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Setting up Center Pull Brakes

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Setting up Center Pull Brakes

Old 06-22-20, 11:07 AM
  #1  
TakingMyTime
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Setting up Center Pull Brakes

I've been doing a light restore on an old '72 Super Sport with Center Pull brakes. But I've reached a point where I need to seek some advice. I've looked at Schwinn manuals and a hundred photos of similar bikes but I have not been able to determine if anything needs to be fixed or replaced. I believe that I've got assembled it correctly, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of room for the cable to travel. As it stands, I can apply the brake and still have a little more than 1/4 inch of free travel before the cable would bottom out against the adjuster. I'm afraid this may bottom out and not allow the full force of the lever pull to apply the appropriate braking, and cause a problem for the rider. The pictures show the brakes in a relaxed position with no force applied.

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Old 06-22-20, 11:29 AM
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a cable housing stop you clamp around the seat post it self, higher up, may be an approach...

a roller and stop can redirect the cable routing for what appears us a step thru small frame..





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Old 06-22-20, 11:36 AM
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Wow, that doesn't seem like enough room, although if your brakes are adjusted close to the rim, it may be enough. You could gain a smidgen more by moving the seat post clamp up slightly. You should take a look at seatpost-mounted cable hangers, like the Paul Funky Monkey, which costs more than you probably paid for the bike. There may be some cheaper alternatives.


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Old 06-22-20, 11:50 AM
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Another cheap shop hack option ... drill as small hole for the cable only to pass thru, into the seatpost.

and a bigger one opposite it for the housing to pass thru. the housing stopping against the smaller hole..

seems like the seat post is steel, chrome plated, so those 2 holes wont be an issue...


Or get a side pull brake that has the housing stop on the bottom arm, the cable pulls downward..





...

Last edited by fietsbob; 06-22-20 at 11:54 AM.
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Old 06-22-20, 11:58 AM
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TakingMyTime I would change it to a Schwinn Approved side-pull caliper, actually, I would do both front and rear They are readily available on ebay for very little money.
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Old 06-22-20, 12:01 PM
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I'd try taking the hanger off, disassembling it and reinstalling with the hanger portion aimed up at the seatpost. That will gain you good height (and for free) but the cable and housing alignments may not be good enough. (This only a rear brake, not a front, so considerably lower standards is OK and this is a very visible part of the bike so keepng an eye on the cable for a kink and early wear is easy.)

Ben
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Old 06-22-20, 01:14 PM
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TakingMyTime
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Originally Posted by fietsbob
a cable housing stop you clamp around the seat post it self, higher up, may be an approach...
... what appears us a step thru small frame..
It is a small women's frame. After lowering the seat to a height which is comfortable for my wife there really isn't going to be a lot of post showing.

I did loosent the seatpost clamp and raised it about 1/3 of an inch and that seems to have doubled the amount of cable that is exposed and usable. We'll see how that works out.
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Old 06-22-20, 01:16 PM
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Originally Posted by branko_76
TakingMyTime I would change it to a Schwinn Approved side-pull caliper, actually, I would do both front and rear They are readily available on ebay for very little money.
I am considering this option. For right now I think by raising the clamp a little bit I have made it usable and safe, although not perfect. I got this bike for free and I'm trying to only invest some elbow grease, but if new brakes are what it's going to take I may have to go that route.
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Old 06-22-20, 01:45 PM
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other hacks are possible but not a shopping cart easy thing..

following a straight line from the brake, the cable can pull thru the seat tube and the seat post..
V noodle on front directing it downward,

Weinmann/DiaCompe, had some brakes made, back then, with housing stop and the clamping bolt interchangeable..
so the top pull type can be made bottom pull..

Ebay or the parts bin in old bike shops..





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Old 06-22-20, 04:25 PM
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It might be possible to put the cable stop on the top tube before the seat tube and route the cable. There are bike that have used brazed cable routings on bikes either on the bottom bracket or seat tube. I have a Trek that has a tube on the side of the seat tube for the bare brake cable to go through.

It could even be housing, or a v-brake noodle, or ??? It just has to be solid and route the cable.

John
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