Beach Comber

The patient is a low end bike boom road bike that I've had since the early 70s. The stock fork is bent and I don't trust trying to bend it back. It would be different if it was a quality metal and fabrication, but its not.

I picked up a new fork a while back and just noticed now that it doesn't have the key slot. I know I can just file off the key on the washer, but there is also the hanger for the front center-pull brake. If I file that key off too, is there a chance that constant brake usage will cause the hanger to start sliding out of alignment? Do I need the slot to ensure the hanger always remains perfectly positioned and centered in front?

I realize I can just swap the brake for a side-pull. My first choice is to keep the bike as close to original as possible.

Thanks!

ThermionicScott 

The tab on the brake cable hanger isn't to keep it centered, but to allow it to function as the washer between the two headset nuts. The idea was that the tab would force the washer to stay stationary while the two nuts are tightened against each other to adjust the headset; so that one wouldn't be able to turn the other. In reality, though, the tabbed washer often turns anyway and gouges out the threads on the steerer. I would have no compunction about grinding off the tab.

Beach Comber

OK. Since they also had a washer in addition to the hanger, I wasn't sure. Bottom line then is pressure alone will be sufficient to keep the hanger from rotating with repeated cable pulls.

ThermionicScott 

Yeah. Since the brake cable is pulling perpendicular to the headset nuts, it's not going to affect the centering. Be advised that after grinding off the tab, you'll have to be a little more careful to maintain the centering while adjusting the headset, though.

AnkleWork

+1
I've seen the hanger intentionally setup off-center (to get a better cable run) without problems.

dsbrantjr

Or you could just sidestep the question and use a fork-mounted hanger. You will also reduce the chances of brake shudder.

hueyhoolihan

you may or may not actually need, or even be able to use, the washer/hanger. it may have to function as a simple spacer depending on the length of the steerer tube on the replacement fork.

best to remove the tab and try to install the fork. you'll find out about whether or not that washer/hanger is usable, necessary, or optional, soon enough.

Grand Bois

I can't imagine how that could work. The yoke would be pulled off center.

Beach Comber

The fork required cutting anyway, which I knew coming in. I could have cut to size and only use the hanger, but after dry fitting everything to measure, it all just looks better with the washer on top of the hanger.

Mechanically the slot in the tube may not be required, but boy is it a pain keeping the hanger centered without it. Impossible with only two hands. I finally used some scrap wood to build a little jig and attaching it to the fork through the brake bolt hole to keep it aligned while torquing down the lock nut.