Mafac brake lever help
11-03-15 | 03:44 AM
#1
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From: Apex, NC
Bikes: 2007 Iron Horse Victory 3.0, 2001 Raleigh SC40, 2011Fuji Newest 2.0, 1984 Lotus Challenger,1989 Schwinn World Sport,1973 Motobecane Grand Touring,1970 Schwinn Varsity,1991Paramount series 3
Mafac brake lever help
I have a 1973 Motobecane Grand Touring with Mafac QR levers. I have never seen these before and I am missing one of the small red caps that fit on the release mech. Any clues where I might find one?
Last edited by gstep51; 11-03-15 at 06:21 AM.
11-04-15 | 01:42 AM
#3
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Bikes: A green one, "Ragleigh," or something.
Trolling the C&V thread is like watching major league baseball games. Pay attention and every couple days you'll see something you've never seen before.
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● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
11-04-15 | 01:51 AM
#4
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Bikes: 72 Cilo Pacer, 72 Gitane GT, 72 Peugeot PX10, 73 Speedwell Ti,l, 75 Peugeot PR-10L, 80 Colnago Super, 81 Zinn, 85 ALAN Cross, 85 De Rosa Pro, 86 Look 753, 86 Look KG86, 89 Parkpre Team, 90 Parkpre Team MTB, 90 Merlin
Doesn't look original. Hard to tell from the photo, but what's the point of the rod and red cap to begin with? Why not dispose of it entirely?
11-04-15 | 02:14 AM
#5
verktyg
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Bikes: Current favorites: 1988 Peugeot Birraritz, 1984 Gitane Super Corsa, 1980s DeRosa, 1981 Bianchi Campione Del Mondo, 1992 Paramount OS, 1988 Colnago Technos, 1985 RalieghUSA SBDU Team Pro
I've seen pictures of those MAFAC levers before but in over 40 years, I've never actually seen them.
I've looked over all of the MAFAC catalogs and literature I have but didn't see any references to them.
You may be able to modify a plastic bead to fit and then glue it on.
Good luck finding that part.
verktyg
Chas.
I've looked over all of the MAFAC catalogs and literature I have but didn't see any references to them.
You may be able to modify a plastic bead to fit and then glue it on.
Good luck finding that part.
verktyg
Chas.
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Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
Chas. ;-)
Don't believe everything you think! History is written by those who weren't there....
Chas. ;-)
11-04-15 | 05:58 AM
#6
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From: Apex, NC
Bikes: 2007 Iron Horse Victory 3.0, 2001 Raleigh SC40, 2011Fuji Newest 2.0, 1984 Lotus Challenger,1989 Schwinn World Sport,1973 Motobecane Grand Touring,1970 Schwinn Varsity,1991Paramount series 3
It is original and the red cap provides a grip point to allow you to engage the quick release. The brake lever is allowed to open further by moving the "rod" to a different position within the slot on the lever. It is similar to the gate on other levers that when swung to one side allows increased travel. The bike is all original and I am trying to keep it that way. If you go on ebay and see what original mafac parts are going for, it makes you think twice about discarding them.
Last edited by gstep51; 11-07-15 at 06:28 AM.
11-04-15 | 07:13 AM
#7
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If you have one, take some precise measurements, reengineer it in a 3D modelling program, and have some made by 3D printing. Such a small part will be very cheap to 3D print.
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11-04-15 | 09:25 AM
#8
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From: Berkeley, CA
Bikes: 72 Cilo Pacer, 72 Gitane GT, 72 Peugeot PX10, 73 Speedwell Ti,l, 75 Peugeot PR-10L, 80 Colnago Super, 81 Zinn, 85 ALAN Cross, 85 De Rosa Pro, 86 Look 753, 86 Look KG86, 89 Parkpre Team, 90 Parkpre Team MTB, 90 Merlin
It is original and the red cap provides a grip point to allow you engage the quick release. The brake lever is allowed to open further by moving the "rod" to a different position within the slot on the lever. It is similar to the gate on other levers that when swung to one side allows increased travel. The bike is all original and I am trying to keep it that way. If you go on ebay and see what original mafac parts are going for, it makes you think twice about discarding them.
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-Randy
'72 Cilo Pacer (x2) • '72 Peugeot PX10 • ‘72 Gitane Gran Tourisme • '73 Speedwell Ti • '74 Motobecane Grand Jubile • '74 Peugeot UE-8 • ‘80 Colnago Super • ‘81 Univega Super Special • ‘82 Zinn • ‘84ish Mystery Custom • '85 A.L.A.N Cyclocross • '85 De Rosa Pro • '86 Look Equipe 753 • '86 Look KG86 • '89 Parkpre Team Road • '90 Parkpre Team MTB • '90 Merlin Ti
Avatar photo courtesy of jeffveloart.com, contact: contact: jeffnil8 (at) gmail.com.
-Randy
'72 Cilo Pacer (x2) • '72 Peugeot PX10 • ‘72 Gitane Gran Tourisme • '73 Speedwell Ti • '74 Motobecane Grand Jubile • '74 Peugeot UE-8 • ‘80 Colnago Super • ‘81 Univega Super Special • ‘82 Zinn • ‘84ish Mystery Custom • '85 A.L.A.N Cyclocross • '85 De Rosa Pro • '86 Look Equipe 753 • '86 Look KG86 • '89 Parkpre Team Road • '90 Parkpre Team MTB • '90 Merlin Ti
Avatar photo courtesy of jeffveloart.com, contact: contact: jeffnil8 (at) gmail.com.
11-06-15 | 10:36 PM
#9
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From: Wilmette, IL
I have a set of those brake levers on a Gitane. Odd, I have had several bikes with these MAFAC levers. I would have thought they were common. Anyway, the pair I have is missing all but one of the red thingamajigs. So you can have the one I have.
I will PM you for shipping address.
EDIT: Funny thing is I have had several bikes with the QR MAFAC levers. All of them were missing the red tabs. When I got the Gitane with the little red tab on it, my first thought was did someone stick something on the lever or was this some ancient original packing material. Then I saw in a picture on the internet that the red tabs were part of the QR setup.
I will PM you for shipping address.
EDIT: Funny thing is I have had several bikes with the QR MAFAC levers. All of them were missing the red tabs. When I got the Gitane with the little red tab on it, my first thought was did someone stick something on the lever or was this some ancient original packing material. Then I saw in a picture on the internet that the red tabs were part of the QR setup.
Last edited by big chainring; 11-06-15 at 10:45 PM.
11-06-15 | 11:12 PM
#10
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Joined: Nov 2014
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From: Apex, NC
Bikes: 2007 Iron Horse Victory 3.0, 2001 Raleigh SC40, 2011Fuji Newest 2.0, 1984 Lotus Challenger,1989 Schwinn World Sport,1973 Motobecane Grand Touring,1970 Schwinn Varsity,1991Paramount series 3
I have a set of those brake levers on a Gitane. Odd, I have had several bikes with these MAFAC levers. I would have thought they were common. Anyway, the pair I have is missing all but one of the red thingamajigs. So you can have the one I have.
I will PM you for shipping address.
EDIT: Funny thing is I have had several bikes with the QR MAFAC levers. All of them were missing the red tabs. When I got the Gitane with the little red tab on it, my first thought was did someone stick something on the lever or was this some ancient original packing material. Then I saw in a picture on the internet that the red tabs were part of the QR setup.
I will PM you for shipping address.
EDIT: Funny thing is I have had several bikes with the QR MAFAC levers. All of them were missing the red tabs. When I got the Gitane with the little red tab on it, my first thought was did someone stick something on the lever or was this some ancient original packing material. Then I saw in a picture on the internet that the red tabs were part of the QR setup.
Thanks,
Greg
Last edited by gstep51; 11-07-15 at 06:25 AM.
11-15-15 | 05:03 PM
#12
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Joined: Nov 2014
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From: Apex, NC
Bikes: 2007 Iron Horse Victory 3.0, 2001 Raleigh SC40, 2011Fuji Newest 2.0, 1984 Lotus Challenger,1989 Schwinn World Sport,1973 Motobecane Grand Touring,1970 Schwinn Varsity,1991Paramount series 3
