Bicycle Mechanics - Cantilever Spring Color?

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rothenfield1
05-11-10, 09:21 AM
I read somewhere that the cantilever tensioner springs are color coded for a reason and shouldn’t be mixed up. Mine are gold and silver. But, of course, I mixed them up. They are Shimano BR-MT62. What is the rationale for the colors, and how are they supposed to be?

rothenfield1
05-11-10, 11:20 AM
I think I get why I'm not getting any response. Because it is an idiotic question. I was going by this passage in Zinns', "Make sure you install the brakes with all of the parts in the order..... In particular, the springs will often be of different colors and are not interchangeable from left to right." I put them on and they seem to be hanging properly although I haven't cabled them up yet. They seem to have about the same amount of resistance from side to side when I squeeze them to the rim. I suppose if they were installed backwards, they would have resistance towards opening instead of closing. Correct?
larry_llama
05-11-10, 08:57 PM
On most brakes if you install the springs backwards, they won't line up with the holes properly. You may not even be able to get them on and if you do, the spring load will be all wrong.

Simple test, swap them and see what happens.

And in the end, if the springs are resisting the braking motion then what more can you ask for?