Are Shimano vintage hoods interchangeable?
09-04-18, 05:53 AM
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Are Shimano vintage hoods interchangeable?
Hello! I just finished building an awesome Koga-Miyata Gent's Luxe S with a frankgroup of vintage Shimano Dura-Ace, moderns Sram Rival stuff, etc. and I would like to get some hoods for the brake levers. My question is, will any vintage hoods (Shimano ones) fit? I am talking about the 70s-80s era of non-aero stuff.
Thanks!
Thanks!
09-04-18, 06:07 AM
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Unfortunately, few of those old hoods are interchangeable.
What model of levers are you working with? Pics could help if you don't know the model #.
What model of levers are you working with? Pics could help if you don't know the model #.
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09-04-18, 07:21 AM
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It's been my experience that they are not interchangable, and some of those hoods are just not available anymore.
09-04-18, 10:53 AM
#4
Blamester
I haven't found any which are interchangeable.
Certainly not aero type.
Plenty look like they should be but thay never sit right.
Certainly not aero type.
Plenty look like they should be but thay never sit right.
09-05-18, 05:51 AM
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Shimano Brake Lever Hoods - Search for the Grail
Shimano brought out new non-backward compatible products seemingly every 6 months or less! Beyond planned obsolescence! 
I would venture to guess that between 1974 and the 1990's there were 25-30 different styles of Shimano brake lever hoods. Some were interchangeable between a few models in the same time period but many others were not.
Check out the levers in the velobase.com search:
https://velobase.com/ListComponents.a...9-ad230e91ed57
If you post some pictures of your levers we can probably make some suggestions.
BTW I prefer hoods that fit close to original, not kluged up stuff. I'd rather ride without hoods than ones that don't fit or look proper.
Eddy Merckx riding a Masi in Peugeot kit, 1967. He has Universal hoods on MAFAC levers.
verktyg
I would venture to guess that between 1974 and the 1990's there were 25-30 different styles of Shimano brake lever hoods. Some were interchangeable between a few models in the same time period but many others were not.
Check out the levers in the velobase.com search:
https://velobase.com/ListComponents.a...9-ad230e91ed57
If you post some pictures of your levers we can probably make some suggestions.
BTW I prefer hoods that fit close to original, not kluged up stuff. I'd rather ride without hoods than ones that don't fit or look proper.
Eddy Merckx riding a Masi in Peugeot kit, 1967. He has Universal hoods on MAFAC levers.
verktyg
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Last edited by verktyg; 09-05-18 at 06:01 AM.
09-05-18, 06:54 AM
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09-05-18, 09:08 AM
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Can't tell on my phone screen: are you sure those are MAFAC levers? Combining Universal levers with MAFAC brakes was fairly popular BITD in these parts. Have done it myself, and liked the results.
09-05-18, 07:57 PM
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6403 hoods fit later R600L levers.
Rustines black hoods for Campy Record are a nice fit for 7400 non-aero levers.
Are there other workarounds of which I am unaware?
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09-06-18, 03:40 AM
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Brakke Lever mechanical Advantage
The universal opinion was that Universal brake levers had the lowest mechanical advantage as opposed to MAFAC, Campy and other brands. Also Universal and MAFAC levers are best suited for riders with large hands.
BTW, I photoshopped the picture of Eddy Merckx that I posted and they are definitely MAFAC levers with Universal hoods on his 1967 bike.
verktyg
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09-06-18, 04:13 AM
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There are some new production Cane Creek hoods that fit some 80s Shimano with a little trimming. Not the best for keeping the classic look but better than the crusty hoods that were being held on with baseball bat tape.
09-06-18, 11:23 AM
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Quite a few years back in the rec.bicycles.tech newsgroup some engineer types did some calculations on the mechanical advantages or lack thereof of various popular brake levers available at the time.
The universal opinion was that Universal brake levers had the lowest mechanical advantage as opposed to MAFAC, Campy and other brands. Also Universal and MAFAC levers are best suited for riders with large hands.
BTW, I photoshopped the picture of Eddy Merckx that I posted and they are definitely MAFAC levers with Universal hoods on his 1967 bike.
verktyg
The universal opinion was that Universal brake levers had the lowest mechanical advantage as opposed to MAFAC, Campy and other brands. Also Universal and MAFAC levers are best suited for riders with large hands.
BTW, I photoshopped the picture of Eddy Merckx that I posted and they are definitely MAFAC levers with Universal hoods on his 1967 bike.
verktyg
Thanks! Apparently mechanical advantage wasn't a thing back then or the difference wasn't that big. They do sit a little closer to the bars, although not as close as Weinmann, IME. Federico Bahamontes was one who rode with the above-mentioned combination:
I've also read that the entire Batavus-Televizier team switched to Universal levers after one of the riders had tried them.
Sorry about the hijack. Back to Shimano!
09-24-18, 10:56 PM
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Well I have the BL-Z306 brake levers. Not the Golden Arrow ones since there aren't any "Golden Arrow" markings. The levers are from a KTM fully equipped with this Z stuff (FD-Z, RD-Z, etc.).
07-10-20, 02:20 PM
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new hoods
Hi! I bought a used bike with shimano 600 tricolor shifter set. You can find it on velo base but I'm not allowerd to post links since I'm a new member.
I'd love to get a new pair of hoods for the break levers as the ones on there are pretty gross.. any advice?
I'd love to get a new pair of hoods for the break levers as the ones on there are pretty gross.. any advice?
07-10-20, 06:18 PM
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Search Ebay or Amazon for Shimano 600 BRAKE lever hoods.
Cheers
Cheers
07-11-20, 11:57 AM
#16
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Are these pure brake levers, or brifters? (brake-lever + shifters)
If they are pure brake levers, I personally would not pay $50 for some rare NOS hoods. You may need to improvise something. For example get Cane Creek hoods and cut off a little to fit around that lip that tricolor levers have.
If they are brifters, maybe these:
https://www.amazon.com/SHIMANO-ST-66...8CZSM1X6G7ANMK
As mentioned above, Shimano has historically changed their standards like every 6 months. This forces people to buy new complete levers (or other parts) when a consumable part like a brake hood wears out. It's a pain, but it is what it is. The short answer to this question is, no, Shimano vintage hoods are not interchangeable.
Most likely someone here has had and solved this issue, but you may need to bump the thread once or twice.
If they are pure brake levers, I personally would not pay $50 for some rare NOS hoods. You may need to improvise something. For example get Cane Creek hoods and cut off a little to fit around that lip that tricolor levers have.
If they are brifters, maybe these:
https://www.amazon.com/SHIMANO-ST-66...8CZSM1X6G7ANMK
As mentioned above, Shimano has historically changed their standards like every 6 months. This forces people to buy new complete levers (or other parts) when a consumable part like a brake hood wears out. It's a pain, but it is what it is. The short answer to this question is, no, Shimano vintage hoods are not interchangeable.
Most likely someone here has had and solved this issue, but you may need to bump the thread once or twice.
Last edited by Salamandrine; 07-11-20 at 12:01 PM.
