Brake Lever Return Springs Replaced Easily
04-02-14, 12:58 PM
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Brake Lever Return Springs Replaced Easily
Recently I had shared my frustration with my Dia Compe lever removal and what happened when loosening the wrong screw. Here is the easy method to replace these little cusses.
First, remove the pivot pin with a little coaxing of a screwdriver:
With pin removed you can pull the lever away from the housing enough to give the proper room for reaching the inside area to do the work. Can you see the correct offset of the pin holes?
https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h8...9F4BC2426F.jpg
Now, you take the mounting screw and a dab of CA (superglue) and put aside to dry for about 5min. Make sure to refer to pic for proper angle of screw/spring to be sure spring installs correctly.
Carefully slide spring/screw into lever assembly through the topside positioning screw over the hole. You will put the screwdriver blade through slotted hole provided in lever. Wiggle things around a bit until you feel the threads engage. Twist away!
Hopefully you can figure out the pics. Took me a few minutes to figure out the need for pin removal, spring/screw orientation and the superglue trick. Hope this helps!
First, remove the pivot pin with a little coaxing of a screwdriver:
With pin removed you can pull the lever away from the housing enough to give the proper room for reaching the inside area to do the work. Can you see the correct offset of the pin holes?
https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h8...9F4BC2426F.jpg
Now, you take the mounting screw and a dab of CA (superglue) and put aside to dry for about 5min. Make sure to refer to pic for proper angle of screw/spring to be sure spring installs correctly.
Carefully slide spring/screw into lever assembly through the topside positioning screw over the hole. You will put the screwdriver blade through slotted hole provided in lever. Wiggle things around a bit until you feel the threads engage. Twist away!
Hopefully you can figure out the pics. Took me a few minutes to figure out the need for pin removal, spring/screw orientation and the superglue trick. Hope this helps!
04-02-14, 01:13 PM
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Top tip! Thanks.
04-02-14, 01:57 PM
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One could probably remove the lever entirely so to expose spring mounting and especially in cases where there is no slot in lever. I may have saved even more time by just going that route.
04-06-14, 06:45 AM
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Why did you need to replace the springs?
I have the same Gran Compe levers, and have not noticed any loss
of tension through-out the years, but I could be mistaken.
What do they feel like now?
I have the same Gran Compe levers, and have not noticed any loss
of tension through-out the years, but I could be mistaken.
What do they feel like now?
04-24-14, 04:18 AM
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Hey old friend, sorry I missed your post (busy forum and life). I have not noticed any lack of return pressure on the lever without the spring. The lever with spring I put on the right side to help to pull through the longer cable run. Seems to work fine. The older non-aero Dia Compe stuff on the low end back in the 70's never had return springs. I suspect it will be just fine. Hope all is well with you and wishing for warmer days soon!
