Muttley

Hello all,
I've searched but not found an answer so I turn now to the collective wisdom. How big a 700c tire (with fender) can I fit using Tektro's R538 dual-pivots?

Thanks
Muttley

dabac

It's more likely to be limited by the position of the brake bridge/fork crown rather than by the brake, so the answer is probably very bicycle dependent.

FBinNY 

+1 Usually the inside of the top of the brake arch is higher than the bottom of the fork, or rear bridge, so whatever fenders and tires clear now won't change. Note that on curved blade forks, the top of the wheel is slightly higher forward of the fork crown, so allow a few millimeters extra clearance. On straight blade forks it depends if the brake hole is square to the blades or horizontal.

PASS

I just received my Tektro R530 calipers in the mail today and was very disappointed when the didn't fit. I have a 72 Schwinn Le Tour III with 700c and they weren't long enough. The pad is halfway on tire and rim when it's at it's maximum reach. I also had issues with the length of the bolt that attaches to the bike. It was short on the front and back and never even got to attach them. Even if they were long enough, the nut you tighten the brake down with, is a long tubular nut about half an inch long on the front, and a quarter inch long on the back. BUT, even if they were long enough, the nuts still would work with my bike because they're designed to sit somewhat in the frame and the wholes weren't bike enough. The levers look slick, but I am in the same boat with confusion on the lack of details with some brakes for older road bikes.

FBinNY 

Bikes and brakes have changed considerably since your le Tour was built. There are still brakes available but you have to carefully measure the distance from the center of the brake hole, (on the brake side) to the center of the rim and get brakes with a reach range that covers that, hopefully with a few millimeters fudge room.

Also, for the long bolt with a nut in the back has been replaced with a shorter bolt and an allen key recessed nut. Here again you need to check the specs very carefully and specify the length of the mounting bolts required.

I have a few of these old fashioned brakes in stock so if you measure both the reach and bolt length I might be able to offer you some choices.

roberth33tiger

i believe velo orange carrys the 'nutted' type tektro 556 which i have installed on my '78 le tour
with 700 wheels. lots of power. using 2 finger tektro levers on flat bar