How can you tell if a brake lever is suitable for side pull brakes?
09-13-19, 09:26 AM
#1
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How can you tell if a brake lever is suitable for side pull brakes?
Building a single speed bike using parts laying around, Good paint on the old girl so i thought what the hay?!
Built the rear wheel around a coaster brake hub and want to fit a front brake flatbar type lever on the top of the dropbar. Looks like i need a short lever, i know i've got the right one, got a box of them... but how can i tell the difference between short and long pull? Can you tell by comparing them or do i need to take some measurements?
Built the rear wheel around a coaster brake hub and want to fit a front brake flatbar type lever on the top of the dropbar. Looks like i need a short lever, i know i've got the right one, got a box of them... but how can i tell the difference between short and long pull? Can you tell by comparing them or do i need to take some measurements?
09-13-19, 12:04 PM
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Short or long pull is determined by the distance between the lever pivot and the cable stop, I believe (longer distance between them for long pull). Maybe try comparing them with that in mind.
09-13-19, 01:02 PM
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Long pull and short pull are about leverage. You can only move the lever so far with your fingers before it contacts the bar. The question is how far does the other part of the lever pull the cable?
All levers will work with side pull brakes, because side pull brakes should be adjusted so that the blocks (some may say "pads") are as close as possible to the rim without actually making contact with it. Therefore, only a tiny amount of cable needs to be pulled through to bring the blocks into contact with the rim.
Choose a lever that feels right in your hand and looks OK with the bars you have. If your rims are true and the brakes are correctly adjusted, you will be OK.
All levers will work with side pull brakes, because side pull brakes should be adjusted so that the blocks (some may say "pads") are as close as possible to the rim without actually making contact with it. Therefore, only a tiny amount of cable needs to be pulled through to bring the blocks into contact with the rim.
Choose a lever that feels right in your hand and looks OK with the bars you have. If your rims are true and the brakes are correctly adjusted, you will be OK.
09-13-19, 01:03 PM
#4
Steel is real
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The distance looks short on this one, Shimano DX. It says 2 step adjust S - L, short and long? Turned it to S. May have found the perfect one.
Doesn't fit that bar, but i can soon change it to a skinnier one.
