Bicycle Mechanics - Campy Record brake lever QR pin is stuck.

Both pins for front and back brakes are frozen. I'm new to Campy so I hope I'm doing something wrong or it's a quick fix here. But I've tried everything and I cannot get them to slide over to release the brakes. Is there something holding them in place maybe? They don't look rusted or worn or anything unusual. Heck, I just got them. I would like to fix them myself - or at least try before sending the bike to the shop.

try holding the brake closed manually a bit before trying to push the pins.

try holding the brake closed manually a bit before trying to push the pins.

Thank you, but nope. :(

I've got a bruise on my index finger trying to force these things over.

[QUOTE=Bob Barker;
are you sure they are set to closed in the first place? QUOTE]


Good question. The OP might try squeezing the brake lever a bit and then try to push the QR pins.

I hate this. But I have tried everything. Squeezing the levers, the brakes, trying to force the thing like a man possessed. Nothing.

This bites. I mean, I can get the wheel off and on if I loosen my brakes (Campy Skeleton) but I have to do it manually on the brakes themselves.

tap the pin with a hammer

I hate this. But I have tried everything. Squeezing the levers, the brakes, trying to force the thing like a man possessed. Nothing.

This bites. I mean, I can get the wheel off and on if I loosen my brakes (Campy Skeleton) but I have to do it manually on the brakes themselves.

This is weird. Give us a picture, please. Something must be up.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g276/substructure/PC290013.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g276/substructure/PC290015.jpg

Not to be droll, but I know what would get posted if it was a weird Shimano brifter problem.

Okay, the levers appear to be in the unreleased position looking at the quick release pins (but you knew that already). Try loosening the brake cables a bit (~ 1/8-1/4") at the calipers and then retighten the anchor bolts. Now squeeze the levers and try to move the QR pins outward (to release them). It sounds as if your calipers (and pads) may be adjusted a tad too close to your rims to allow enough "play" in the levers to move the QRs when the levers are squeezed (or I may be totally wrong if you've tried this already). Good luck and sometimes a brew or two will help (in you, not on the levers).

Thank you. I will try this. If it doesn't work, I'll take it to the shop.

Tried everything again. Nada. What tha hey??

I hate taking this to the shop and paying someone when it could be very simple and I could learn from it. But ...


BTW, does the front brake look right?
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g276/substructure/PC290016.jpg

Have you washed your bike alot, or just recently? Sounds like the little spring loaded check balls are rusted
or froze up.If you have lube with a needle applicator, put a drop or two on either side of the little white plastic piece the pin goes thru in the second picture with your hand squeezing the lever. Let the lube do it's stuff, then try to move it!

I'll try.

Since you are having trouble with both, it is likely just a user error, not mechanical.

On the picture where you are depressing the lever, it looks like you are depressing it too much. It just needs a little and I think if you push the button while gently pressing and releasing the lever just a hair, you will get it.

I've tried everything. Honest. Pressing the lever a tad, all the way, not at all. I've tried tapping them, oiling them, everything.

Not a user error.

I've tried everything. Honest. Pressing the lever a tad, all the way, not at all. I've tried tapping them, oiling them, everything.

Not a user error.

I was hoping it was a user error because those are easy to deal with.

Good luck. Once you find out what it is, please share so we can all learn.

Looking at your photos everything looks normal. This pin is in the closed position and you seem to be able to squeeze the lever enough to allow the pin to move.

Just to state the obvious, you are pushing the pin on the top to the outside of the bike, correct?

I am assuming that the correct cable was used and it isn't a case of, say, a Shimano MTB brake cable head jamming up the lever? A bit of a stretch but really, I am completely at a loss for any other suggestions.

Keep us posted.

Looking at your photos everything looks normal. This pin is in the closed position and you seem to be able to squeeze the lever enough to allow the pin to move.

Just to state the obvious, you are pushing the pin on the top to the outside of the bike, correct?

I am assuming that the correct cable was used and it isn't a case of, say, a Shimano MTB brake cable head jamming up the lever? A bit of a stretch but really, I am completely at a loss for any other suggestions.

Keep us posted.

Yes, that's where and how I'm pushing it. Crap. I've tried everything countless times. And I've sprayed them with a bit of WD-40 several times to see if they would loosen up a bit. Nope.

Frustrating! :mad:

Disconnect your brake cable and squeeze lever, then twist the QR pin until you see the slit in the white sheath that covers the pin. That is were the check balls are. Put the lube in that slit.

Disconnect your brake cable and squeeze lever, then twist the QR pin until you see the slit in the white sheath that covers the pin. That is were the check balls are. Put the lube in that slit.

Thank you. I will try that.


I appreciate everyone's help here. You guys are great.

Doesn't look to be any check balls in that QR pin, it's even more simple than that.

http://www.branfordbike.com/cgi-bin/perlshop/perlshop.cgi?ACTION=push&thispage=brake/big/bk05bigf.html&ORDER_ID=315237881

Doesn't look to be any check balls in that QR pin, it's even more simple than that.

http://www.branfordbike.com/cgi-bin/perlshop/perlshop.cgi?ACTION=push&thispage=brake/big/bk05bigf.html&ORDER_ID=315237881

Thanks for showing this. So we're looking at parts #20 & 21, right? That's what's so odd; it seems so simple. I mean, these pins will no f'ing budge. I have a bruise on my index finger from trying to force one of them over. Son of a.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g276/substructure/ergoprtc.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g276/substructure/PC290013-2.jpg


I thought it was this pin?

This might top 2007 as the weirdest mechanical problem. Since it is a simple sliding mechanism, don't see how anything could go wrong. Time to head to a good Campy mech and see if he (or she) can solve the conundrum.

This might top 2007 as the weirdest mechanical problem. Since it is a simple sliding mechanism, don't see how anything could go wrong. Time to head to a good Campy mech and see if he (or she) can solve the conundrum.

Well, I haven't been to work and that's where my LBS is. I will be bringing the bike with me Friday for him to look at it.

And yes this is fricken crazy. All my riding buddies are baffled. He-Man could engage this QR. It is frozen solid.

Fixed.
After everything I tried, and the countless times my riding buds tried, all seemed at a loss. Until I took it to the LBS and he tinkered with it for a minute and *click*

Hiddie-Hoe they're working. He took some pliers and worked them loose. Then lubed them. I tried the same thing at home - but nothing helped. Maybe I was afraid that I would break something. Just a little gunk in them and they froze in place from not being used.

cool.

Wife mad at you and go at it with the super glue?

So that was it? Just a little dry and stuck?

Dang! I was hoping it would be something really bizarre and one day, on a group ride, watching some guy struggle with his lever, I could reach over and perform some feat of prestidigitation and impress the begeebers out of all the slack-jawed onlookers who had huddled around.

I don't think hitting it with a rock is going to do.

So that was it? Just a little dry and stuck?

Dang! I was hoping it would be something really bizarre and one day, on a group ride, watching some guy struggle with his lever, I could reach over and perform some feat of prestidigitation and impress the begeebers out of all the slack-jawed onlookers who had huddled around.

I don't think hitting it with a rock is going to do.

The last time I saw a feat of prestidigitation is when a friend tightened a loose shimano cassette lockring with a pair of pliers.