Bicycle Mechanics - Replacing handlebars/brake cables

Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.



PDA

View Full Version : Replacing handlebars/brake cables

v6v6v6
01-07-08, 12:40 PM
I'd like to replace the straight bars on my Dahon Mu SL (http://www.dahon.com/us/musl.htm) with some TT bars.

1) The TT bars are slightly thicker than my current one. The guy at my LBS said to get a dremel and make the holes on the brake levers and shifter a little bigger.

2) The brake cables won't reach with the TT bars. It seems like a fairly simple operation to swtich them out, but not exactly since I've never done it before.

Any tips on doing these? Thanks!

Edit: Found http://www.sheldonbrown.com/cables.html

Navy_Chief
01-07-08, 06:25 PM
If I am visualizing this correctly you should not need to enlarge the holes on the shifters and brake levers, they should have an adjustable clamp that should fit most anything you want to put it on. If not please post pictures so we can see what you are referring to.

Chief
v6v6v6
01-07-08, 11:49 PM
If I am visualizing this correctly you should not need to enlarge the holes on the shifters and brake levers, they should have an adjustable clamp that should fit most anything you want to put it on. If not please post pictures so we can see what you are referring to.

ChiefThanks, they are adjustable but when I tried to fit them onto the new bar, the distance between the clamp ends was significant. So much so that the screw would miss the other end and the clamp would sit slighty off the bar. Does that make sense? I'll take pictures soon. Here are my measurements:

Kinetix Pro - 13/16" diameter
Nitto RB-018 - between 7/8" and 15/16" diameter

v6v6v6
01-13-08, 10:26 PM
Here are the pics:

Clamps on original bar
http://stang99.w1.com/biking/img/brake_clamps01.jpg
http://stang99.w1.com/biking/img/brake_clamps02.jpg

Clamps on new bar (1st pic shows without any work, 2nd shows it after sanded down)
http://stang99.w1.com/biking/img/brake_clamps03.jpg
http://stang99.w1.com/biking/img/brake_clamps04.jpg

Well, I went ahead and left it with my LBS to finish it up (I was losing patience, time and wanted to make sure I had it for tomorrow's commute). Here's my franken-folder:
http://stang99.w1.com/biking/img/ttbars01.jpg
http://stang99.w1.com/biking/img/ttbars02.jpg