Need advice: Shimano 500EX brake caliper.
08-21-19, 07:16 AM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 99
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 35 Post(s)
Liked 54 Times
in
26 Posts
Need advice: Shimano 500EX brake caliper.
I recently got a very good deal on a nice bike from the late 90's.
fantastic condition for the price. (unfortunately I can not post pictures until I have 10 messages posted)
It has shimano brake caliper EX500 .
It is silly, but i never had bikes with road brake before, and I just don't know how to remove the wheels.
On all videos I can see, there is always some kind of piece to pull to release the brake before removing the wheel.
nothing like that on the 500EX caliper.
Do I really have to deinflate the tyres ???
(I have no room left on the cable tensionner )
It seems trivial, but thanks in advance for your advice .
fantastic condition for the price. (unfortunately I can not post pictures until I have 10 messages posted)
It has shimano brake caliper EX500 .
It is silly, but i never had bikes with road brake before, and I just don't know how to remove the wheels.
On all videos I can see, there is always some kind of piece to pull to release the brake before removing the wheel.
nothing like that on the 500EX caliper.
Do I really have to deinflate the tyres ???
(I have no room left on the cable tensionner )It seems trivial, but thanks in advance for your advice .
08-21-19, 07:22 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Posts: 1,256
Bikes: Bianchi Ti Megatube; Colnago Competition; Planet-X EC-130E; Klein Pulse; Amp Research B4; Litespeed Catalyst; Trek Y11
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 596 Post(s)
Liked 478 Times
in
258 Posts
That's correct, the EX500 brake caliper has no quick-release flip thingy (I don't know the official name) to release the brake tension.
You can either
a) deflate the tyre,
b) undo the cable, or
c) bash it past the brake pads.
You can either
a) deflate the tyre,
b) undo the cable, or
c) bash it past the brake pads.
08-21-19, 07:24 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Posts: 1,256
Bikes: Bianchi Ti Megatube; Colnago Competition; Planet-X EC-130E; Klein Pulse; Amp Research B4; Litespeed Catalyst; Trek Y11
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 596 Post(s)
Liked 478 Times
in
258 Posts
If it makes you feel any better (and it probably doesn't), none of the Campagnolo calipers have this feature either. Lots of deflating/inflating tyres for me.
08-21-19, 07:29 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Posts: 1,256
Bikes: Bianchi Ti Megatube; Colnago Competition; Planet-X EC-130E; Klein Pulse; Amp Research B4; Litespeed Catalyst; Trek Y11
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 596 Post(s)
Liked 478 Times
in
258 Posts
08-21-19, 07:32 AM
#7
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 99
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 35 Post(s)
Liked 54 Times
in
26 Posts
(now, I have reached 10 posts and I can share with you a picture of the bike)
Good deal in my opinion for 50€. Very light and well equipped for daily ride
Good deal in my opinion for 50€. Very light and well equipped for daily ride
08-21-19, 07:35 AM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Posts: 1,256
Bikes: Bianchi Ti Megatube; Colnago Competition; Planet-X EC-130E; Klein Pulse; Amp Research B4; Litespeed Catalyst; Trek Y11
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 596 Post(s)
Liked 478 Times
in
258 Posts
They're actually a nice little caliper, I like the grey/dark finish on them. I took these off an old Cannondale (I upgraded to Ultegra) and have them in a box. Maybe I should clean them up and do something with them.
08-21-19, 10:59 AM
#9
Thrifty Bill
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Mountains of Western NC
Posts: 23,523
Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more
Mentioned: 96 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1236 Post(s)
Liked 963 Times
in
628 Posts
https://www.velobase.com/ViewComponen...7-eebf94e4dcdb
Last edited by wrk101; 08-21-19 at 11:08 AM.
Likes For wrk101:
08-21-19, 11:29 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Greenwood SC USA
Posts: 2,252
Bikes: 2002 Mercian Vincitore, 1982 Mercian Colorado, 1976 Puch Royal X, 1973 Raleigh Competition, 1971 Gitane Tour de France and others
Mentioned: 55 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 823 Post(s)
Liked 1,392 Times
in
694 Posts
Isn’t there a release on the brake levers themselves?
edit- On each lever there should be a roughly triangular button near the top of each lever itself - the way these are mounted those buttons are facing the ground. Gently squeeze the brake lever and push the button, then hold it down and let the lever close - it should swing out so that the end of the lever is further out from the bars and allow the caliper to open wider.
edit- On each lever there should be a roughly triangular button near the top of each lever itself - the way these are mounted those buttons are facing the ground. Gently squeeze the brake lever and push the button, then hold it down and let the lever close - it should swing out so that the end of the lever is further out from the bars and allow the caliper to open wider.
Last edited by rustystrings61; 08-21-19 at 12:33 PM.
08-21-19, 02:39 PM
#11
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,481
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 511 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7334 Post(s)
Liked 2,431 Times
in
1,420 Posts
Or you could remove one of the brake pads. Putting it back on might be easier than inflating the tire.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
08-21-19, 03:07 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Greenwood SC USA
Posts: 2,252
Bikes: 2002 Mercian Vincitore, 1982 Mercian Colorado, 1976 Puch Royal X, 1973 Raleigh Competition, 1971 Gitane Tour de France and others
Mentioned: 55 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 823 Post(s)
Liked 1,392 Times
in
694 Posts
Check the levers for the button shown here -
- THAT is your quick release. Gently squeeze the brake lever, push that triangular button in and hold it in while releasing the lever. The lever will rotate further back and open up the brake caliper.
- THAT is your quick release. Gently squeeze the brake lever, push that triangular button in and hold it in while releasing the lever. The lever will rotate further back and open up the brake caliper.
Likes For rustystrings61:
08-21-19, 03:39 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Posts: 1,256
Bikes: Bianchi Ti Megatube; Colnago Competition; Planet-X EC-130E; Klein Pulse; Amp Research B4; Litespeed Catalyst; Trek Y11
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 596 Post(s)
Liked 478 Times
in
258 Posts
Nice! Learned something new today.
08-21-19, 05:13 PM
#14
Shifting is fun!
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: South Holland, NL
Posts: 10,994
Bikes: Yes, please.
Mentioned: 278 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2192 Post(s)
Liked 4,572 Times
in
1,758 Posts
I like the look of that bike. Very nice. Excellent buy at €50, IMO.
08-21-19, 05:17 PM
#15
Shifting is fun!
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: South Holland, NL
Posts: 10,994
Bikes: Yes, please.
Mentioned: 278 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2192 Post(s)
Liked 4,572 Times
in
1,758 Posts
BTW, who made that frame? It looks interesting. I wouldn't mind some more (and bigger) pics. 
08-21-19, 07:47 PM
#16
Death fork? Naaaah!!
In fact the 500EX levers do not have a release button.
Careful set up at initial installation will allow you to use the barrel adjuster as a (not quick) release to free the wheel without bleeding the tire.
Top
Careful set up at initial installation will allow you to use the barrel adjuster as a (not quick) release to free the wheel without bleeding the tire.
Top
__________________
You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
08-22-19, 12:27 AM
#17
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 99
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 35 Post(s)
Liked 54 Times
in
26 Posts
The brake levers have no quick release.
I already checked that too before posting.
I have about no idea about the frame itself.
The bike comes from a shop near Basel / Switzerland.
It may be a standard bike, or a special montage "à la carte" for a customer. ?
I just can say the the basis of the bike seems really good. He rides like a charm, very light.
The only thing to fix is the dynamo on the base of the frame.
I purchase it for my son to replace his current daily bike, because of the nice equipment needed for such use (rain, night, ...) . (I should consider keeping it for myself
)
I could of course post more pictures . No problem
I already checked that too before posting.
I have about no idea about the frame itself.
The bike comes from a shop near Basel / Switzerland.
It may be a standard bike, or a special montage "à la carte" for a customer. ?
I just can say the the basis of the bike seems really good. He rides like a charm, very light.
The only thing to fix is the dynamo on the base of the frame.
I purchase it for my son to replace his current daily bike, because of the nice equipment needed for such use (rain, night, ...) . (I should consider keeping it for myself
)I could of course post more pictures . No problem
08-23-19, 12:02 AM
#18
Ride, Wrench, Swap, Race
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Northern California
Posts: 9,172
Bikes: Cheltenham-Pedersen racer, Boulder F/S Paris-Roubaix, Varsity racer, '52 Christophe, '62 Continental, '92 Merckx, '75 Limongi, '76 Presto, '72 Gitane SC, '71 Schwinn SS, etc.
Mentioned: 132 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1560 Post(s)
Liked 1,282 Times
in
853 Posts
I've been able to remove inflated tires on bikes having no brake QR by working the tire past the brake pads using some front-to-rear wiggling so that the brake pad's ends pinch in the tire a bit.
Using rims and tires that are a closer match in width will ultimately make the QR obsolete.
Shimano sells an inline cable quick-release that is normally used with their direct-mount calipers that are mounted under the bottom bracket.
Using rims and tires that are a closer match in width will ultimately make the QR obsolete.
Shimano sells an inline cable quick-release that is normally used with their direct-mount calipers that are mounted under the bottom bracket.
08-23-19, 07:43 AM
#19
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,481
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 511 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7334 Post(s)
Liked 2,431 Times
in
1,420 Posts
Thanks for the tip, @dddd. I never knew about that.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
