Need to replace spring adjuster...
#1
need to go out and ride..
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 1,435
Bikes: 2011 Scott Addict R1, 2014 Redline Conquest Team, 2015 BMC TMR02
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Need to replace spring adjuster...
my spring adjuster on my cantilever is cracked. i'm still able stop, but just doesn't stop all the way. it seems like it just slows the bike down but if i do any sudden stop, it won't stop on a dime. so where can i go to replace this part? i have attached a pic from Sheldon Brown's Adjusting Cantilever Brakes article.
also, i noticed that on the side of my rim, there are a lot of brake marks, so i'm thinking maybe the brake pads are harden and dead. any ideas on where i can get this part replaced?
also, i noticed that on the side of my rim, there are a lot of brake marks, so i'm thinking maybe the brake pads are harden and dead. any ideas on where i can get this part replaced?
#2
DEADBEEF
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Catching his breath alongside a road near Seattle, WA USA
Posts: 12,234
Bikes: 1999 K2 OzM, 2001 Aegis Aro Svelte
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
4 Posts
Are you sure the spring adjuster is the culprit? The spring adjuster increases or decreases tension on the return spring.
__________________
1999 K2 OzM 2001 Aegis Aro Svelte
"Be liberal in what you accept, and conservative in what you send." -- Jon Postel, RFC1122
1999 K2 OzM 2001 Aegis Aro Svelte
"Be liberal in what you accept, and conservative in what you send." -- Jon Postel, RFC1122
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: SE Minnesota
Posts: 12,275
Bikes: are better than yours.
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Originally Posted by ruirui
my spring adjuster on my cantilever is cracked. i'm still able stop, but just doesn't stop all the way. it seems like it just slows the bike down but if i do any sudden stop, it won't stop on a dime. so where can i go to replace this part? i have attached a pic from Sheldon Brown's Adjusting Cantilever Brakes article.
also, i noticed that on the side of my rim, there are a lot of brake marks, so i'm thinking maybe the brake pads are harden and dead. any ideas on where i can get this part replaced?
also, i noticed that on the side of my rim, there are a lot of brake marks, so i'm thinking maybe the brake pads are harden and dead. any ideas on where i can get this part replaced?
#4
Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Kansas
Posts: 33
Bikes: Bianchi Strada Frankenbiked into a racer.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I dealt with this problem on my Bianchi by wrapping the plastic shell of the adjuster with two or three layers of duct tape cut to the proper width. The grey is the same color as the other housings, so one doesn't notice unless one is looking for the tape. (In fact, this was only going to be a temporary fix, but I'd forgotten about it until you brought it up)
Siggy
Siggy
#5
need to go out and ride..
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 1,435
Bikes: 2011 Scott Addict R1, 2014 Redline Conquest Team, 2015 BMC TMR02
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by khuon
Are you sure the spring adjuster is the culprit? The spring adjuster increases or decreases tension on the return spring.
Originally Posted by siggy_lxvi
I dealt with this problem on my Bianchi by wrapping the plastic shell of the adjuster with two or three layers of duct tape cut to the proper width. The grey is the same color as the other housings, so one doesn't notice unless one is looking for the tape. (In fact, this was only going to be a temporary fix, but I'd forgotten about it until you brought it up)
Siggy
Siggy
rui
#6
DEADBEEF
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Catching his breath alongside a road near Seattle, WA USA
Posts: 12,234
Bikes: 1999 K2 OzM, 2001 Aegis Aro Svelte
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
4 Posts
Originally Posted by ruirui
yup.. cuz when i squeeze the rear brake... it wouldn't tighten up, but instead i see the crack in the plastic get bigger and bigger. it's cracked all the way through.. so right now it's being taped up.
__________________
1999 K2 OzM 2001 Aegis Aro Svelte
"Be liberal in what you accept, and conservative in what you send." -- Jon Postel, RFC1122
1999 K2 OzM 2001 Aegis Aro Svelte
"Be liberal in what you accept, and conservative in what you send." -- Jon Postel, RFC1122
#7
need to go out and ride..
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 1,435
Bikes: 2011 Scott Addict R1, 2014 Redline Conquest Team, 2015 BMC TMR02
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by khuon
Well, the crack is getting bigger because the spring inside it is compressing and thus pushing out the plastic cover. This is purely a cosmetic issue unless the spring itself is split somehow. I however doubt this is truly effecting your braking. Even if you had no return spring at all, you would still be able to apply the same braking effort... of course your brake arms wouldn't retract properly from the rim. Unless the return sprint was somehow preventing the brake arms from reaching the rim with a sufficient amount of force, I think you're looking in the wrong place. I think you may need to play with your cable tension. Are you bottoming out the brake levers before you can apply sufficient force? If it is indeed a misadjusted return spring then you need to back off the tension. However, I have yet to see a cantilever return spring that even when fully tensioned applied enough of a force that I could not overcome it when squeezing the brake levers.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Pasadena, CA
Posts: 3,162
Bikes: Litespeed Firenze / GT Avalanche
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Yes, this spring pulls the brake back open when you let go. So with this being cracked, your brakes may be dragging, but this will not affect stopping power.
#9
need to go out and ride..
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 1,435
Bikes: 2011 Scott Addict R1, 2014 Redline Conquest Team, 2015 BMC TMR02
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Resident
These spring covers were available 'under warranty' for a limited time, and now Shimano has designed a better mechanism at half the price!
#10
DEADBEEF
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Catching his breath alongside a road near Seattle, WA USA
Posts: 12,234
Bikes: 1999 K2 OzM, 2001 Aegis Aro Svelte
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
4 Posts
Originally Posted by ruirui
as for the brake lever.. when i squeeze to about 75% then the brakes starts to be applied. i have to figure out how to adjust the brake cables.. because it does seem like it's loose. the brake lever part has a knob thingy that i can pull outwards and turn.. but nothing. what to do??? thus far foot brakes seems to work.. hehe.
__________________
1999 K2 OzM 2001 Aegis Aro Svelte
"Be liberal in what you accept, and conservative in what you send." -- Jon Postel, RFC1122
1999 K2 OzM 2001 Aegis Aro Svelte
"Be liberal in what you accept, and conservative in what you send." -- Jon Postel, RFC1122
#11
need to go out and ride..
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 1,435
Bikes: 2011 Scott Addict R1, 2014 Redline Conquest Team, 2015 BMC TMR02
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by khuon
It sounds like your pads are worn. Perhaps you need new ones or perhaps you've just got really slack cables. To take care of the cable slack... referring to your previous picture: You need to loosen the anchor bolt and pull more cable then retighten the bolt. You may also need to align the pads properly. A good place to look for more detail on how to work on cantilever brakes can be found on the Park Tool website.
*EDIT* btw, i just checked my pads... they still look new and still have plenty of padding. could it be that it's no longer good due to being old and hard?
cheers,
rui
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Pasadena, CA
Posts: 3,162
Bikes: Litespeed Firenze / GT Avalanche
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Your pads may just be glazed. If they look shiney, just hit them with some sandpaper, then you have a like new braking surface.
#13
need to go out and ride..
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 1,435
Bikes: 2011 Scott Addict R1, 2014 Redline Conquest Team, 2015 BMC TMR02
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Avalanche325
Your pads may just be glazed. If they look shiney, just hit them with some sandpaper, then you have a like new braking surface.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 643 Times
in
364 Posts
Originally Posted by ruirui
my spring adjuster on my cantilever is cracked. i'm still able stop, but just doesn't stop all the way. it seems like it just slows the bike down but if i do any sudden stop, it won't stop on a dime. so where can i go to replace this part? i have attached a pic from Sheldon Brown's Adjusting Cantilever Brakes article.
also, i noticed that on the side of my rim, there are a lot of brake marks, so i'm thinking maybe the brake pads are harden and dead. any ideas on where i can get this part replaced?
also, i noticed that on the side of my rim, there are a lot of brake marks, so i'm thinking maybe the brake pads are harden and dead. any ideas on where i can get this part replaced?
The work-around temporary fix is to wrap a piece of wire around the spring retainer and twist it tight to hold the cracked plastic housing together.
#15
The Red Lantern
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Raleigh NC
Posts: 5,965
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
We give them out, the spring cups, for free and install them for $10
__________________
Are you a registered member? Why not? click here to register. Its free, and only takes 27 seconds!
Help out the forums, abide by our community guidelines.
I am in the woods and I have gone crazy.
Are you a registered member? Why not? click here to register. Its free, and only takes 27 seconds!
Help out the forums, abide by our community guidelines.
I am in the woods and I have gone crazy.
#16
need to go out and ride..
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 1,435
Bikes: 2011 Scott Addict R1, 2014 Redline Conquest Team, 2015 BMC TMR02
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Rev.Chuck
We give them out, the spring cups, for free and install them for $10
Rev. Chuck, if you guys give them for free, can you send me two of them for the rear? i'll pay for postage... right now i am using some electric tape wrapped around it. but's it's starting to come apart again
rui
#17
The Red Lantern
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Raleigh NC
Posts: 5,965
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Try a local shop and if they will not give them to you PM me with your address and I will send you a pair.
__________________
Are you a registered member? Why not? click here to register. Its free, and only takes 27 seconds!
Help out the forums, abide by our community guidelines.
I am in the woods and I have gone crazy.
Are you a registered member? Why not? click here to register. Its free, and only takes 27 seconds!
Help out the forums, abide by our community guidelines.
I am in the woods and I have gone crazy.
#18
need to go out and ride..
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 1,435
Bikes: 2011 Scott Addict R1, 2014 Redline Conquest Team, 2015 BMC TMR02
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Rev.Chuck
Try a local shop and if they will not give them to you PM me with your address and I will send you a pair.
rui
#19
Recovering Retro-grouch
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Some call it God's country. I call it Acton, Maine
Posts: 5,008
Bikes: Too Many - 7 or 8
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by khuon
Are you sure the spring adjuster is the culprit? The spring adjuster increases or decreases tension on the return spring.
Of course the best solution is new brakes without the damn plastic spring retainer. These were the worst Canti's Shimano ever came out with. They stopped okay, but the plastic retainers were a very bad idea.
#20
DEADBEEF
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Catching his breath alongside a road near Seattle, WA USA
Posts: 12,234
Bikes: 1999 K2 OzM, 2001 Aegis Aro Svelte
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
4 Posts
Originally Posted by CRUM
I am sure it is.
__________________
1999 K2 OzM 2001 Aegis Aro Svelte
"Be liberal in what you accept, and conservative in what you send." -- Jon Postel, RFC1122
1999 K2 OzM 2001 Aegis Aro Svelte
"Be liberal in what you accept, and conservative in what you send." -- Jon Postel, RFC1122
#21
Recovering Retro-grouch
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Some call it God's country. I call it Acton, Maine
Posts: 5,008
Bikes: Too Many - 7 or 8
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by khuon
I still don't see how the return spring has any bearing on applying sufficient braking force much less how a cracked plastic spring cover has any effect at all.
#22
need to go out and ride..
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 1,435
Bikes: 2011 Scott Addict R1, 2014 Redline Conquest Team, 2015 BMC TMR02
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by CRUM
Part of the power transfer aspect of the brake arm is also performed by the spring found under the arm, besides it's duty as the return spring. When the plastic retainer cracks, the force of braking is diminished greatly when the retainer opens up as the brake is applied. Either fix the crack, find a replacement retainer, or replace the brakes. Those are your only alternatives to re-capturing the braking power you once had. And since one has cracked, I would closely examine all retainers, not just the adjustment ones. And be careful to get the right one. Shimano had two versions of this retainer and they do not co-mingle well.