MarcusT

Hello
I am restoring a very neglected MTB. The cantilever brakes are in good condition, but the plastic brake levers are brittle.
I can find many levers for V-brakes, but very scarce for cantilevers.
Are they interchangeable?
Thanks

Andrew R Stewart 

V/linear pull levers will move more cable to match the amount the higher leverage factor the arms have. Canti/caliper levers pull less cable. In the real world every brand/model can be slightly different in exact length of cable being pulled or needed to be pulled so there can be some overlap between the two camps. But most will say they are not compatible. Not that we don't see it done, just not what a shop should do to their customer. Exceptions do exist. One is to use a device that translates the amount of cable being pulled by the lever to what the brake wants. Problem Solvers made their Travel Agent, a stepped pully design, that's most common these days although out of production IIRC. Other devices used a lever arm with cable attachment points along it to effect different cable movement amounts.

So no to interchangeable is the best and safest word. Andy

Miele Man

Not really and doing so can be hazardous to the rider. Either get cantilever brake levers to go with the cantilever brakes or get V-brake levers and V-brake calipers. I just di that to a mountain bike with drop handlebar. I really liked the bike and wanted better braking than what I could get with the cantilever brakes. It works very well with the Alivio V-brake calipers and the dropbar style Tectro V-brake levers. Braking is so much better now.

Cheers

grizzly59

I have a MT bike with these. Will work with either canti, v-brake, or mech disk. Good quality.

Tektro Eclipse MT 2.1 levers

mrv 

Cantilevers = short pull: https://www.jensonusa.com/Shimano-R5...d-Brake-Levers -- cheap!

Interestingly, I noticed a DIFFERENT set of flat bar levers that said road brakes (I assume dual pivot calipers), V-brakes, and mech-disc brakes.
Road bike brakes should be short pull. Not sure if that means there's some kind of adjustment built in to make the levers short vs. long pull.

HillRider

Apparently these have an adjustment to vary the cable pull so they will work with both types of brakes. However, the web page noted "OE" (original equipment) which implies these aren't sold as an aftermarket component.

cyccommute 

Look for flat bar road levers. There are a lot of them out there but they may not be listed for "cantilevers". Additionally, you might look at used. If you go used, measure between the lever's pivot point and the cable anchor point. If the distance is less than 30mm (and closer to 25mm), it's a short pull lever.

The adjustment is that knob at under the lever right at the pivot point. That's the idea behind the Avid Speed Dials. It kind of works but a set of short pull cantilever levers do work better. Shimano made some transitional levers long ago that had a block system that could be moved so that the lever could work with both.

grizzly59

Here's an amazon links to the Tektro's:

Amazon - Tektro Eclipse MT2.1

The funky nut on the cable end of the lever is where you set up the pull.

Moe Zhoost

I use Tektro MT2.1 levers on two of my bikes. They are very easy to adapt to either type of brake.

am8117

they are not but some road levers for flat bars are good for both (check dealers manual page 5 for setting it for the cantis):
https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/produ.../BL-R2000.html

Bill Kapaun

These are an option if you can find them.
You move the plastic "plug" in either/or position depending on brake type.
These are the "4 finger" version.
The 2 finger is V brake only.

cyccommute 

That's similar to the block system that I was referring to above. It's less likely to lose the part than the first few generations was.

Additionally, if one were so inclined, many cheap linear brake levers could be converted to short pull levers. They often have a recess where they could be drilled out either short or long pull version. The cable anchor would have to be riveted in place or otherwise attached to the lever blade. This is often more of a hassle than it is worth, however.

MarcusT

Thanks for the help everyone.