Cantilever 'locked' against rear rim, Specialized Hot Rock girls bike
06-04-15, 04:02 PM
#1
Mr. Frowny Man
Thread Starter
Cantilever 'locked' against rear rim, Specialized Hot Rock girls bike
My daughters 24 inch Specialized hot rock has a frozen rear brake. She braked hard on a slightly wet street and the rear brakes locked against the rim. Im a lousy dad because I don't know how to fix it since its not a computer. HOw do I unlock the brake? It was adjusted a few weeks ago when we got it at the used bike shop, and I love Tyler, but I dont want to take up his time for something so simple that I should know how to fix.
Help!
Help!
06-04-15, 04:16 PM
#2
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Can you release the brake? The release for canti brakes is on one of the brake arms.
06-04-15, 04:47 PM
#3
Mr. Frowny Man
Thread Starter
I released the canti and they pop open. I gave is some extra cable at that end and it works, now, but the pull lever is not snappy anymore and is slow to return after pulling. She's happy for the moment, though.
Thanks
Thanks
06-04-15, 04:50 PM
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Something got stuck, the lever, the cable, or the brake shoe. If the lever still pivots but nothing happens, it's not the lever. If the cable is loose, it's not the cable. If the cable is tight, trace the path from the cable from the lever to the caliper, and see that everything is seated properly. When things get worn they get loose and the cable can come unseated at the lever or at one of the cable stops on the frame.
But if the cable is loose, the brake shoe is stuck under the rim, or the pad wore and there is a lip on the pad, and the lip is stuck under the rim. Pull it out and observe how the pad is striking the rim when you pull the brake lever. If the pad isn't hitting the rim squarely, or it's partially missing the rim, or if there's a sticky lip on the pad, or if one pad is hitting the rim first and pushing it towards the other pad, take the bike to a shop and have the brakes adjusted. Maybe they'll want to replace the pads and cable, too. Let them. Ask the mechanic if you can watch over their shoulder while they do it. Put on safety glasses if requested.
But if the cable is loose, the brake shoe is stuck under the rim, or the pad wore and there is a lip on the pad, and the lip is stuck under the rim. Pull it out and observe how the pad is striking the rim when you pull the brake lever. If the pad isn't hitting the rim squarely, or it's partially missing the rim, or if there's a sticky lip on the pad, or if one pad is hitting the rim first and pushing it towards the other pad, take the bike to a shop and have the brakes adjusted. Maybe they'll want to replace the pads and cable, too. Let them. Ask the mechanic if you can watch over their shoulder while they do it. Put on safety glasses if requested.
06-04-15, 05:02 PM
#5
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Sounds like the cable came unseated. Find out where, re-seat it, and snug down that cable to where it was, and the snappy feel will return. Squirt some light oil where the cable goes into the housing so it doesn't unseat again. And consider getting a new cable.
