gthomson

I do not know what the name of this item is but does anyone have one or know where I can get one? It's for an old Gitane road bike with Huret components and I must have lost one when I stripped the bike down for repairs.

oneclick 

That looks like the washer/spacer that goes between a Mafac brake arm and the brake shoe post; they start out with two parallel sides, but develop scallops when the brake shoe is tightened. That one looks as though this has happened in multiple orientations.

Check your brake parts, you should have four of these (two each brake), if that's what it is, someone here will have one to spare - or a good bike shop or co-op.

John Nolan 

What type/brand of brake is that from? You could probably get by with some washers or a spacer if you can scrounge something that would fit. If you can find a spacer that fits, you can file down a groove. Or, maybe a few washers and a wave washer might work.

Or, post in the "in search of..." thread in the vintage forum. It would probably help to post a pic of the brake itself.

gthomson

Sorry, yes I should have been more clear. From the brake and I have 3 of them but missing the 4th. The other 3 are identical. So just find a washer the same size? I'm guessing these have seen a lot of action if they started flat on both sides! Here's the rest of the brake. Where can I get replacement brake arm and pads from?

oneclick 

Ok, those look like CLB "Raid" brakes, I don't know if the Mafac washers will fit but I suspect yes. The Mafac ones start out flat, don't know about the CLB ones.

You need a washer - "spacer" really - thick enough that the post will clear the arm - and it should be made of aluminium, otherwise it will cut into the alloy brake shoe post.

John Nolan 

I'm pretty sure the CLB spacers were scalloped like that from the factory, but I'm not sure they need to be.

oneclick:
Do you think a nylon spacer would work, or would it be too fragile?

oneclick 

Wouldn't trust it at all.

John Nolan 

Hmm...looking at this CLB page, it seems that the spacer bears against a flat on the arm, so it might not cut into the post. I suspect that a couple of washers could be made to work in a pinch.
Do you have any half-inch washers around?

John Nolan 

Yeah, you're right.

oneclick 

Pads themselves show up from time to time (I'm assuming the Mafac-pattern ones will fit). If not, brake shoes with that style post (smooth) are used in a lot of brakes so you should not have much trouble finding some that will work, if not look the part.

BFisher

These can sometimes be made from an aluminum spacer for mounting a front caliper, as long as the outer diameter is large enough. You can file or grind it flat if it isn't already (some are), drill out the center to the correct ID, and file those grooves as needed. I had to make one for a cracked spacer on a MAFAC racer. It worked fine. You could probably pick up a bunch of aluminum spacers in the correct thickness from a place like Fastenal or McMaster-Carr, and then modify to suit.

Similar spacers made from steel can also be used to make anti-rotation washers for Sturmey-Archer hubs.

gthomson

Wow, that spec. page is awesome. How did you find that? thanks, this is great as I now have the Huret FD & RD spec sheet and now this.

I don't have any that size but I'm sure I can find them somewhere.

I've never heard of Racer brakes, are they good?

John Nolan 

I have a spacer among my bits and pieces that I'm pretty sure will work.

PM me and I'll drop it in the mail for you—I'm in Ottawa, so it shouldn't take too long.

John Nolan 

Google took me to Velobase, and then I looked at the catalogue pages.

oneclick 

Best get an aluminium one.
The post is held by a hole cross-wise through a steel bolt; I've seen posts bent by tightening the fixing nut; if you have two hard steel corners squeezing opposite sides of the post it's a lot worse than one steel corner and a soft - likely softer than the post - spacer's corner.