Bicycle Mechanics - Grey tube on canti brakes?

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KHSMontanaComp
06-23-10, 03:43 PM
Hi

Im trying to fix up an old MTB (1993 KHS Montana Comp) it has old shimano canti brakes (deore lx) I think.. and on them is a sort of grey tube like the one in this picture. (this isn't my bike though)

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/7339/cantileverbrake.jpg

The one on my back brake is all worn down at the top so it's shorter than it should be and I think it's affecting the way my back brake works

I don't know what that grey tube is called so I can't search google for a new one... does anyone know?

Would it be ok to just cut a piece of black shimano break/gear cable outer casing to the right length and use that?

sonatageek
06-23-10, 04:02 PM
Link wire -

Here is an example -
http://www.niagaracycle.com/product_info.php?products_id=12365
dabac
06-24-10, 01:25 AM
The grey tube is there to ensure that the legs of the triangle are equally long. With it in place the geometry of the brake will be in the Shimano-approved ballpark for decent performance. Straddle wires can be set up in a few different ways, and as long as the geometry stays the same there's no functional difference between them.

WillJL
06-24-10, 02:19 AM
You'll need to get the correct length of link wire though, depending on your brakes. You should measure the length first. A link wire isn't totally necessary to operate these brakes though. You could just use a short length of brake cable cut to the correct length and a cable yoke. Read this article for more good info: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/canti-trad.html
kycycler
06-24-10, 06:07 AM
This is a straddle cable, your LBS should have these in stock.
TireLever-07
06-24-10, 06:45 AM
HI, It looks like it had the brake cables replaced. In the pre-MTB era cantilevers were on tandems and cyclocross bikes. I'm 49 and have owned 2 cantilever bikes that came stock and prefer them. I can check the brake pad surfaces quickly and change a rear flat tire in 12 minutes.
The books are out there. In 8th grade I read the "Babs,,," something ,Bike Repair Guide'. I bought "Richard's Bicycle Book" in 1982. In the late '90's I bought "Richard's Bicycle Repair Manual" First American Edition 1994. I got on the Internet,and was able to usually find decent answers.SincerelyTirelever07.
KHSMontanaComp
06-24-10, 04:57 PM
Thankyou very much for all the help :)