Mafac brake cable hanger quandry
 

I had been planning to use this Mafac hanger on a Motobecane Grand Record frame I'm building up (an acquisition from an excellent BF member). As you can see, it has two different slots to engage the tab in the seatpost binder bolt, which keeps it properly oriented--that is, parallel to the seatstays. Turned one way (the side that says "depose") the slot is at 6 o'clock. Turn it around (the side that says "Mafac") and there's a slot at about 11 o'clock. The good folks at Mafac thoughtfully designed it that way so it would work in either orientation, depending on the alignment of the corresponding slot in the ear on the seatpost lug.
But as it happens, the slot on my frame doesn't correspond to either position. I need a hanger with a slot at about 2 o'clock--see the pencil mark on the "Mafac" side of the hanger.
What kind of hanger am I looking for here? Does anyone have one on hand that they'd be willing to swap for the Mafac one I have? By the way, I know I could solve the problem by just filing an additional slot in the hanger I have, but I just don't like to take a file to things unless there's no other way.

Also, the front cable stop/hanger I have is a little thick for my application, in terms of acting as a headset spacer. It leaves enough steerer exposed to turn on the locknut about 2 1/2 turns, which is adequate, I guess, but I'd really like to have something a little thinner. Anyone want to trade a thinner Mafac (or similar) hanger stamped from sheet metal for this thicker cast aluminum one? It's NOS (so is the rear hanger) and has no manufacturer name on it that I can find. It's designed to fit a French steerer with the flat on one side.
JV

your going to have to ditch them go go with something else. I ended up using that real long...Surly hanger on my Hetchins as there was a clearance issue between the binder and frame (and it is still too thick).

http://store.velo-orange.com/media/c.../br-1001_1.jpg
http://store.velo-orange.com/index.p...le-hanger.html

I have a stamped steel hanger that should work. The hole for the cable stop might be bigger but with the right ferule it should be OK. It's nothing special but you can have it if you want it. I also found a Mafac hanger like yours but the words are reversed. The 'Mafac' and 'Depose' are reversed with respect to the slots but unfortunately the slots are the same. You can have that too if you want to file it and save the NOS you have.

did anyone make a front hanger like that for a standard steerer? i am not happy with my velo orange one.

what do you mean by 'standard steerer'? there are dozens of different types of those HS hangers. a quick trip to your LBS should net you a few

Why not file a notch where you need it?

i mean a standard in steerer with a notch (bsc/italian) in it as apposed to a flat side like pictured above (french). ive seen several mafac hangers but they all were made for french steerers. i could probably file it for an bsc/italian steerer but why bother if i can buy what i want.

ive looked at "modern" hangers on the internet and they all seem to be clamp on for threadless steerers or the same cheap cast aluminum as my tektro/velo orange one. what i really want is ritcheys old hanger in 1in

i had to drive 4 hours to get a bottom bracket faced. i highly doubt my local bike shop will have anything for a threaded steerer. most of them only sell new treks, chains, tires, and two colors of bar tape.

anyway, back on topic for the OP. there are several steel hangers on ebay for french steerers and i vote file a notch in the back as well.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-MAFAC-br...c#ht_544wt_953

This ebay seller amuses me to no end.

I was thinking the same thing as CV-6. Shouldn't be too difficult. Got a Dremel and/or some jeweler's files?

Yes. Highest prices in the known universe. Amusing? well .....

i agree that the price is outrageous. unfortunately there was several last week at a very reasonable price...

It's a personal foible, I guess. I not only don't like the idea of "drewing" frames, I don't even like to drew small parts unless they're already compromised or there's no alternative.

That's an exceptional price, but I think I'll hold off for now.

The obvious solution for the OP is to find a different frame with the seat bolt notch correctly oriented and eliminate any un-necessary filing.
Sorry, the snarky filter seems to be on the fritz.
As for the poster who was looking for"conventional" hangers, check Velo Orange, I think they have what you're looking for.

If you don't like the idea of filing a notch into the frame (and you have my complete support in this), there are two similar options: file a new slot into the hanger, or file down the tooth on the bolt so it registers only with the cable hanger and not with the frame. I would go with this latter option, because in my experience the tooth is not long enough to effectively register in the frame after going through the cable hanger. You will have to hold the fixed end of the bolt with a wrench while you tighten the nut; but you would have had to do this either way. If you don't, the cable hanger will rotate (which isn't disastrous; just rotate it back before you ride).

A third, and even less destructive variation on the latter option, is to file a notch into a washer and put this over the offending tooth so it doesn't come anywhere near the frame.

Or file a notch in the key on the bolt, so that you can slide the hanger on and then clock it a little. It'll rotate freely, then, and index itself to where it wants to be.

FWIW the MAFAC front cable stop is almost useless, it flexes FAR too much to be really effective. I like the Dia-Compes with the built-in quick-release. They're stiff, good-looking, and very effective. They're just hard to find.

No, you're right. Finding a different frame to go with the hanger would be a much better and cleaner solution. I should have thought of that. Not sure what manufacturers oriented their slots that way. Can someone who has a Peugeot or Gitane frame see which way their slot is oriented? Since they typically used Mafac brakes--and presumably Mafac hangers--it makes sense that they would have oriented their slots correctly for my hanger.
Forget what I said before about trading hangers--anyone want to trade frames? My Grand Record is a 63 cm.

Poor Captain Blight, living in the "Bicycle Capital" of the US. I guess everyone's clamoring after them? I've seen more than a few at the local bike co op. But in seriousness...that's one of those parts that you never think you'd need...till you've run out of your stash of three. It's very annoying like that.

OP: Get two tabbed washers, flip one of them so the tabs are facing the same direction, and fix your seatpost with a regular bolt while using the Mafac clamp. File the hanger - I've got one or two generic versions of it, and it has slots of both sides. After you get over the fact that your part is no longer pristine, you'll be able to use it without issue. As lovely as it is to keep things pristine and shiny...it's just a piece of metal.

i have the VO cable hanger and it isnt worth the box it was shipped it. the split in the barrel adjuster opens up when the brakes are applied and the tolerance on the threads is so bad i could barely turn the adjuster and lock ring even while there is not cable tension on it.

VO has the dia compe unit with the quick release. i was afraid to try it biased off my experience above. thanks for the info.

I know, it's shameful. I just don't like to file things to get them to fit--I just feel like that starts you down a a slippery slope. On the other hand, I have no problem cobbling things together in a half-assed fashion if it doesn't involve a permanent modification. But I'm really not a bad person, in my way.

Ditch the MAFAC hanger and get one of these that fits between the ears of the seat lug:

http://www.os2.dhs.org/~john/DC-hanger.jpg

I have used the QR dia compes on several projects and they worked great for me.

Can't do that. The bolt doesn't have a hex head--just a smooth dome head. The tooth in the slot is the only thing that keeps it from turning as you tighten it. I guess I could file some wrench flats on the bolt head. But there's the slippery slope again.

I had to use a spacer on the steerer of the Gitane because of the thin hanger. I'll PM you a scan and maybe we can do a swap.

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