Brake Cable End Question
11-02-20, 12:08 PM
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Brake Cable End Question
I'm fixing up an old Schwinn Traveler with Weimann brakes and I bought a kit to replace cables and housings. The thing that jumped out at me was the size of the cable's barrel end, its smaller than the original cable end. My question is this safe to use or do I need to get vintage cables?
11-02-20, 12:36 PM
#2
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Yes it's safe, but being smaller, it will wear the hole in the lever faster. BITD made my own cables, re-using the ends. But you have to know how to solder and form the cable ends so they hold.
11-02-20, 01:01 PM
#3
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I would try to find one that fit better.
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11-02-20, 01:32 PM
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I had a bike that had some crescent shaped brass shims to fill out that space. Supposedly they’re more frequently used in motorcycle shops.
11-02-20, 01:34 PM
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Some of the cable kits (Bell, maybe?) have cables with larger ends plus the ferrule which goes into some of the older Schwinn/Weinmann brake levers, like the one you have looks to use. This one came up in a quick search for "schwinn brake lever ferrule": https://www.amazon.com/Schwinn-SW761.../dp/B07V2K7455
11-03-20, 09:09 AM
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I'd have no problem using the cable shown in the OP's pic, though it may wear a slightly more rapidly than a proper one. I'd probably look for a piece of plastic tubing the right diameter and make a sleeve to take up the slop.
Last edited by Moe Zhoost; 11-03-20 at 09:12 AM.
11-03-20, 10:07 AM
#7
My bikes became Vintage
I've made many cables for bikes and motorcycles. If you fray the end of the cable after threading it through the end and turn the strands back in on themselves, or insert a small tack, it will hold just fine with soft solder. I've also used silver solder, especially on the ends of cables to stop them fraying because it does not turn black like soft solder. (I say soft solder in case any young-uns don't know about lead solder,)
11-03-20, 10:17 AM
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11-04-20, 07:16 AM
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I like the sleeve idea, perhaps in metal. I'm helping out my machinist buddy with his bike, so maybe he'll be able to fab something up. I suspect he's not going to do a lot of riding on this bike, so he may not bother with any modifications.
Thanks all for your input.
Thanks all for your input.
08-31-21, 10:26 AM
#10
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Did you get a better fitting set? Can you provide accurate dimensions of the barrel? Thx, I’m converting a ‘71 Raleigh International into a Townie and will be using those style brake levers. I do like the sleeve approach, and owning a machine lathe making such is a snap, but I’d like to find a correct fit. Thx guys for the info.
Last edited by ejw; 08-31-21 at 10:33 AM.
