Classic & Vintage - Replacements for Weinmann Hoods

I have a set of Weinmann levers that need their gum hoods replaced. The existing hoods are the ones with the word "Weinmann" covering the entire length of the hood. I was told that Dis Compe hoods would be a viable repalcement. On the other hand, if someone has a pair they'd like to sell or trade for, that would be even better. Can send pics of existing one if necessary. Thanks.

This pattern gum hoods from SJSC are a sure bet to replace old Weinmann ones. Some years back I bought a pair from them and they fit perfectly and are good quality. Their redish color tends to fade into tan with time.
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/images/products/weinmannpatternbrakeleverhoodrust_l.jpg

Several options available. I have found NOS weinmann hoods on ebay, especially the later ones which were made in taiwan and did not say weinmann on the side. Some other hoods, such as Cherry brand, work well. Sorry, can't remember the name of the ebay vendor I got the pair of weinmann hoods that I have from :( ew

http://www.loosescrews.com/index.cgi?c=Brake&sc=Lever%20Hoods&id=246977613782

I have a set of Weinmann levers that need their gum hoods replaced. The existing hoods are the ones with the word "Weinmann" covering the entire length of the hood. I was told that Dis Compe hoods would be a viable repalcement. On the other hand, if someone has a pair they'd like to sell or trade for, that would be even better. Can send pics of existing one if necessary. Thanks.

Well I have another set of weinmann hoods that I need replaced although the Dia Compe ones won't work with these. Take a look at these pics.

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s48/mixtemike/EBAY/IMG_2292.jpg

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s48/mixtemike/EBAY/IMG_2291.jpg

Let me know if you have a pair.

I've bought Weinmann hoods on ebay, just saw 2 pair today, 1 white, 1 tan...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Weinmann-NOS-brake-hoods-2-sets-vintage_W0QQitemZ320204542144QQihZ011QQcategoryZ56197QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Also, AME will work, available in lots of wild colors...

What levers were the hoods for? There were a couple of distinctly different body shapes as can be seen by the different contours at the lever arm openings of these hoods in the eBay photo:

http://i10.ebayimg.com/08/i/000/d0/94/daf1_1.JPG

Not a big deal, except some hoods will fit very well on the levers, and others will not. This is true of replacement hoods by AME or Dia-Compe too. The Darker color hoods in the photo are definitely an older style and those would also be better if your levers happen to have built in cable adjuster "stacks".

The lighter colored hoods are more modern, will nest against a handlebar to make a less abrupt transition to offer a more comfortable fit. The older ones are generally thicker gum rubber and more cushioned. They are also far more difficult to find and more costly. Yours appear to date from a transitional period, perhaps mid to late 1970s? And still have the older style of logo, thicker gum rubber, but also a more modern Campagnolo-like shape.

Just make sure you notice the difference in the shape of any replacement hoods you consider to best suit your needs.

You might try American Cyclery in SF. I bought a pair of Weinmann gum hoods in original packaging from them a couple years back. If my memory serves me, the price was pretty reasonable also.

As far as I know, all the older Weinmann levers were the same.

I bought a pair of brake lever hoods two weeks ago on Ebay, NOS Weinmann. Rather expensive: 40 $.
A few days later I found exactly the same pair of brake level hoods WITH the original Weinmann break levers (!) 16 $ only.

What levers were the hoods for? There were a couple of distinctly different body shapes as can be seen by the different contours at the lever arm openings of these hoods in the eBay photo:

http://i10.ebayimg.com/08/i/000/d0/94/daf1_1.JPG

Not a big deal, except some hoods will fit very well on the levers, and others will not. This is true of replacement hoods by AME or Dia-Compe too. The Darker color hoods in the photo are definitely an older style and those would also be better if your levers happen to have built in cable adjuster "stacks".

The lighter colored hoods are more modern, will nest against a handlebar to make a less abrupt transition to offer a more comfortable fit. The older ones are generally thicker gum rubber and more cushioned. They are also far more difficult to find and more costly. Yours appear to date from a transitional period, perhaps mid to late 1970s? And still have the older style of logo, thicker gum rubber, but also a more modern Campagnolo-like shape.

Just make sure you notice the difference in the shape of any replacement hoods you consider to best suit your needs.

I saw that auction too! The light colored ones are the ones I need. They came off a Peugeot PH11 that I'm rebuilding. Thanks for the info.

I got a defective pair of white 999 hoods that slipped by the inspector. They were being made for Carlton and the manufacturer put the logo plug in, upside down. Hopefully some Japanese collector will part with big money to get this super rare variation.

http://i10.ebayimg.com/08/i/000/d0/94/daf1_1.JPG

The Darker color hoods in the photo are definitely an older style and those would also be better if your levers happen to have built in cable adjuster "stacks".

The dark ones look like a perfect match for Universal too.

Life is just not simple. Here are just a couple potential "poor fit" issues we noticed, - even when using genuine Weinmann made hoods:

Hood shown at the top will not wrap properly around the square body of the alloy lever.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2066/2177921140_9f7b6931bb.jpg


Notice how the edge of the hood opening does not seat correctly around this lever.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2256/2177920702_0219af694f.jpg


This black hood would fit on the square edge of this lever body... BUT, the hood's "stack" is too tall for the adjuster shaft to exit properly out the top.
The threaded shaft might fit and then end flush with the top of the hood, but the plastic adjuster would not thread on... and that part is required on this lever because it serves as the cable housing stop. A possible remedy here might be to literally slice off some of the top the hood, but this would leave a wide unattractive stump at the top edge, so this would really only be a last resort modification.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2028/2177920124_e5cca9a2c3.jpg

My experience is limited, but the only levers I've seen with adjuster stacks like that were ones that didn't have rubber hoods -- and generally with suicide bars as well. Usually the Weinmann/Dia-Compe 144 levers have short, non-adjustable cable stops on top, and an adjuster at the brake end of the cable housing (most with centerpull brakes). I've seen sidepulls with adjusters on the caliper's cable stop somewhere, too; but they're rare.

Edit: doofus comment above; most sidepull calipers have an adjuster built-in. Too little sleep!