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Brake lever clamps- Question

Old 07-24-09, 11:18 AM
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Brake lever clamps- Question

I just purchased a set of very lightly used Dia Compe road levers off of ebay thinking all clamp sizes are pretty standard, but I completely forgot that it wasn't always this way. It turns out the clamps are sized for 22.2mm to 23.8mm bars, far too small for my Cinelli 26.4mm bars.

Would there be any disastrous outcome if I were to find a pair of clamps that fit my 26.4mm bars? Where on earth can I find the clamps without buying another set of levers? The Dia Compe levers have a hole in the middle of the lever to tighten the clamp, unlike Shimano's system where you slide a wrench down the side of the hoods
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Old 07-24-09, 06:02 PM
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As far as I know, all road handlebars have always been made to the same diameter in the area where the brake levers mount. The 26.4mm diameter of your Cinelli bars refers only to the center section where the stem clamps on to the handlebars. All handlebars taper down to a smaller diameter in the area outside of the stem clamp. If you have not yet tried fitting those brake levers to your bars, give it a try before you waste time looking for a solution that likely doesn't exist (because it doesn't need to).
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Old 07-24-09, 06:18 PM
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Originally Posted by joejack951
As far as I know, all road handlebars have always been made to the same diameter in the area where the brake levers mount. The 26.4mm diameter of your Cinelli bars refers only to the center section where the stem clamps on to the handlebars. All handlebars taper down to a smaller diameter in the area outside of the stem clamp. If you have not yet tried fitting those brake levers to your bars, give it a try before you waste time looking for a solution that likely doesn't exist (because it doesn't need to).
You're pretty much right, but with one notable exception,

the steel drops that came on almost every bike boom 10 speed actually used the 22.2 mountain size. Most brake levers can be adjusted to fit, but they can't be spread back to a normal sized bar.

however, that shouldn't affect the OP with his Cinelli. He should be fine
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Old 07-24-09, 07:17 PM
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I figured that there was at least one exception, hence the "as far as I know." But now I know more. Thanks
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Old 07-24-09, 07:46 PM
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I took the clamps off the levers thinking maybe the hoods were somehow getting in the way, but now I can see that the clamps simply won't fit on the bars. The levers are aero (so at least 1985ish, most likely newer), so I'm sort of confused why there's such a small clamp on the levers.
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Old 07-24-09, 07:51 PM
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Probably changed by the former owner.
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Old 07-24-09, 10:33 PM
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Originally Posted by wrk101
Probably changed by the former owner.
Yeah, that's my guess. I'm going to Peoria IL tomorrow which has a few bigger/better bike shops that can hopefully help me out.
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Old 04-21-20, 08:58 AM
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Was there finally a solution for this problem? I'm in the same boat: bought a brand new cinelli giro d'italia (26 mm) handlebar and a pair of vintage nuovo record brake levers. The brake lever clamps are marked campagnolo so seem to be original, but they just won't fit over the end of the handlebar. I might be able to force them a bit so they are on the handlebar, but likely won't be able to get the clamps to where they should be on the handlebar without damaging it.

[EDIT / UPDATE: managed to install the levers by using clamps from a pair of weinmann brake levers. The campagnolo clamps have a fixed diameter which would just could not go over the bar ends... The weinmann brake clamps have a bit more flex: you can play a bit with the two ends of the clamp which are held together by a nut (take out the nut out of one of the ends of the clamp).. It did not go easily but it works.]

Last edited by ARNAERT; 04-21-20 at 12:45 PM.
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Old 04-21-20, 10:18 AM
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Sorry if this seems to be a foolish question but have you loosened the clamp band tension bolts before trying to slide the clamps on? You may have to completely remove the clamp bands from the lever bodies, spread them wider and slide them on over the bars and then reattach them to the lever bodies.
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Old 04-21-20, 12:47 PM
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Thanks Hillrider, yes I did (but it indeed does not hurt to double check :-) ). See edit of my post above for a solution that worked for me
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Old 04-21-20, 09:49 PM
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Originally Posted by ARNAERT
Was there finally a solution for this problem? I'm in the same boat: bought a brand new cinelli giro d'italia (26 mm) handlebar and a pair of vintage nuovo record brake levers. The brake lever clamps are marked campagnolo so seem to be original, but they just won't fit over the end of the handlebar. I might be able to force them a bit so they are on the handlebar, but likely won't be able to get the clamps to where they should be on the handlebar without damaging it.

[EDIT / UPDATE: managed to install the levers by using clamps from a pair of weinmann brake levers. The campagnolo clamps have a fixed diameter which would just could not go over the bar ends... The weinmann brake clamps have a bit more flex: you can play a bit with the two ends of the clamp which are held together by a nut (take out the nut out of one of the ends of the clamp).. It did not go easily but it works.]
Campagnolo brake lever clamps are indeed thicker and heavier than the Dia-Compe items. If the clamps were tightened without being installed on a handlebar they can distort enough that they don't really fit around the handlebar.

Back in my bike shop days we had a Park Tool Brake Clamp Expander. This rounds out the clamp so it fits the handlebar. You can find them used occasionally.

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