Interesting DIY drop-bolt
 

I was perusing some auctions, and came across this (drewed) Olmo SS. (Not interested, just looking.) But what caught my eye was the drop-bolt for the rear brake. It looks to be a DIY job, if I'm not mistaken. I remember someone else here fashioned their own drop-bolt as well but couldn't find that thread. Seeing how scarce and expensive the genuine Campagnolo drop-bolts are, I'm surprised we don't see these improvised drop-bolts more often, rather than replacing with long-reach calipers. Anyone else make or seen a DIY drop-bolt? Do you think the one pictured below would work or would this be likely to swing side to side? Discuss...

http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps700b00fd.jpg

Here you go. It performed well for me. I've used it on several different builds.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...-TO?highlight=

J

Thanks, J. Your thread was indeed the one I had in mind. Since I didn't say it then, I say now: that the drop-bolt you fashioned looks terrific--much better than the one on the Olmo. Really nice work. :thumb:

I'll take this opportunity to add one more drop bolt to the mix. The one below came on my Ron Kit/Speedwell. For whatever reason, there is very little clearance between the brake bridge and rear wheel, even with a 700c tire. So little clearance that a "riser-bolt" is needed. What is interesting about the "riser-bolt" is that it has two grooves for the caliper spring--one for use as a "riser-bolt" and one for use as a drop-bolt.

Riser-bolt:
http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps0cfa18fb.jpg

Drop-bolt:
http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/a...psddf570e6.jpg

Did you see this silly thread, gaucho? Hey, I just noticed that you contributed. ;)

And I still have them all. :D

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...rld?highlight=

J

Those DIY drop bolts look very nice and clean. I've always considered something like that as an option for a 650B conversion. Unlike the expensive Campy and Suntour bolts, which only give you a few millimeters of extra drop, you could make a DIY bolt with as much drop as you want.

I think Sheldon has a page on these, perhaps a propos the Raleigh Twenty brake problem.

Here's a recessed bolt version....

J

Bike Island has this one

http://bikeisland.com/cgi-bin/BKTK_S...ls&ProdID=1709

Here's a crappy photo of a "riser bolt" I installed on my Gitane TdF a few years back when I ran some 27" wheels on it. It's the opposite of a drop bolt--increases clearance between the brake and the rim. The body is a chunk of 1/4" stainless steel. I drilled two holes in it, and tapped them to accept 6 mm bolts. Then I cut the head of a longish stainless steel bolt and threaded that end, and screwed that short threaded section into the tapped hole in the riser block, using some blue loctite. I bolted that assembly to the fork crown where the brake bolt itself would ordinarily have gone. The brake caliper itself was then bolted to the upper tapped hole, using a shorter 6 mm bolt.
It's worked really well--very stiff and strong. In fact, when I converted back to 700C wheels, I found that there was enough brake reach to the rims even with the riser bolt still in place, so I just left it there.

My go at it on a recent SS/FG conversion.

http://www.pedalroom.com/p/bianchi-r...n-24541_15.jpg