The Way Of The (Mafac) Racer
03-19-15, 04:19 AM
#101
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Anybody mention https://www.flickr.com/photos/mafac_brakes/sets/ yet?
03-19-15, 08:51 AM
#102
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The bushing tool is overkill ... but it works great when bushings have to be removed.
I stopped making bushings (and braze-on studs, and two-way bolts) when Jan's site started selling Dia-Compe-made parts (Compass Bicycles: Brakes). I still make my own parts, but only when needed.
Amir
I stopped making bushings (and braze-on studs, and two-way bolts) when Jan's site started selling Dia-Compe-made parts (Compass Bicycles: Brakes). I still make my own parts, but only when needed.
Amir
06-19-15, 07:22 AM
#103
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After seeing your example, I have done this with a plumbing washer, thanks for the tip. I'm not sure where to post this but here is some good news Half Hood Covers for Mafac Brake Levers
06-19-15, 07:35 AM
#104
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After seeing your example, I have done this with a plumbing washer, thanks for the tip. I'm not sure where to post this but here is some good news Half Hood Covers for Mafac Brake Levers
06-19-15, 07:39 AM
#105
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Did all the MAFAC half hoods have the adjusters, Repechage? I don't seem to remember them on my 71-72 PX-10.
But then, my memory is sketchy at best.
I'm with you on the color. Good to have these available but I suppose making them in gum rubber, they couldn't get the opacity right.
Not that they were interested in that. At least they don't have the goofy logos cast into them.
But then, my memory is sketchy at best.
I'm with you on the color. Good to have these available but I suppose making them in gum rubber, they couldn't get the opacity right.
Not that they were interested in that. At least they don't have the goofy logos cast into them.
06-19-15, 07:46 AM
#106
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Most of the time folk did not use the adjusters, only the knurled part showed, pretty sure standard in the 60's and '70's.
Not sure about later.
Not sure about later.
06-19-15, 10:31 AM
#107
十人十色
Did all the MAFAC half hoods have the adjusters, Repechage? I don't seem to remember them on my 71-72 PX-10.
But then, my memory is sketchy at best.
I'm with you on the color. Good to have these available but I suppose making them in gum rubber, they couldn't get the opacity right.
Not that they were interested in that. At least they don't have the goofy logos cast into them.
But then, my memory is sketchy at best.
I'm with you on the color. Good to have these available but I suppose making them in gum rubber, they couldn't get the opacity right.
Not that they were interested in that. At least they don't have the goofy logos cast into them.
I have 3 bikes with original M.A.F.A.C. half hoods. They all have adjusters and original M.A.F.A.C. half hoods - red-oxide, pale-blue and white. I use the adjusters on all three, although the following photos were taken when I'd just finished building the bikes and thus they were yet to be used.
[IMG]
Leader Cycles - 1958/9 Leo Star by Dawes-man, on Flickr[/IMG][IMG]
Untitled by Dawes-man, on Flickr[/IMG][IMG]
Peugeot PX60 - ready at last! by Dawes-man, on Flickr[/IMG]Obviously, the pale blue ones are the oldest (50s, I think) and the adjusters, too. The white the 2nd and the oxide-red the latest. None of them has that slightly translucent look of the Velo-Orange remakes.
These are on a Toei in the 2009 Tokyo Handmade Bicycle Frame show.
[IMG]
Untitled by Dawes-man, on Flickr[/IMG]There are also pale green half hoods available. I've seen 1 pair on a bike here in Tokyo.
I'd think the Velo-Orange hoods are sold without adjusters as a) they're hard to get made and b) They might assume we'd be getting them to replace originals with adjusters and that we'd simply use the adjusters from the old pair.
There are also, of course, black half hoods.
06-19-15, 05:07 PM
#108
十人十色
I gave the wrong impression when I said I didn't understand this thread. My fault! I meant to say that I didn't understand repechage and rootboy's latest posts to it. By THAT I mean I don't understand why they are wondering about adjusters when it's always been my understanding, and observation, that M.A.F.A.C. half hoods always had them. The photos I posted were partly to show that and partly to show the colours M.A.F.A.C. used to produce.
FWIW, I think it's GREAT that VO have had the hoods reproduced. I was wondering just a couple of weeks ago how hard it would be to get a simple mould made but thought the metal tang would be problematic. It's great to see VO have managed it. It would be wonderful if they could produce the colours the hoods used to be available in.
The only question I have is whether the VO repros will take and hold the original adjusters. Anyone know?
FWIW, I think it's GREAT that VO have had the hoods reproduced. I was wondering just a couple of weeks ago how hard it would be to get a simple mould made but thought the metal tang would be problematic. It's great to see VO have managed it. It would be wonderful if they could produce the colours the hoods used to be available in.
The only question I have is whether the VO repros will take and hold the original adjusters. Anyone know?
06-19-15, 05:51 PM
#109
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Originally Posted by Dawes-man;[COLOR=#000000
The only question I have is whether the VO repros will take and hold the original adjusters. Anyone know?[/COLOR]
06-19-15, 06:38 PM
#110
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Can't we argue about whether the correct styling is MAFAC, Mafac, M.A.F.A.C., or something else? That's sure to be a lot of fun.
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06-19-15, 08:00 PM
#111
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06-20-15, 08:30 AM
#112
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MAFAC
It's an acronym. By definition it's pronounced as a word, so the periods should be left out.
I have lots of experience with acronyms after 42 years with the U.S. government. U.S. is not pronounced as a word, so it's not an acronym and the periods are appropriate.
It's an acronym. By definition it's pronounced as a word, so the periods should be left out.
I have lots of experience with acronyms after 42 years with the U.S. government. U.S. is not pronounced as a word, so it's not an acronym and the periods are appropriate.
06-20-15, 10:02 AM
#113
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Funny after 42 years of using acronyms you might have remembered America U.S.A.
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06-20-15, 06:46 PM
#115
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Take your pick:
MAFAC
[IMG]
1963 H.R. Morris upright tricycle by Dawes-man, on Flickr[/IMG]... or M.A.F.A.C.
[IMG]
1963 H.R. Morris upright tricycle. by Dawes-man, on Flickr[/IMG]
06-23-15, 02:48 AM
#116
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Back in the 1960's a journalist once commented on the superior stopping power of the Mafac brakes compared to the Campagnolo side-pulls. A Campagnolo mechanic replied : 'Ah, but you got the principle all wrong you see, the brakes on a racing bike are not there to stop the bike, they are there to decrease speed!'
.,,,,BD
04-17-16, 01:22 PM
#118
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Bumping this thread...
Does anyone have a source for replacement bushings for Racers -- the flat red ones? I got into a hurry when I was disassembling/polishing and split one of them. Failing that, any advice on suitable replacements? I'm aware of Compass selling hardware sets, but that's far more than I want to pay.
Thanks so much...
Does anyone have a source for replacement bushings for Racers -- the flat red ones? I got into a hurry when I was disassembling/polishing and split one of them. Failing that, any advice on suitable replacements? I'm aware of Compass selling hardware sets, but that's far more than I want to pay.
Thanks so much...
04-17-16, 03:04 PM
#119
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Bumping this thread...
Does anyone have a source for replacement bushings for Racers -- the flat red ones? I got into a hurry when I was disassembling/polishing and split one of them. Failing that, any advice on suitable replacements? I'm aware of Compass selling hardware sets, but that's far more than I want to pay.
Thanks so much...
Does anyone have a source for replacement bushings for Racers -- the flat red ones? I got into a hurry when I was disassembling/polishing and split one of them. Failing that, any advice on suitable replacements? I'm aware of Compass selling hardware sets, but that's far more than I want to pay.
Thanks so much...
04-17-16, 04:13 PM
#120
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05-14-16, 03:00 PM
#121
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FYI. If you want easy toe in adjustment for MAFAC pads, there are adjustable mounts like these:
I'm not sure who makes them, but I got these from Norther Cycles in Portland for $55 the set (F and R brakes).
I just set up some MAFAC Raids with new Koolstop salmon pads, which squealed horribly. A quick adjustment for more toe-in and the brakes are now silent. When I get those brakes bolted to studs on the fork/seatstay, they will be less flexible and it will be easy to adjust the mounts for less toe-in.
Tip: if you adjust these mounts with the return springs mounted, the springs naturally push the front mounts into a toe-in position. The rears are naturally pushed into a toe-out position, so disconnect those springs before adjusting.
I'm not sure who makes them, but I got these from Norther Cycles in Portland for $55 the set (F and R brakes).
I just set up some MAFAC Raids with new Koolstop salmon pads, which squealed horribly. A quick adjustment for more toe-in and the brakes are now silent. When I get those brakes bolted to studs on the fork/seatstay, they will be less flexible and it will be easy to adjust the mounts for less toe-in.
Tip: if you adjust these mounts with the return springs mounted, the springs naturally push the front mounts into a toe-in position. The rears are naturally pushed into a toe-out position, so disconnect those springs before adjusting.
07-21-17, 06:33 AM
#122
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I'm going to bump this thread up. I'm setting up a bike with mafac racers and this is a great resource.
07-21-17, 07:42 AM
#123
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I gave the wrong impression when I said I didn't understand this thread. My fault! I meant to say that I didn't understand repechage and rootboy's latest posts to it. By THAT I mean I don't understand why they are wondering about adjusters when it's always been my understanding, and observation, that M.A.F.A.C. half hoods always had them. The photos I posted were partly to show that and partly to show the colours M.A.F.A.C. used to produce.
FWIW, I think it's GREAT that VO have had the hoods reproduced. I was wondering just a couple of weeks ago how hard it would be to get a simple mould made but thought the metal tang would be problematic. It's great to see VO have managed it. It would be wonderful if they could produce the colours the hoods used to be available in.
The only question I have is whether the VO repros will take and hold the original adjusters. Anyone know?
FWIW, I think it's GREAT that VO have had the hoods reproduced. I was wondering just a couple of weeks ago how hard it would be to get a simple mould made but thought the metal tang would be problematic. It's great to see VO have managed it. It would be wonderful if they could produce the colours the hoods used to be available in.
The only question I have is whether the VO repros will take and hold the original adjusters. Anyone know?
I don't think that VO has done much of anything other than to import the hoods being mad by Rustines in France....
07-21-17, 07:45 AM
#124
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Just as a data point...If you are planning on using a set of Mafacs for a resto-mod build, they work just great with Campagnolo Ergopower levers...Freshen up the pads with a set of new Koolstops and the brakes are the equal of any modern brake WRT modulation and power.
07-21-17, 04:48 PM
#125
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I like this thread. Lots of info on different points of view.
El Chaba, interesting location for a shift lever, on the back of the seat tube. Can you tell us more about what you did? Is that a custom frame?
El Chaba, interesting location for a shift lever, on the back of the seat tube. Can you tell us more about what you did? Is that a custom frame?