Bicycle Mechanics - V-Brakes very tight ... won't spring back

OK so I'm an idiot ....

Today while assembling a new bike I went and adjusted the back brakes. now they line up properly and everything, but they are very tight - hard to apply the brakes then they won't spring back and I can't figure out how to fix it .. is it an easy fix or should I spend $10 to get the bike shop to adjust them lol ...

I hate myself ..

What did you adjust, was it the centering screws. If you loosened these too much you will have a problem with brakes not springing back. Give a bit more info and someone may be able to help.

If tightening the centering screws still doesn't do it, you can remove both brake arms, and you may see three holes that the spring-arm piece can insert into. Try inserting both of them into one of the alternate sets of holes.

Before doing this, however, look at the cabling. Try loosening the brake's anchor bolt and moving the cable through the housing with your hand and the brake lever. It should move smoothy and nearly effortlessly. If not, then it's a problem with your cable/housing.

It was working fine then I messed it up somehow .. I think maybe I need to put a bit of lube on the pivots and start again ... its raining now and I gotta go to work but I might just bring it to my LBS first thing in the morning if the weather is nice and get them to show me .. terminology is not my strong suit .. not sure which is the anchor bolt lol ...

I'm an idiot

My guess is that you've overtightened the bolts holding the brakes onto the bike thus making too tight for the springs to work properly.

I tried loostening them right off almost and still no go ..