I'm retrofitting an early 80s Peugeot which currently has Weinmann 999 centerpulls and steel 27" wheels. I'm converting to Al alloy 700c wheels but want to stick with centerpulls. Up front this means I need a longer-reach Weinmann "750" as opposed to the "610" that's on there now. I've searched ebay, craigslist, and a few online parts shops to no avail. Anybody have some other suggestions, or a 750 caliper laying around unused? (Incidentally, it has occurred to me i could just get another old bike and scavenge the 750 off the rear of it, but lately this era of bikes hasn't been showing up in the thrift stores around here very much, plus then I'd have another parts bike in the stable, which I need like a hole in my head)

Thanks!

eBay

Try your local bike co-op. We have a bucket of them.

Any good?

Will these (Dia-Compe Mod 750) work in this situation, or are they too long?

https://www.rivbike.com/products/list...product=15-111

Of course getting some old ones for $10 locally would be much nicer....

I probably still have a Diacompe 750 in the ol' parts bin, if you are interested.

There's a five gallon pail of takeoff calipers out in the barn. If you can wait a day or so I'll send you one for postage.
Top

Thanks for all the replies. The Rivendell suggestion is awesome - I don't know why I didn't think to look there. Those brakes are so shiny and new and beautiful - but I'm going to take Top up on his offer of a pair of old brakes out of his takeoff pail.

You could make your own drop bolts to accommodate for the smaller wheels, they don't seem to take any braking power away and you get to keep your brake. I had exactly the same problem with the same brakes, here take a look. They're just two steel plates with two holes in each and one extra 6mm bolt.

Sam

IMG_4127-small.jpg

Are you certain that the Weinmann 610s are too short? If what I've read is correct, you only need an extra 4mm of reach to go from 27" to 700c wheels, which ain't much (4mm is about 5/32"). On my '74 Raleigh Record, the 610s have about 10mm of slot available if I want to go to 700c. However, your fork and brake bridge geometry may be different.

You will lose some "squeeze" with the brake pads moved out to the ends of the brake arms. I upgraded from the old Weinmann levers/Dia Compe extensions to some Tektro 200A "high mechanical advantage" levers, which help quite a bit. I priced long reach brakes and decided to limit my upgrade to brake levers, keeping the centerpulls and the 27" wheels. I figure I'll be OK as long as I can find 27" tires.

Good Luck,

tcpasley

More excellent suggestions. Drop bolts are a great suggestion but if you saw how long any little extra step takes me you would understand why I want to just slap on a new brake instead. (yes, I know how simple they are and I am shamed and embarrassed by this)

The 610s are too short, surprisingly. I dropped the intended front wheel into the fork and checked it out. I'll be burning through the sidewalls of the tires even at maximum reach. In back the 750 will reach the rim of the new wheel with no problem.

Again, drop bolts are extremely simple, if you've got a drill, measurement tools (especially a centre punch for making an indent so the drill doesn't wobble around) and a hacksaw, thats all you really need to make them.

If you live in America you could try Harris Cyclery, they have an excellent array of brakes, loads of longer reach too. I was going to buy a new front brake on my bike but postage is way to high for UK and i don't think they even do postage to here anway!

Sam

Thanks John, I'm sending you an email with my info.