Tightening brake cables

[Lee]

Hi all,

On my way in today i noticed my back brake was pretty much dead - i could pull the lever right
back and only get slight friction. On looking further my pads are fairly worn anyway but my left
pad seems to "stick" on the wheel - i dont think there is enough tension in the brake cable to
pull it back.

I have located what i believe to be a tensioner - its a screw like thing just to the right of my
brake handle - if i turn this a bit and pull more brake cable through will this solve my problem?

Thanks in advance

Lee

[Rg]

"Lee" <gnippernospampleasemuchly@nospampleasemuchlyverymuch.btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:vku1bfeu6lv9cb@corp.supernews.com...
> Hi all,
>
> On my way in today i noticed my back brake was pretty much dead - i could pull the lever right
> back and only get slight friction. On looking
further
> my pads are fairly worn anyway but my left pad seems to "stick" on the wheel - i dont think there
> is enough tension in the brake cable to pull it back.
>
> I have located what i believe to be a tensioner - its a screw like thing just to the right of my
> brake handle - if i turn this a bit and pull more brake cable through will this solve my problem?
>
> Thanks in advance
>
> Lee
>
>

Quick answer is YES - but, and please take this comment in the spirit with which it is made : given
the apparent level of your knowledge AND the vital importance of brakes (!!) I suggest that you
either take the bike to a shop or get a copy of the Haynes bike manual (Halfords sell it, or your
library may have it) so you can fully understand what you need to do.

RG

[Mule]

> On my way in today i noticed my back brake was pretty much dead - i could pull the lever right
> back and only get slight friction. On looking further my pads are fairly worn anyway but my left
> pad seems to "stick" on the wheel - i dont think there is enough tension in the brake cable to
> pull it back.

There is also a screw (or should be) on the outer side of the left hand brake arm (and on the
right). If you tighten it (clockwise) it should create more tension in the spring to pull it away
from the arm.

Try this too.

> I have located what i believe to be a tensioner - its a screw like thing just to the right of my
> brake handle - if i turn this a bit and pull more brake cable through will this solve my problem?

What you describe here might be the brake reach adjustment. If your brake cable is slack, maybe the
locknut (near the brake arms) is loose. If not, try loosening it a bit, pulling a bit more cable
through, then tightening it up again to create more tension.

Brakes can be fiddly. Touch one thing and sometimes you change a few. Have a play and you'll soon
get used to it.

--
...meandering mule...

[Mule]

Hi lee

RG's is good advice too. If you're not technically minded, get yourself a manual or take your bike
to the LBS - but ask them to show you how to do it for any future problems.

--
...meandering mule...

[Mule]

> create more tension in the spring to pull it away from the arm.

...should read...

"create more tension in the spring to pull it away from the wheel RIM."

--
...meandering mule...

[Lee]

"mule" <meanderingmule.nospam@nospam.breathe.com> wrote in message
news:Xns93E66C2A619B5meanderingmule@81.1.65.80...
> > create more tension in the spring to pull it away from the arm.
>
> ...should read...
>
> "create more tension in the spring to pull it away from the wheel RIM."
>
>
> --
> ...meandering mule...

Thanks for your advice guys.

Think a trip to the LBS is looking likely - a good service wouldnt hurt and I need some new gear
cogs in any case!

[Pete Biggs]

Lee wrote:
> On my way in today i noticed my back brake was pretty much dead - i could pull the lever right
> back and only get slight friction. On looking further my pads are fairly worn anyway but my left
> pad seems to "stick" on the wheel - i dont think there is enough tension in the brake cable to
> pull it back.
>
> I have located what i believe to be a tensioner - its a screw like thing just to the right of my
> brake handle - if i turn this a bit and pull more brake cable through will this solve my problem?

No, I think you need to centre the brakes. How you do that depends on the type and model of brakes.

If the cable passes through the thing you describe then that's a cable adjuster and it will help
reduce the amount the lever needs to be pulled. It's important that the brake lever won't hit the
handlebar no matter how hard you pull it. Brake pads should be replaced if there's virtually no
material left.

~PB

[Elyob]

"Lee" <gnippernospampleasemuchly@nospampleasemuchlyverymuch.btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:vku1bfeu6lv9cb@corp.supernews.com...
> Hi all,
>
> On my way in today i noticed my back brake was pretty much dead - i could pull the lever right
> back and only get slight friction. On looking
further
> my pads are fairly worn anyway but my left pad seems to "stick" on the wheel - i dont think there
> is enough tension in the brake cable to pull it back.
>
> I have located what i believe to be a tensioner - its a screw like thing just to the right of my
> brake handle - if i turn this a bit and pull more brake cable through will this solve my problem?
>
> Thanks in advance
>
> Lee
>
>

I go with other advice on this list. Find someone who knows brakes and get some advice in person.
They are far too vital to be played around with. Apart from the obvious "can't stop", you could
wear through the tyre to create a snake bite puncture. They are nasty, that's how my Dad broke his
collar bone.

[Elyob]

"Lee" <gnippernospampleasemuchly@nospampleasemuchlyverymuch.btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:vku8amspopm2d7@corp.supernews.com...
>
> "mule" <meanderingmule.nospam@nospam.breathe.com> wrote in message
> news:Xns93E66C2A619B5meanderingmule@81.1.65.80...
> > > create more tension in the spring to pull it away from the arm.
> >
> > ...should read...
> >
> > "create more tension in the spring to pull it away from the wheel RIM."
> >
> >
> > --
> > ...meandering mule...
>
> Thanks for your advice guys.
>
> Think a trip to the LBS is looking likely - a good service wouldnt hurt
and
> I need some new gear cogs in any case!
>
>

So, a new chain as well then ....

[Lee]

"elyob" <newsprofile@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:TiI3b.7510$eo5.70748219@news-text.cableinet.net...
>
> "Lee"
<gnippernospampleasemuchly@nospampleasemuchlyverymuch.btinternet.com>
> wrote in message news:vku1bfeu6lv9cb@corp.supernews.com...
> > Hi all,
> >
> > On my way in today i noticed my back brake was pretty much dead - i
could
> > pull the lever right back and only get slight friction. On looking
> further
> > my pads are fairly worn anyway but my left pad seems to "stick" on the wheel - i dont think
> > there is enough tension in the brake cable to pull
it
> > back.
> >
> > I have located what i believe to be a tensioner - its a screw like thing just to the right of my
> > brake handle - if i turn this a bit and pull
more
> > brake cable through will this solve my problem?
> >
> > Thanks in advance
> >
> > Lee
> >
> >
>
> I go with other advice on this list. Find someone who knows brakes and get some advice in person.
> They are far too vital to be played around with. Apart from the obvious "can't stop", you could
> wear through the tyre to create a snake bite puncture. They are nasty, that's how my Dad broke his
> collar bone.
>
>
>
>

Well i had a fiddle at dinner and tightened the cable a bit - it seems much better now.

On careful inspection the rear brake pads are quite worn and so it will be time to get some new ones
I think. May also need some brake holders too as these seem rather rusty!

Lee

[Lee]

"elyob" <newsprofile@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:FjI3b.7513$0q5.70775973@news-text.cableinet.net...
>
> "Lee"
<gnippernospampleasemuchly@nospampleasemuchlyverymuch.btinternet.com>
> wrote in message news:vku8amspopm2d7@corp.supernews.com...
> >
> > "mule" <meanderingmule.nospam@nospam.breathe.com> wrote in message
> > news:Xns93E66C2A619B5meanderingmule@81.1.65.80...
> > > > create more tension in the spring to pull it away from the arm.
> > >
> > > ...should read...
> > >
> > > "create more tension in the spring to pull it away from the wheel
RIM."
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > ...meandering mule...
> >
> > Thanks for your advice guys.
> >
> > Think a trip to the LBS is looking likely - a good service wouldnt hurt
> and
> > I need some new gear cogs in any case!
> >
> >
>
> So, a new chain as well then ....
>
>
>

Nah, my chain is only a few weeks old - that was the 1st thing i got sorted - well, after 2 new
inner tubes of course!

[Elyob]

"Lee" <gnippernospampleasemuchly@nospampleasemuchlyverymuch.btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:vkukfoakhopb1b@corp.supernews.com...
>
>
> Nah, my chain is only a few weeks old - that was the 1st thing i got sorted - well, after 2 new
> inner tubes of course!
>

Generally speaking, new 'cogs' and chains should be purchased at same time. They bed in with
each other.

[Just Zis Guy]

On Fri, 29 Aug 2003 14:14:07 GMT, "elyob" <newsprofile@hotmail.com> wrote:

>Generally speaking, new 'cogs' and chains should be purchased at same time. They bed in with
>each other.

Or you buy three chains and rotate them, and with luck a cassette will last through more than one
set. Or you keep the chain clean and well-lubed and the cassette will last several chains.

But if you don't keep things clean and lubed, expect to replace both together.

Guy
===
** WARNING ** This posting may contain traces of irony. http://www.chapmancentral.com (http://www.chapmancentral.com/) New!
Improved!! Now with added extra Demon!

[Geraint Jones]

Stevie <uk.rec.cycling@sjd117.freeserve.co.uk> D wrote: ( Lee wrote: ) > Well i had a fiddle at
dinner ( ) I tried one of those last week, not impressed. It was very wooden and ( stringy, I don't
think it had been cooked for long enough.

I have a gut feeling that this is a mistake, and that people will soon be harping on about
minimalist cuisine, fish scales and kettle drums.

[Stevie D]

Lee wrote:

> Well i had a fiddle at dinner

I tried one of those last week, not impressed. It was very wooden and stringy, I don't think it had
been cooked for long enough.

--
Stevie D \\\\\ ///// Bringing dating agencies to the \\\\\\\__X__///////
common hedgehog since 2001 - "HedgeHugs" ___\\\\\\\'/
\'///////_____________________________________________

[Tony W]

"wafflyDIRTYcatLITTERhcsBOX" <wafflycathcs@aol.comcomcom> wrote in message
news:20030903070058.06364.00000255@mb-m10.aol.com...
> >I have a gut feeling that this is a mistake, and that people will soon be harping on about
> >minimalist cuisine, fish scales and kettle drums.
>
> People will be making a song and dance about it and even fret about it. I really should just
> scroll past such threads. But it could all be part of
an
> orchestrated attempt to get a thread OT again.

It should be band.

T

Dyslexia rools KO

[Stevie D]

Tony W wrote:

>> People will be making a song and dance about it and even fret about it. I really should just
>> scroll past such threads. But it could all be part of an orchestrated attempt to get a thread
>> OT again.
>
> It should be band.

I knew it wood wind up like this. One little cornet and everyone goes all musical on me.

--
Stevie D \\\\\ ///// Bringing dating agencies to the \\\\\\\__X__///////
common hedgehog since 2001 - "HedgeHugs" ___\\\\\\\'/
\'///////_____________________________________________

[Lee]

"Stevie D" <stevieinyorkNOSPAM@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:0qeblv82idua68jn705e4jl5f9s9q9k19f@4ax.com...
> Lee wrote:
>
> > Well i had a fiddle at dinner
>
> I tried one of those last week, not impressed. It was very wooden and stringy, I don't think it
> had been cooked for long enough.
>
> --
> Stevie D \\\\\ ///// Bringing dating agencies to the \\\\\\\__X__///////
> common hedgehog since 2001 - "HedgeHugs" ___\\\\\\\'/
> \'///////_____________________________________________

Ha ha!

[Lee]

"Stevie D" <stevieinyorkNOSPAM@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:dh0clvgq78usdcie2acv08ti5upj433o9s@4ax.com...
> Tony W wrote:
>
> >> People will be making a song and dance about it and even fret about it.
I
> >> really should just scroll past such threads. But it could all be part
of
> >> an orchestrated attempt to get a thread OT again.
> >
> > It should be band.
>
> I knew it wood wind up like this. One little cornet and everyone goes all musical on me.
>
> --
> Stevie D \\\\\ ///// Bringing dating agencies to the \\\\\\\__X__///////
> common hedgehog since 2001 - "HedgeHugs" ___\\\\\\\'/
> \'///////_____________________________________________

Groan!