I'm putting together a Soma Saga Build and I was real proud of myself for being careful about not buying wrong parts that I needed to re-buy. At least that was the case until I go to running the brake cables.

I bought a set of Tektro FL750 Levers from Harris. These levers are beautiful and looked just like I thought a pair of levers ought to look.



Nice huh? Problem is there is no cable adjuster as there seems to be on almost every other upright bar brake lever.

No problem I'll just put a Dia Compe barrel adjuster at the other end of that particular length of cable cover.

I bought a bag of them, and crap. The hangers at both ends are made to hold the ferrule/cover in place and are not made for an adjuster.

Look at the chip in the paint. There's about a half dozen. Softest powder coat I've ever seen.


So I am kind of at an impasse. The barrel adjusters are really about a mm looser that what I would have like them to be. Plus I'll to Dremel out the ends of the brakes, so the Dia Compe barrel adjuster will fit in, or the drill out the hangers, or leave it be and just adjust the cantilever saddle which may be OK but offends my senses.

Of I could just buy new levers, but I've not found any that really please my design intentions. I'd much rather have a constructeur looking brake lever than a mountain looking brake lever. But if I gotta, I gotta.

What other solutions have I? I'm asking those who have gone before and know exactly what I might need, hopefully. Thanks.

Here's where I am at this point.

Honestly, those Tektro levers you bought look like the cheesy steel levers commonly found on old department store cruisers. I think a vintage set of MTB levers would look really cool on that bike. The rest of it looks awesome

I imagine they're intended to be used with calipers that have barrel adjusters on them.

These Shimano levers have a pretty nice understated look. If the barrel adjusters you bought fit them and are silver that would improve looks a bit. Strip the Shimano and polish them a bit and I bet they'd look really nice. Dunno if I'd be dedicated enough to do that though.

https://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=15692



(oops, looks like out of stock there....)

Old dept store cruisers had coaster brakes when I was a kid.

THESE are cheesey looking ones. Used to see those on old three speeds.


Cheesy or not, the ones I have chosen are the ones I like. I'm just wanting to get a setup where I can easily make small needed adjustments.

I may go with a three finger mountain set. I find ones I like, but to find they are sold in the UK only. Basically I want to stay with Silver. All hardware items but the frame are silver colored or gray. I'm just sick and tired of black stuff everywhere. Tires are the exception. So I'm using as little black as possible.

Is the front hanger diameter such that you could tap it for a threaded adjuster?

Maybe. But the rear hanger isn't

Yeah, That's what I was considering as an alternative. Not too bent. And you understand the silver trend I'm going for.

Darn, UK is the only place I can find them in stock also.

you know, it is possible to install the cables at a tension that is adequate for safe braking using a little patience. when the cable stretches and/or the pads wear they can be readjusted. if you really like those levers, its not that hard really. and i think, but i admit limited firsthand knowledge here, that there are such things as "inline" barrel adjusters for brakelines and/or shifter cable.

Just bought a pair on eBay from Taiwan. Good price too. < $36with shipping!

Thanks for the tip, LOP!

Now I just have to wait 3 weeks. Thanks EVERBODY!
I'll take Huey's tip for now.

Also, I have a bike or two or four out in the shed that's got rapid fires in black with the silver adjuster. A swap is in the future.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/160665596164...ht_2112wt_1163


/THREAD

Wait just a minute! What bars do you have?

Doesn't somebody make an inline barrel adjuster?

Soma Sparrow 560 bar. 22.2mm grip diameter. https://store.somafab.com/sosp490bar.html

The Shimano R550 specifies clamp diameter - 22.2mm