boyinshirt

Hello everyone.

So i'll start this out by saying i'm a novice, and am working on my first fix up. I'm extremely stubborn and don't want to take this to a shop, especially because I want to keep the costs down for the friend I'm working on the bike for. (it's a lady I like, so the more brownie points, the better!)

So, the last thing needed on this bike is brakes. I went out and got new cables/housing, set it all up, and when it's all said and done, I pull on the levers, but they don't quite return... there seems to be enough tension in the lines as to where it should. The brakes work, but not to their full potential. I took the bike to a friend and he pointed out that I had purchased cables that are for cross bar levers and not drop bar levers. He knows more about fixed gear bikes (so he doesn't normally deal with us kids who need brakes) Could this be my main problem? If I swapped out the cables could that solve my problems?

What other problems could it be? I tried lubricating the cable and passing it through the housing in order to ease friction... I tried a different set of levers, but to no avail.

I just can't figure out why the levers won't return fully and why there isn't full braking power.

please help! this is getting so frustrating!

Mondoman

If you could post photos of your setup, including the actual brakes, the cables/housing as installed now, and the levers, it would be a big help to those of us lacking psychic abilities.

boyinshirt

I apologize. When I get home later this evening I will take pictures and post them.

BoxCarPhoto

are the pads hanging up on the wheel?

are the brakes centering themselves fine?

is the wheel out of true?

does the brake lever itself need greasing?

boyinshirt

I apologize. When I get home later this evening I will take pictures and post them.