Confused re. Shimano Hoods
03-13-17, 10:32 AM
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Confused re. Shimano Hoods
I'm doing a minor restore of a bike that has Shimano 6401 brake levers. Based on this thread, I ordered some 6403 hoods from eBay.
They don't fit! (at least, not very well... the lever cutout of the 6403 hood is too small to fit the 6401 lever) This is a picture of a 6401 lever clothed in a 6401 hood... the hood next to it is 6403, and it's a subtly different shape...
The last post on this thread seems to confirm that 6403 doesn't fit 6401.
So, I'm stuck... what hoods will fit Shimano 6401? Is there a definitive list? Can anyone point me in the right direction?
They don't fit! (at least, not very well... the lever cutout of the 6403 hood is too small to fit the 6401 lever) This is a picture of a 6401 lever clothed in a 6401 hood... the hood next to it is 6403, and it's a subtly different shape...
The last post on this thread seems to confirm that 6403 doesn't fit 6401.
So, I'm stuck... what hoods will fit Shimano 6401? Is there a definitive list? Can anyone point me in the right direction?
03-13-17, 11:53 AM
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03-13-17, 01:13 PM
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I was able to get a good fit with Shimano BL-1055 Aero Hood Covers[/IMG]
The extension, available only for Chrome, is called Make America Kittens Again.
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03-13-17, 01:26 PM
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In my browser, your pictures of your levers display as kittens. I have a browser extension that replaces images of Donald Trump with images of kittens. I guess a bug in the software sees your levers as Trump's face. Well, it's still amusing.
The extension, available only for Chrome, is called Make America Kittens Again.
The extension, available only for Chrome, is called Make America Kittens Again.
Here's another shot.
03-13-17, 01:48 PM
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It still displays as kittens, but don't worry. I opened the pictures using an "incognito" window which dispenses with the extensions, so I have seen your actual pictures. Maybe it uses the color balance to determine the contents of images.
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03-13-17, 01:49 PM
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Oh now I saw your third picture.
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03-13-17, 05:00 PM
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In my browser, your pictures of your levers display as kittens. I have a browser extension that replaces images of Donald Trump with images of kittens. I guess a bug in the software sees your levers as Trump's face. Well, it's still amusing.
The extension, available only for Chrome, is called Make America Kittens Again.
The extension, available only for Chrome, is called Make America Kittens Again.
03-13-17, 05:50 PM
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I was able to get a good fit with Shimano BL-1055 Aero Hood Covers
03-13-17, 05:51 PM
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03-13-17, 09:47 PM
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Given the shapes of the brake lever differences between 6401 and 6403 i can see the incompatiablity between them.
BL-6401
BL-6403
BL-6401
BL-6403
03-14-17, 06:12 AM
#14
Death fork? Naaaah!!
Exage 500 EX hoods are interchangeable with 1055. Don't know if this helps or not.
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03-20-17, 10:42 PM
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Alright, the 1055 hoods are here, and I've mounted them on my 6401 levers. The result...
They fit -- more or less! However, "out of the box," the fit was too approximate for my tastes. The "mouth" of the hood, through which the lever protrudes, is slightly smaller on 1055 compared to 6401. This resulted in the hood overlapping with the gray plastic nacelle of the lever, or, when I tried my hardest to "tuck the hood in," an unpleasant bulge at the bottom of the nacelle. The difference was a matter of perhaps a quarter centimeter at the point of greatest disparity, and I was able to use an exacto-knife to correct the issue. Post surgery, the fit is quite good. Not 100% perfect, but (I think) close enough that it would take an expert to notice the difference.
Photographic evidence below. Excuse the damage to the brake in the first picture -- not my doing.
This shows the area that I had to trim... as you can see, I was slightly overzealous in a small region. I'm sure many of you are handier with a knife than me.
They fit -- more or less! However, "out of the box," the fit was too approximate for my tastes. The "mouth" of the hood, through which the lever protrudes, is slightly smaller on 1055 compared to 6401. This resulted in the hood overlapping with the gray plastic nacelle of the lever, or, when I tried my hardest to "tuck the hood in," an unpleasant bulge at the bottom of the nacelle. The difference was a matter of perhaps a quarter centimeter at the point of greatest disparity, and I was able to use an exacto-knife to correct the issue. Post surgery, the fit is quite good. Not 100% perfect, but (I think) close enough that it would take an expert to notice the difference.
Photographic evidence below. Excuse the damage to the brake in the first picture -- not my doing.
This shows the area that I had to trim... as you can see, I was slightly overzealous in a small region. I'm sure many of you are handier with a knife than me.
Last edited by Baroudeur; 03-20-17 at 10:45 PM.
03-20-17, 11:52 PM
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Looks good from here. May not be 100% perfect, but well within the acceptable range in my book. Thanks for the update & pics.
FWIW, I'm not surprised that 6401 and 6403 hoods aren't interchangeable, since first-hand experience has taught me that Dura-Ace 7402 hoods don't fit 7401 levers.
FWIW, I'm not surprised that 6401 and 6403 hoods aren't interchangeable, since first-hand experience has taught me that Dura-Ace 7402 hoods don't fit 7401 levers.
03-21-17, 12:22 PM
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Pretty bad when you see prices like $100 for a pair of Shimano hoods. Can buy near new complete and excellent levers w/ hoods for under $30. Or better yet and with patience a very nicely equipped vintage bike equipped with 600 for $50 more.
(OK, so its $99)
Vintage SHIMANO Gum Brake Lever Hoods EXCELLENT Dura Ace 600 | eBay
(OK, so its $99)
Vintage SHIMANO Gum Brake Lever Hoods EXCELLENT Dura Ace 600 | eBay
