms are not pulling the cable far enough back through, leaving me with no brake and no release.
I suspect the springs in the calipers are very old and could be weak, could this be the root of the problem? The levers themselves have no springs but I understand the pull from the brake arms should be enough? Perhaps it's just a matter of me experimenting with different balances of tension until I find one to work?
Any help will be hugely appreciated.
Brakes not releasing?
Re: Brakes not releasing?
To go with normal drop bar brake levers, you need mini-Vee brakes, eg http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/tektro-926al-mini-v-brake/rp-prod34580?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Shopping&utm_name=UnitedKingdom&gs=1&gclid=CO7dkM2koMACFVDKtAodhzMA5Q&gclsrc=aw.ds
If you have full-size Vee brakes eg http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shimano-deore-t610-v-brakes/rp-prod107375?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Shopping&utm_name=UnitedKingdom&gs=1&gclid=COy4xYaloMACFY_ItAodsRsAOA&gclsrc=aw.ds
Then you need drop bar Vee brake levers, eg http://www.shinybikes.com/Tektro-RL-520-Drop-Bar-Levers-Pair-Silver?language=en¤cy=GBP&gclid=CMicjqaloMACFecSwwodmQQAsQ
Regular drop bar brake levers don't pull enough cable for full-size Vee brakes
If you have full-size Vee brakes eg http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shimano-deore-t610-v-brakes/rp-prod107375?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Shopping&utm_name=UnitedKingdom&gs=1&gclid=COy4xYaloMACFY_ItAodsRsAOA&gclsrc=aw.ds
Then you need drop bar Vee brake levers, eg http://www.shinybikes.com/Tektro-RL-520-Drop-Bar-Levers-Pair-Silver?language=en¤cy=GBP&gclid=CMicjqaloMACFecSwwodmQQAsQ
Regular drop bar brake levers don't pull enough cable for full-size Vee brakes
Bike fitting D.I.Y. .....http://wheel-easy.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/bike-set-up-2017a.pdf
Tracks in the Dales etc...http://www.flickr.com/photos/52358536@N06/collections/
Tracks in the Dales etc...http://www.flickr.com/photos/52358536@N06/collections/
Re: Brakes not releasing?
in addition I suspect that either the spring force is not enough to pull the lever back or the lever/cable is draggy in some way and won't pull back.
If you are not super-careful with the cable preparation and lubrication, you can easily end up with slightly draggy cables.
cheers
If you are not super-careful with the cable preparation and lubrication, you can easily end up with slightly draggy cables.
cheers
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Brucey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Brucey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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- Posts: 2
- Joined: 19 Aug 2014, 9:21pm
Re: Brakes not releasing?
Nice, thanks very much! Will set about sorting it.