brake lever frstration!
 

i have a question for you all, i bought some nitto prominade bars for my raleigh, those are on and i think they look awesome. well i wanted to change the brake levers cause the ones i have will not sit right on the bars. i have the city style brake levers and they always shift even when put on.
these are what i have.

http://ep.yimg.com/ip/I/yhst-8422422..._2058_18702437

well im wanting to upgrade the levers and i made a huge boo boo. i glued my cork grips on and really dont want to take them off and do it all over again.
well i was looking on velo orange and rivendell and i noticed the tektro levers. i saw these


http://ep.yimg.com/ip/I/yhst-8422422..._2060_14192877

they look like they clamp over the bars or do they slide over the bars, these would better fit my bars does anyone have any experince with these?

or am i just screwed.

They slide over. I've managed to remove cork grips with minimal damage. A thin butter knife or something similar works--slide it under the grip a little bit, then pour some rubbing alcohol. You have to just patiently try and work the alcohol around under the grip till you can brake the glue seal, but it can be done. I did it w/ shellacked grips, so it might not be so great with untreated ones, but it's worth a shot.

More importantly to answer your question, I'd say the levers you bought will have to slide over the bars (no hinge on the clamp section). It's important you make sure they fit the diameter of your bars.

Good luck.

+1, you have to take the grips off. Do it carefully and they should be fine to glue on again. If the rubbing alcohol won't break the glue bond, try Bestine (art supply) or lighter fluid (like for Zippo or Ronson, not BBQ) or Naptha (hardware store). Also sounds like the levers you have don't have the correct clamp loops (they come in at least 2 sizes, usually stamped right on the steel) cheaper to get the right ones than new levers.

hmm thanx for the reply i dont think they are coming off. i went with the rivendell destructions and used gorilla glue. thats why i wanted some that would clamp over the bars.
ill probably just leave them how they are now. seems i screwed myself.

thanx for the input though!

Another option for softening glue for non-destructive removal of grips, is to remove the bar end caps, then use a hair dryer/heat gun to force hot air through the bar. I've also used hot water and a hose. Depends on the temp characteristics of the glue used as to how long it will take.
Of course, it won't work with closed end grips

Ken.

Interrupter levers have hinged clamps.

Or you could try shimming the levers you already have on there. A single wrap of cloth tape: looks good, gives the clamp area a greater diameter and more friction, and has the added benefit of protecting the finish of the bars.

thanx again fro the input. i looked at the Tektro interrputer brake levers and those are pretty much what i was looking for.

yeah i was dumb and really didnt think it through when i put the levers and grips on.

i really hate gorilla glue.
lesson learned.

these are the ones i put on my bike.
and the problem is the the grips hit right at a point were the bars start to bend.
and the old brake levers do not sit properly they sit inside the bend, i guess its kinda hard to explain.
ill tkae a pic when i get home.

http://www.benscycle.net/bmz_cache/5...ge.700x524.jpg

I use gorilla glue, as well. If you use high-concentration rubbing alcohol, the bond breaks. You just have to give it a few minutes to slowly dissolve the glue, and slowly work the gap deeper, but it works fine.

The way you describe the mismatch, it sounds like the lever clamps might be too large. If so, you can put a piece of scrap inner tubing or a bit of cloth bar tape under the clamps, which gives the added benefit of minimizing scratches to the finish of the 'bars.

The in-line levers work well, too, though you still should makes sure they're the right diameter.

awesome thanx.
i was wondering if anything broke that bond. and now i know.
thats exactly what it is the lever is to large for those bars. ill try to weigh my options when i get home.
but thank you all for the help.

though i do like the inline levers they make the whole setup look clean.
the bars say they have a clamp diameter of 25.4
and i was looking at the levers the to 24 to 26. any help on which ones to get?

so on my lunch break i went home to have a tuna sandwich and contemplate the whole brake lever dilemma.

and i im pretty sure im going to keep the old levers i just want your opinion and how i should accomplish this.


i was able to turn the whole lever where it will be able to sit ok, underneath the grip.
now my question is what should i do to get it to sit flat. should i just use sandpaper to get it down or just press into the cork.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h1...or/handtwo.jpg
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h1...or/handone.jpg

notch out the cork under normal circumstances. Now you are attempting to locate the levers on the bend. Not a good placement, no wonder why they do not fit, you MAY be able to use a different "loop" to get it to work, as used on old Wald or Schwinn steel bars for Weinmann brakes, but it is risky for a secure placement.

My current favorites for v-brakes...

http://i424.photobucket.com/albums/p...everd2full.png