Cable end glued into non-aero brake lever?
11-30-20, 06:16 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Cable end glued into non-aero brake lever?
Hello everyone,
I ran into a strange problem with some old road bike brake levers I purchased. Basically it looks like for some reason the previous owner had glued the cable end into the slot of the non-aero brake lever and I can not seem to get it out. Does anyone have any suggestions? I tried heating it up to make the housing expand but that didn't seem to work. Does anyone have any advice as to how to deal with it? I don't want to purchase new levers as these are very specific and are difficult to come by.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I ran into a strange problem with some old road bike brake levers I purchased. Basically it looks like for some reason the previous owner had glued the cable end into the slot of the non-aero brake lever and I can not seem to get it out. Does anyone have any suggestions? I tried heating it up to make the housing expand but that didn't seem to work. Does anyone have any advice as to how to deal with it? I don't want to purchase new levers as these are very specific and are difficult to come by.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
11-30-20, 07:45 PM
#2
Bikes are okay, I guess.
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 6,938
Bikes: Waterford Paramount Touring, Giant CFM-2, Raleigh Sports 3-speeds in M23 & L23, Schwinn Cimarron oddball build, Marin Palisades Trail dropbar conversion, Nishiki Cresta GT
Mentioned: 69 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2647 Post(s)
Liked 2,446 Times
in
1,557 Posts
Try using a long-nosed grille lighter and put the flame directly on the problem area, with pliers ready to try forcing the end out by clamping onto the cable once the heat's done its work.
Are you sure it's glue and not corrosion? You might have to drill it out.
Are you sure it's glue and not corrosion? You might have to drill it out.
Last edited by thumpism; 11-30-20 at 07:51 PM.
11-30-20, 07:47 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Posts: 9,845
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
Mentioned: 106 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2338 Post(s)
Liked 2,822 Times
in
1,541 Posts
pictures are always helpful is seeing the situation
possible use a spoke and a hammer.....but would want to see before causing damage
possible use a spoke and a hammer.....but would want to see before causing damage
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
12-01-20, 07:07 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,679
Bikes: too many sparkly Italians, some sweet Americans and a couple interesting Japanese
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 569 Post(s)
Liked 581 Times
in
409 Posts
Daniell is on the right track. I had a similar issue with what looked to me to be Gorilla Glue and acetone worked. If it is epoxy probably a mechanical means will be required if heat does not work.
12-05-20, 08:44 AM
#6
Junior Member
Thread Starter
I haven't tried drilling it out yet but I tried acetone to dissolve the glue and it looks like the glue is gone but it is still stuck in there yet. Drilling is the next step. Here are the pictures, sorry for the poor quality.
12-05-20, 09:45 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 8,688
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1074 Post(s)
Liked 295 Times
in
222 Posts
I’d try tapping it out.
12-05-20, 01:06 PM
#8
Bikes are okay, I guess.
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 6,938
Bikes: Waterford Paramount Touring, Giant CFM-2, Raleigh Sports 3-speeds in M23 & L23, Schwinn Cimarron oddball build, Marin Palisades Trail dropbar conversion, Nishiki Cresta GT
Mentioned: 69 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2647 Post(s)
Liked 2,446 Times
in
1,557 Posts
Try driving a drywall screw into the non-wire end of the cable piece and then pull on that with pliers.
Or try forcing a flat screwdriver blade into the slot for the cable end and then try prying it apart a little. That might break whatever bond is gripping the cable end.
Or try forcing a flat screwdriver blade into the slot for the cable end and then try prying it apart a little. That might break whatever bond is gripping the cable end.
12-05-20, 01:55 PM
#9
aka: Dr. Cannondale
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 7,733
Mentioned: 234 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2155 Post(s)
Liked 3,404 Times
in
1,205 Posts
Could be a Shimano cable end jammed into a Campagnolo lever. They are larger than standard Campagnolo cable ends.
I would drill that out starting with something like a 1/8” hard tip bit, chances are that will loosen it up enough to remove it.
I would drill that out starting with something like a 1/8” hard tip bit, chances are that will loosen it up enough to remove it.
__________________
Hard at work in the Secret Underground Laboratory...
Hard at work in the Secret Underground Laboratory...
12-06-20, 07:37 AM
#10
aka: Dr. Cannondale
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 7,733
Mentioned: 234 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2155 Post(s)
Liked 3,404 Times
in
1,205 Posts
Shimano and Campagnolo cable ends- both shifter and brake- are differently shaped.
The shifter cable ends are larger (just sand the end down to fit) and the brake ends are closer in size, but hey, who knows?
Would be interesting to find out what lever that is, I can't tell and the OP hasn't replied.
The shifter cable ends are larger (just sand the end down to fit) and the brake ends are closer in size, but hey, who knows?
Would be interesting to find out what lever that is, I can't tell and the OP hasn't replied.
__________________
Hard at work in the Secret Underground Laboratory...
Hard at work in the Secret Underground Laboratory...
12-06-20, 08:13 AM
#11
Half way there
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 2,957
Bikes: Many, and the list changes frequently
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 986 Post(s)
Liked 880 Times
in
527 Posts
I'd drill a small hole in the end and then thread in a long screw fashioned as a puller: washer to butt against the lever body and a nut to turn down against it to pull on the embedded screw shaft. OTOH the previous suggestion to just drill it out would probably take less time. You'll want to stabilize that anchor shaft in a vise to prevent turning.
Can anyone think of any reason why anyone would glue a cable end in? People have done strange things but I still can't imagine anyone thinking that glue would be a good idea.
Can anyone think of any reason why anyone would glue a cable end in? People have done strange things but I still can't imagine anyone thinking that glue would be a good idea.
