Bicycle Mechanics - Help with old-style brake levers

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MKIV987
10-17-11, 06:54 PM
Pulled these off an old road bike bar and this bolt/screw rolled out. The bottom hole in the picture of the lever is for the clamp screw, so the top must be for this guy. Only problem is that even though the screw and upper hole are both threaded, I can't seem to screw it into the hole (the hole seems too large). Furthermore, I'm not sure which side I should even be threading it in. I would think it would go up through the bottom to act as the brake cable stop.

Anyone with more experience able to help me out here? Thanks!
223384223385

eric1514
10-17-11, 07:29 PM
Are you sure it doesn't screw into where the cable enters the lever? It looks like a barrel adjuster to me.

Eric
MKIV987
10-18-11, 06:24 AM
I thought that too at first, but the only threaded area on the lever is that upper hole.

Any more ideas?

fietsbob
10-18-11, 11:16 AM
I'm not sure about what picture 2 is showing?, take more..
MKIV987
10-18-11, 11:39 AM
Picture 2 is looking at the front of the brake lever with the lever fully depressed, exposing the inside of the mechanism. I'll take more when I get home this evening.
MKIV987
10-18-11, 09:58 PM
OK, here are some more pictures of the lever:
Jeff Wills
10-18-11, 10:26 PM
OK, here are some more pictures of the lever:

It's a Dia-Compe Gran Compe aero brake lever.

On that type of lever, there's usually a ferrule of some type that keeps the brake cable housing in place in the hole. It's not threaded. It's domed to allow the housing to align itself inside the lever. I'm going to guess that someone made a shadetree repair to the lever.

I think you need a Dia-Compe #95 ferrule: http://biketoolsetc.com/index.cgi?d=single&item_id=DC-B95

http://www.biketoolsetc.com/Product_Images/DC-B95.jpg
zukahn1
10-19-11, 11:38 AM
+1 That barrel adjuster/cable mount does not seem to go with this lever. It appears someone replaced the unthreaded one for this lever with the threaded on off a different lever.
fietsbob
10-19-11, 11:48 AM
those are aero levers , not Old Style at all ,Jeff nailed the required ferrule.

:50: for us older folks , the cable has to come straight up, from the lever,
to qualify for old style.

I agree .. what you showed, in OP, was a Kludge..
cyclist2000
10-19-11, 09:08 PM
It's a Dia-Compe Gran Compe aero brake lever.

On that type of lever, there's usually a ferrule of some type that keeps the brake cable housing in place in the hole. It's not threaded. It's domed to allow the housing to align itself inside the lever. I'm going to guess that someone made a shadetree repair to the lever.

I think you need a Dia-Compe #95 ferrule: http://biketoolsetc.com/index.cgi?d=single&item_id=DC-B95

http://www.biketoolsetc.com/Product_Images/DC-B95.jpg

+1 seems right on the money, I had a similar problem with my old dura ace aero levers, I lost the ferrule in my tool box, I was ready to use some washer and brake housing ferrule.