MAFAC sidepulls
02-27-20, 11:22 AM
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MAFAC sidepulls
I was wondering if MAFAC ever produced any sidepull brakes. Looked at Velobase and saw the LSX. Any experience, pics, stories with these? I'm guessing they are an unobtainium component.
https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.as...m=117&AbsPos=1
https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.as...m=117&AbsPos=1
02-27-20, 12:14 PM
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Originally Posted by velobase
One of the nicest single-pivot brakes ever made.
02-27-20, 01:06 PM
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I have a set of LS. It has what I consider a major design flaw. Note how the cable is on the front of the caliper and the "retainer" has a flat side which is supposed to position the cable to be tightened. The "retainer" is thin and ends up getting chewed up and becoming useless. They fixed this on later models. Other then that, it was an okay brake that offered adjustable pads.
02-27-20, 01:10 PM
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They were also marketed as spidel sidepulls and not unobtanium. They appeared for example on PX 10s in the 80s:
VeloBase.com - Component: Spidel (made by Mafac) LSX2
VeloBase.com - Component: Spidel (made by Mafac) LSX2
02-27-20, 01:48 PM
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Thanks for the info, guys.
02-27-20, 02:37 PM
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I have the Mafac/Spidel LSX version of the brakes on most of my French bikes and I love them! Petty much the best quality sidepulls that came from France in the 80's.
Be aware though, the lever hoods for these sidepulls are pretty much unobtanium. You can still find the OEM pads from French sellers, once in a while, from eBay.
Be aware though, the lever hoods for these sidepulls are pretty much unobtanium. You can still find the OEM pads from French sellers, once in a while, from eBay.
Last edited by Chombi1; 02-28-20 at 04:10 AM.
02-27-20, 06:35 PM
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seypat-
Yes, Mafac did. There was the LS, LS 2, LSX and the down market LC. CV-6 is correct about the built in cable bolt stop on the LS and the LS 2. The LS one is on the inside of the arm like in the photo from CV-6, my LS 2 has a thicker but still vulnerable stop on the outer edge of the arm and the LSX had a re-design that fixed the whole problem. The work around is to slip a thin, straight bladed screwdriver between the alloy stop and the pinch bolt. The blade needs to be wider than the alloy stop and fills the space between the bolt head and the stop on the arm. When the bolt is tightened, the screwdriver blade stops the bolt head from rotating the sharp, bolt head corner and eroding the built-in softer alloy on the brake arm. The brakes themselves are excellent with designed in toe-in found in both the arms and the brake shoes. The Mafac LS pad replacements are unobtainium but if located have the consistency of cast iron. I have found that Scott-Mathauser pads for Mafac/Dura Ace applications are a good fit in the OEM shoes and give powerful, easily modulated and squeal free braking. The LS/LS 2 is a brake set with higher lever inputs required than on my Mafac 2000 centerpulls. It makes an interesting contrast to go back and forth between the bikes with the different brakes. I am writing about the LS/LS 2 brake upgrades in a post here: https://bertinclassiccycles.wordpres...d-replacement/ and will be posting an installment this weekend about the brake shoe upgrade and installation.
Yes, Mafac did. There was the LS, LS 2, LSX and the down market LC. CV-6 is correct about the built in cable bolt stop on the LS and the LS 2. The LS one is on the inside of the arm like in the photo from CV-6, my LS 2 has a thicker but still vulnerable stop on the outer edge of the arm and the LSX had a re-design that fixed the whole problem. The work around is to slip a thin, straight bladed screwdriver between the alloy stop and the pinch bolt. The blade needs to be wider than the alloy stop and fills the space between the bolt head and the stop on the arm. When the bolt is tightened, the screwdriver blade stops the bolt head from rotating the sharp, bolt head corner and eroding the built-in softer alloy on the brake arm. The brakes themselves are excellent with designed in toe-in found in both the arms and the brake shoes. The Mafac LS pad replacements are unobtainium but if located have the consistency of cast iron. I have found that Scott-Mathauser pads for Mafac/Dura Ace applications are a good fit in the OEM shoes and give powerful, easily modulated and squeal free braking. The LS/LS 2 is a brake set with higher lever inputs required than on my Mafac 2000 centerpulls. It makes an interesting contrast to go back and forth between the bikes with the different brakes. I am writing about the LS/LS 2 brake upgrades in a post here: https://bertinclassiccycles.wordpres...d-replacement/ and will be posting an installment this weekend about the brake shoe upgrade and installation.
03-01-20, 10:38 PM
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seypat-
The follow-up installation article is here: https://bertinclassiccycles.wordpress.com/2020/03/01/mafac-ls-ls-2-and-lsx-brake-pad-replacement-part-2/
Mafac LS 2 with Scott/Mathauser M pads installed
The follow-up installation article is here: https://bertinclassiccycles.wordpress.com/2020/03/01/mafac-ls-ls-2-and-lsx-brake-pad-replacement-part-2/
Mafac LS 2 with Scott/Mathauser M pads installed
03-02-20, 05:54 AM
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seypat-
The follow-up installation article is here: https://bertinclassiccycles.wordpress.com/2020/03/01/mafac-ls-ls-2-and-lsx-brake-pad-replacement-part-2/
Mafac LS 2 with Scott/Mathauser M pads installed
The follow-up installation article is here: https://bertinclassiccycles.wordpress.com/2020/03/01/mafac-ls-ls-2-and-lsx-brake-pad-replacement-part-2/
Mafac LS 2 with Scott/Mathauser M pads installed
