avzay66

I would like to mate some modern brake levers, such as Tektros or Cane Creeks SCR with some old center pull brake calipers, such as old Universal 61s or center pull weinmanns. Has anybody tried to make this work? What are some pitfalls (i.e. is new lever designed for a modern caliper be able to properly actuate a vintage one)?

Grand Bois

It will work.

noglider 

There are basically two "ranges" of brake levers. Type 1 (my name, not any standard) worked -- and still worked with -- single pivots, centerpull, cantilevers, whatever else existed at the time. These are high-leverage. Type 2 levers -- again, my name -- have much higher leverage and are designed to work with V-brakes (a newer design than the previously-mentioned ones), and disc brakes. Those types of brakes have less leverage at the caliper and, as a result, need more at the lever.

The levers you're considering are what I would consider type 1. You're not changing systems, so to speak.

hairnet

It's the other way around. They are low leverage/more cable pull.

noglider 

Oh, right. It's easy to get that backwards. I do it often.

SuperLJ

+1

Modern levers (aero cable routing) and traditional non-aero levers (exposed cables) both pull about the same amount of cable, so it'll work fine. The only functional difference between the two are that aero levers provide better braking from the tops. You get more leverage with them because of where the pivot point is relative to where the cable is attached.

zukahn1 

+2 Your basic modern aero brake levers will work just fine with vintage center pull brakes. I have use this setup on several bikes including my current winter rider with no problems. If anything a set of nicer modern levers with good vintage center pulls will likely work better than what your used to.

otg 

That setup works just fine on my Super Sport.

SuperLJ

Sweet!

I've got a stash put away just waiting for my n+1 bike. Just can't find/afford the perfect frame right now. It'll use 9-speed Ergo levers and Mafac Competitions.

Any complaints at all with your setup?

ThermionicScott 

One complaint I had when attempting to mix modern Shimano levers (RX100) with older centerpulls (Weinmann) was that the return spring in the levers made the braking effort harder overall. (SLR levers were designed for brake calipers with weaker springs.) This can also be a problem when mixing modern brake levers with older caliper brakes, as I found on my gf's Peugeot project.

I was much happier when I switched to older brake levers that didn't have the return spring. Braking from the hoods isn't as nice, but I ride mostly in the drops anyway.

otg 

I have no complaints, it stops way better than it did using the old turkey levers and 40 year old pads. I put a set of Cool Stop Salmons on there, new cables, and re-adjusted everything.

SuperLJ

Thanks for the info otg. I'm a big fan of KoolStop salmon pads too. Use them on most my bikes.

I can see what you're saying. Weinmann centerpulls had pretty strong springs even by vintage standards. I think my Campy Ergolever / MAFAC plan will work OK since the only spring in the levers is the weak one that holds the shift lever against the brake lever.

Anybody out there have any real world experience with a second-generation Ergolever / MAFAC centerpull combo? I've seen a couple photos of bikes (a Singer and a Weigle) set up that way, and I've been dieing to try it ever since. I'm 99.826764% sure it'd work great, but it'd sure be nice to have it confirmed.

John E

On the Bianchi I use Shimano aero handles (with the return spring disabled) with early generation Campagnolo sidepulls. The aero handles provide about 10% more leverage (and therefore 10% less cable pullthrough) than traditional nonaero levers, and they fit my hands much better than Modolo or Campagnolo handles do.

zukahn1 

I have done it and it seems to work fine. Also with the Mafacs you can adjust the post and straddle length to get the brakes dialed in for the levers.

SuperLJ

Thanks zukahn. I've used Mafacs for years but never with modern levers. I knew it should work fine, but it's always good to get confirmation from someone who's actually done it. Hoping to mount them on braze-on studs on the next bike.