dukesup1978

Hello,

First, thanks in advance for any help you can provide me with! I just purchased a Trek 7.3 FX WSD today. In order to take it home, we had to remove both wheels so it could fit in my car. The guy showed me how to put the wheels back on. I had no problem with the front wheel, the back wheel I got back onto the chain and locked it up just fine. My trouble is replacing noodle in the receptacle on the brake arm! For some reason it just doesn't seem to reach. Does anyone have any suggestions for this? Also - is it okay to ride the bike in the meantime - although the back brakes aren;t on 100%? b/c I do have front brakes..

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Panthers007

Just squeeze hard on the Avid Single Digit 3 (?) brake-arms and pull the noodle forward. It should drop in. Look at it closely so you can see where it is supposed to go in - the end near the rubber-thingy is thinner and is meant to go into the clasp on the retainer. Failing this - carefully loosen your cable and give it a bit of slack, insert the noodle, then tighten up the cable again. Don't get it so tight that you can't remove the noodle again when needed (removing wheels, etc). You can tighten up the brakes at the levers by un-screwing the wheel that comes out with the cable in the lever.

I have a FX 7.5, so I'm rather adept with those brakes, assuming you have the Avid SD 3's. Enjoy your 7.3 - FX's are very nice bikes.

wmodavis

Depends how tight the brakes are tightened i.e. the cable adjuster. I set mine rather tight but do it so the cable adjuster can be turned in full to provide enough slack to reinsert the noodle. Then simply readjust the cable adjuster for brake operation. Think I've read somewhere an adjustment proceedure that allows just unclipping the noodle and recliping it in. But not sure. To do that you'd have to have enough slack available in the brake cable when you squeeze the brake pads together.

dukesup1978

Loosening to cable to allow more slack solved my problem like a charm!! Thank you very much. : )

Noam Zane

What I suspect the problem was is the cable housing not being properly seated in the stops or lever barrel adjuster thus effectively shortening your cable.

munski1968

So, what ecactly the technical term for that metal bullet thingy at the end of the noodle that fits into the clasp? Does it have a name? Mine broke today, and I had to adjust my cable to get any kind of brakes in the front. Bike shop just did a tune up the other day, and adjusted the damn things. They're on winter hours, and closed too tomorrow. Aaaaaargh! lol

munski1968

So, what ecactly the technical term for that metal bullet thingy at the end of the noodle that fits into the clasp? Does it have a name? Mine broke today, and I had to adjust my cable to get any kind of brakes in the front. Bike shop just did a tune up the other day, and adjusted the damn things. They're on winter hours, and closed too tomorrow. Aaaaaargh! lol

Panthers007

At the end of the noodle? On the v-brakes I've seen, that is part OF the noodle. If the noodle broke, you need a new noodle.

What brand of brakes do you have? And photographs are best for this sort of thing.

munski1968

Yeah, they're V-brakes. Pro Max forged alloys on a Fuji Hybrid. I'll take it back Wednesday. That's no big deal. Going riding in the park with a friend tomorrow. No hills, or traffic. All flat, so I won't need the brakes much tomorrow lol. I just wanted to know what the heck that silver bullet thingy is called ?? lol

munski1968

Yeah, they're V-brakes. Pro Max forged alloys on a Fuji Hybrid. I'll take it back Wednesday. That's no big deal. Going riding in the park with a friend tomorrow. No hills, or traffic. All flat, so I won't need the brakes much tomorrow lol. I just wanted to know what the heck that silver bullet thingy is called ?? lol

Panthers007

I'm not worried about your getting a replacement. But I am wondering how the heck it broke.

AndrewP

Your original problem was caused by the cable housing coming out of its socket at the brake lever or at the other end on the top tube. Check to see that it is in place otherwise it will pop back when you dont expect and you will find the pads are too far from the rim and you will have no rear brake when you need it.

munski1968

But whats the silver bullet looking thingy called????

munski1968

But whats the silver bullet looking thingy called????

Panthers007

Well, that's a "silver bullet looking thingy."

Anyone else want to name a part? How about: Noodle-Nozzle?

Mondoman

It's just part of the noodle.

Mondoman

It's just part of the noodle.

[Double-posted in honor of munski ]

munski1968

So, the little silver bullet looking thingy doesn't actually have a name? It's just part of the noodle?? Ok, got it

munski1968

I'm thinking it was probably caused by riding around in sub-sero degree temperatures, getting sand, and salt in my noodle, and the moisture from the snow packed roads. What do I know though? I'm not a physicist.

Panthers007

You could be an Italian or Chinese chef. You know how to cook noodles...

(I'll go away now...)

munski1968

Hahaha. Good one! Yeah, maybe its time to be put the noodle to bed.