Need help removing brake lever clamp
 

I've recently acquired a longer Cinelli stem for my Criterium bars and want to swop the stems over.

I've untapped one side of the bars, and removed the brake lever (non-aero Dura Ace) and I now need to remove the clamp that the brake lever screws in to. How do I go about doing this ?

Is it a case of lubing up the bar and sliding it down the bar and off ? or is there a more elegant solution.

Bump...anyone?

East Hill

I suspect the question has people confused, since you say you already have the lever off. Ordinarily, the clamp is tightened and loosened by the same bolt that attaches the lever. By the time the lever comes off, the clamp is flopping around on the bar and slips off easily. If yours is not like that, it might help to post a photo.

It should be a simple process of unscrewing whatever bolt holds the housing to the band, and simultaneously induces tension in the band -- look into the housing where the brake lever came out of -- either a socket or a hex key is probably the tool. If the housing has already been unbolted, then try to press the band back into a circular shape. I hope you're not trying to get these off with the bar tape on! Won't happen.

It was that in the end, undoing the lever bolt did loosen the clamp, but not enough to make it obvious. Took a little bit of grease (elbow and the gunky stuff) to get it moving, but slipped off ok in the end.