MiloFrance

Evening all. Just had a very self-indulgent afternoon for the first time in ages. I took the year-old mud off the Corsair, and was going to change the seat and bar tape. As these things do, the afternoon expanded in to new cables all round, and the decals that have been in my drawer for months. So 2 things came up while I was fettling. There is a 3rd but I'm sure someone will spot that before too long!
1. Centering the brakes. I tried a couple of methods including trying to tap the spring with a punch to move it over, but to no avail. Any other hints and tips please?

2. The left DT shifter has lost it's index. I've not taken one of these apart so have no idea if it's the bin, a new part, or a bodge.

This beastie rides with such confidence that I was planning on going out for trhe first time since Feb tomorrow morning. Looks like second choice will get a run. Have a great Saturday evening all.



Looks better in person

Slash5

If tapping the spring doesn't work then you need to loosen the brake caliper mounting nut, align and then tighten.
Front downtube shifters are not indexed.

randyjawa 

Sometimes, the alloy washers or whatever, get grooves on them which act a bit like memory and all but force the brake back to pre-smack condition. Check and smooth off those alloy washers, might help. Also, use a narrow spanner to hold the brake fixing bolt and move the assembly with that set-up. This is usually all that is needed.

Your indexed loss? Is your shifter for indexed and friction? If so, back off the clamping bolt, switch the switch to indexed and you should be good to go. If not, try some WD40 to lubricate (well, not really lubricate) the guts without disassembly. It that is not the answer, then a rebuild might be in order.

Miele Man

Left downtube shifter is friction unless someone mounted the rear (right) shifter on the left bos and crossed the cables under the downtube.

Brakes. Are there flats on the brake that'll accept a thin wrench? There are offset wrenches made just for this but I find I can often get a cone wrench in there.

Cheers

Lazyass

I have a bike with Exage Sport. As mentioned, the left shifter is not indexed. To center the brakes use a 12mm box wrench on the big pointy nut on the front center of the caliper. The pads will move in the direction you turn the wrench. You may want to lubricate the contact points where springs touch the caliper to help keep them centered while you're riding. It may be a lower end group but works just as well as anything else.

MiloFrance

Ok, maybe my memory is playing tricks but I have the impression in my head thatit clicked in to place for the big cog. Will follow instructions! Thanks all

T-Mar

To centre the brakes, loosen of the nut behind the fork. Behind the caliper arms, the cntre bolt will have a collar that retains the spring. This collar should have two flats to accept a cone wrench (typically 13 mm). Use the cone wrench to centre the brakes and hold in them in position while you tighten the nut behind the fork. This does the trick, 95% of the time.

tyler_fred

I believe early Exage front shifters were indexed, but Shimano went away from it, and settled on friction for later Exage models. I had a Performance Vitesse that was equipped with Exage back in '88-'89.

top506

Very true. I had a Shogun Selecta with the indexed Exage front shifter.

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