Cable-retaining hack for vintage brake levers.
08-01-19 | 09:49 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 22,676
Likes: 2,642
From: CID
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Cable-retaining hack for vintage brake levers.
Don't ya hate it when the ball end of a brake cable pops out of its socket when changing a flat? It doesn't happen to me often, but it can be frustrating when I'm out on the road and don't have a pair of needle-nose pliers to feed it back in. So I decided to try this before RAGBRAI:
I wrapped a small zip tie around the cable and snugged it up next to the socket before clipping off the excess. Now it rides along with the cable and discourages it from going the wrong way. I doubt I'm the first person to think of this, but I'm so pleased with the result I thought I'd pass it along.
I wrapped a small zip tie around the cable and snugged it up next to the socket before clipping off the excess. Now it rides along with the cable and discourages it from going the wrong way. I doubt I'm the first person to think of this, but I'm so pleased with the result I thought I'd pass it along.
08-02-19 | 04:35 PM
#3
Patina Avoider
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,284
Likes: 1,075
From: Maryland, USA
Bikes: Drysdale/Gitane/Zeus/Masi/Falcon/Palo Alto/Vitus
But it will show up on the C&V forum in 2067, in a topic "restoring an old bike and look what I found inside the brake lever".
Actually, while I have not experienced ball-ends-dropping-out, it's a neat solution.
Actually, while I have not experienced ball-ends-dropping-out, it's a neat solution.
__________________
Larry:1958 Drysdale, 1961 Gitane Gran Sport, 1974 Zeus track, 1988 Masi Gran Corsa, 1974 Falcon, 1980 Palo Alto, 198? Vitus 979. Susan: 1976 Windsor Profesional.
Larry:1958 Drysdale, 1961 Gitane Gran Sport, 1974 Zeus track, 1988 Masi Gran Corsa, 1974 Falcon, 1980 Palo Alto, 198? Vitus 979. Susan: 1976 Windsor Profesional.
08-02-19 | 08:31 PM
#4
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,599
Likes: 914
From: So Cal, for now
Bikes: 1974 Bob Jackson - Nuovo Record, Brooks Pro, Clips & Straps
Your next emergency road side repair will require removal of the cable from the lever. Unfortunately, you will not have a cutter that can reach in and snip the zip tie.
That's just the way these things are. It's the law,... Murphy's Law, in fact.
08-02-19 | 08:33 PM
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,599
Likes: 914
From: So Cal, for now
Bikes: 1974 Bob Jackson - Nuovo Record, Brooks Pro, Clips & Straps
They, too, will not have a cutter that can reach the zip tie.
That's just the way it is.
08-02-19 | 09:01 PM
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 27,576
Likes: 5,465
From: Eugene, Oregon, USA
I like it. I have a pair of old Universal levers, that the split ends of the cable stop opened up, and unfortunately no longer holds the cable. 
Most of the modern levers (Origin8 Classique, TRP RRL, Tektro RL340 and RL520) have solid drilled stops, and shouldn't have that problem.
Most of the modern levers (Origin8 Classique, TRP RRL, Tektro RL340 and RL520) have solid drilled stops, and shouldn't have that problem.
08-03-19 | 12:00 PM
#7
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 15,315
Likes: 903
From: Tixkokob, Yucatán, México
Bikes: 79 Trek 930, 80 Trek 414, 84 Schwinn Letour Luxe (coupled), 92 Schwinn Paramount PDG 5
Frankly, I thought that only happened to me. Nice to know I have company. I have a nice stash of mini zip ties. Thanks for the tip.
08-03-19 | 07:16 PM
#8
I never finish anyth
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,114
Likes: 137
From: Western KY
Bikes: 2008 Merckx LXM, 2003 Giant XTC mtb, 2001 Lemond Alpe d'Huez, 1997 Lemond Zurich, 1989 Cannondale ST, 1988 Masi Nuovo Strada, 1983 Pinarello Turismo
Could you use some of the rubber donuts that are used to keep cables from slapping on down/top tubes? 2 or 3 of them could be slid down tight to the cable stop to hold the cable in place, but could be slid up the cable if you needed to remove it.
__________________
Dale, NL4T
Dale, NL4T
08-04-19 | 08:54 PM
#9
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 22,676
Likes: 2,642
From: CID
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
I'll roll the dice on that one. I replace brake cables semi-regularly at home, and if one were to snap on the road, I'd probably have bigger things to worry about.
08-04-19 | 08:55 PM
#10
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 22,676
Likes: 2,642
From: CID
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
(The cable tie *can* still be slid up the brake cable if need be, BTW. It just stays put because there aren't usually any forces pushing it out of place.)
Last edited by ThermionicScott; 08-04-19 at 09:03 PM.
