Mlle_Mel

I'm having trouble finding this brakeset, to the point that I'm now looking for cheap vintage bikes on eBay that have them just for the brakes. Anyone have any tips for where to find a set?

1987

Hilary Stone Classic Corner Brakes

Mlle_Mel

Thanks!

3alarmer 

...if you are near a major metropolitan area, look for a non profit bike co-op.
Do a google search for your location. We get them on occasion here at mine.

Mlle_Mel

That's a great idea, thank you!

1987

Can Universal 61 really be that hard to find?
Universal 61 | eBay
universal 61 | eBay

Mlle_Mel

I was surprised too! I thought it would be pretty easy. I've been following the search on eBay for about 2 or 3 weeks. Pickins are slim.

3alarmer 

....I'll look at the co-op when I go over there sometime to manage on Saturday. What's your price range? Because we gotta charge for them.(if I find any)
Also, a lot of our stuff is not complete sets, so are you looking for just the levers or just the brakes with the idea of putting your own set together ?

I think they were not used as much as some others, and the lever housing tends to crack if overtorqued, and maybe a lot of them were replaced and tossed.

Mlle_Mel

Thanks! Honestly I have don't really have a price in mind since I haven't really seen them around. I'm looking for the front and rear calipers, and hangers/any attaching hardware if you have it. Don't need brake levers. $50 or thereabouts? I guess it will also depend on the condition. Let me know what you find, and thanks again!

Mlle_Mel

Maybe I'll just get a Mafac set, and wait around until a Universal set pops up at a reasonable price.

3alarmer 

...I've used all of the centerpulls at one time or another, and they all work about the same (pretty well).
If you go with MAFAC, make sure to figure in some sort of QR feature, which is absent on them.

The levers were often changed out because of this, back in days of yore.

IME, all co-op brakesets go for less than that, unless they are pretty special.

Mlle_Mel

K, thanks!

dddd

The MAFAC quick release is the transverse cable end barrel, much more easily dislodged than on, say, a pair of Weinmann centerpull calipers.

Usually the Mafac brakes are set up with generous lever free-travel, making for plenty of cable slack once you compress the pads together with your free hand.

It shouldn't require any loosening of the adjuster in other words.

SJX426 

Several years ago I would find them in the junk box at a coop. Usually I paid around $2 for a calliper or lever. Rarely did I see the HW but there is enough alternatives to make it work. The most difficult part about them is the hoods. They are like looking for hens teeth and you can't ride without them. There was a person on CR that made them @ $50/pair including the adjustment hood. Don't know if he is still making them or not. He borrowed the machinery to shoot them.

As popular as the Campagnolo brake levers are, I think more Universal levers were mounted on Italian hardware during the 70's and early 80's. It a shame they don't get more respect. Yes the base is fragile and you are really temped to reef down on them cause they move, but the levers are very comfortable.

They are not anodized and can be made to be bling!

3alarmer 

...yes. Nonetheless, the Weinmann levers were a common swap for MAFACs where I was,
because it just seems easier to use a release in the lever. And I run them pretty tight, FWIW.

wrk101

I've done this many times. If you buy right, you can often swap out the parts you desire, resell, and end up spending very little if any for your desired pieces. Most of my parts have come in the form of a complete bike.

You can also find inefficiencies on ebay. Buyers are all over the Suntour bar cons. But I bought a set last year on ebay, that were mounted on handlebars, complete with brake levers and a nice stem. Price? About half of what the bare bar cons were bringing. I ended up selling just the stem for what I paid for the entire set up. Most buyers have no imagination.

3alarmer 

...I went over to the co-op today, to fill in for someone who did not show up.

We have nothing by Universal at all, either CP brakes or levers. There are some miscellaneous
Dia Compe and Weinmann centerpull brakes, but those ought to be pretty common wherever you are.

Sorry and good luck.

devinfan

These seem to be in your price range:

Universal MOD 61 CP Brakes | eBay

zukahn1 

I looked at my bike coop no Universals. Is there some reason you must go with this a nice set of Mafac Racers or pros would be basically correct and work and be easy to find. Also if you must go Italian Barrilas are basically the same and out there. Also if why not some vintage Wieman Pros from the same era nearly every one used them.

Mlle_Mel

Thanks everyone, I actually found a set finally. Much love to my bike peeps!