Bicycle Mechanics - Help Adjusting Cantilevers

OK just when i get side pull brakes figured out i get a bike with cantilevers. I can't get the pads to stop rubbing no matter what i do.

I have....

1. Loosened fastening nut and let out more cable............didn't matter. I have all sorts of slack in my cable. I have thumbscrew all the way in.

2.I have one screw that pushes the arms from one side to another. I have nearly worn out the head yet still can't get enough distance between the two pads.

3. Messed a little with pulling the pad itself away from the rim but i'm not very comfortable with that.

I have also read Park Tools and Barnetts but I must be too stupid. :o

ANyone have a simple way to tell me how to increase this distance?

Are your rims out of true? If they are get them trued and then set the brake, it will be 100x easier. To loosen up the brakes you want to let more cable out on the right caliper by loosening the acorn nut or bolt on top of that caliper and sliding a little cable out. Also, you can pull the pads away from the rim by sliding them down the post a bit. I don't know why you'd be uncomfortable doing that... its not a big deal really.

Check the covers on the springs... those break all the time on the old Altus cantilevers, and it's near impossible to center the brake once it happens. your lbs should have them if you need them; a zip-tie around the remains of the cover works in a pinch

Make sure that the spring hole pin on the brake body is in the middle hole on the brake boss. Mine want to align with the bottom hole when installed-that makes a big difference.

Make sure that the spring hole pin on the brake body is in the middle hole on the brake boss. Mine want to align with the bottom hole when installed-that makes a big difference.

I have them in the right hole. I just can't seem to get the screw to make any difference. It seems like I can screw it all the way in or out but the pads don't really move. I am not sure where to go from here. I guess I will just play with them some more or possibly submit a couple more pictures once I am home.

Check the covers on the springs... those break all the time on the old Altus cantilevers, and it's near impossible to center the brake once it happens. your lbs should have them if you need them; a zip-tie around the remains of the cover works in a pinch

I assume you are talking about the gray piece that the adjusting screw goes in. The one with the screw is not solid all the way around. IOW, there is a "crack/cut" all the way through it. It looks like it is supposed to be that way? THe one on the other side is solid all the way around. Is that right to have the crack in it? Prob just need to look at the front one, but can't right now.

I have them in the right hole. I just can't seem to get the screw to make any difference. It seems like I can screw it all the way in or out but the pads don't really move. I am not sure where to go from here. I guess I will just play with them some more or possibly submit a couple more pictures once I am home.

OK. That plastic piece is broken. I am off to LBS for a FREE new one. THanks guys.

I'm pretty sure those brakes have a plastic spring retainer that holds the return spring. They have a habit of breaking so much so that Shimano supplies bike shops with replacements AT NO CHARGE (very un-Shimano like). Feel around your brakes for a split in a plastic piece. If yours are like that, get a set of replacements from a bike shop and you'll be good to go.