RubeRad

I've come into a for-parts BSD (Huffy), and am trying to figure out what parts I can use. It has mechanical disc brakes. Are the levers going to be short-pull or long-pull?

I'm hoping they're short, because I'm planning a flatbar conversion of a Specialized Allez and I'll need some levers for the caliper brakes

FBinNY 

If you have other levers you can determine this for yourself. Measure the distance from the lever pivot to the cable anchor, then compare. This is a case of simple geometry ----- The pull is directly proportional to that distance.

RubeRad

Hey FB, haven't seen you around here in years!

hope you're doin great

A bunch of years back, tried to buy a bottle of Chain-L from the 'Triathlete Store' in my town, listed on your dealer page, and they didn't have it and didn't seem interested in ordering more. Soon after they went out of business. Coincidence, OR CONSPIRACY?

FBinNY 

Thanks, I've been back for a few months now, and yes, I'm doing fine.

As for the shop ----- neither, I was acting alone.

Iride01 

Is there no brand and model number on the body of the existing brake calipers? Look close for the model number. If Shimano it may be on the backside or on the base stamped in the metal. Many times gets covered over with gunk and crud.

cyccommute 

If they come from a Huffy, the best thing to do with the calipers is to find a high place with a steep drop and throw them off it!

Now that that is out of the way, they are likely long pull. Measure the distances from the pivot on the lever to the cable anchor point (see green arrows on picture below). If the distance is longer than 25mm, it’s a long pull lever.

RubeRad

Assuming you're talking about the donor mechanical disc calipers, this is the BSD in quesiton, I tried to take a pic of the calipers so I could see close-up, but I still couldn't read. They say JAZ or IAK or something like that, in scripty letters, with a couple indecipherably small words below?

RubeRad

The calipers will be discarded, they are mechanical discs, and I have some decent hydraulic discs also sitting in a box that will probably never get used.

First quick measure (bike is a little buried right now, had to reach over/under some stuff and I'm in a hurry) looks like 31

cyccommute 

The levers probably should have gone with them. Most of the cheap levers I see on HellMart bikes are mostly plastic and not worth reuse. The lever itself is likely plastic coated steel…and the steel is usually slagesium so it’s not all that strong be begin with. That’s usually because it is iron “alloyed” with metal it doesn’t really alloy with.

Yup. Long pull.

Iride01 

If the bike doesn't have brake levers currently, and you are intending to get rid of the calipers, then I'm having trouble understanding what your question actually is.

You should get the levers that work with whatever calipers you intend to put on it.

RubeRad

<br />The target bike is a dropbar Specialzed Allez with normal caliper brakes. I'm converting it to flatbar, so I need short-pull flatbar levers. I needed to figure out if the levers from this donor bike would work. Apparently not. The mechanical disc calipers on the donor bike are certainly not going to be used.

veganbikes

I wouldn't use anything off of that bike put it back where you found it or put minimal effort into it and give it to someone who is desperate. Just get some new ones for your bike, if you have short pull brakes, Tiagra BL-4700 would be a fine choice or if I wanted to get spendy which obviously by this post no but if I did Paul Canti Levers would be the choice. If for some reason you did have long pull Avid Speed Dial 7s would be my choice and for spendy Paul Love Levers but if they did those SD7s in a short pull they are probably some of the finest cheap ones out there. Really good feel and a nice look.

cyccommute 

I’ve used these flat bar road levers with good results.

RubeRad

The tires are surpisingly cool, and the front wheel will do fine as well, esp as the only job this bike will ever have is 100yd out to the mailbox and back. I will probably swap the 7sp (bottom-of-the-barrel shimano) shifter on since that would be easier than rehabbing the current one, and maybe even the rear 7sp wheel, so they match.

https://www.bikeforums.net/22742172-post16.html

RubeRad

ps that's not the target bike I was asking about, the flatbar conversion that needs levers is a different spesh

RubeRad

pps but that is the donor bike upside down in the background

Leisesturm

I recently converted a Bike Friday Tandem to drop-bar and used some dual-pull levers (short or long) off Amazon. I don't recall them being more than $30 for the pair! Doesn't a Spesh Allez deserve even that much spent for brake levers? Tektro has very nice dual-pull levers and they are also very reasonable. Avid SpeedDial levers do short or long and every step inbetween but are spendier. I have those on my recumbents. I'm not sure why this thread even exists. Even if the Huffy levers were short pull ... ... just the thought of recycling parts from it to use on a real bike ... is this just to rile us up and induce nightmares so close to bedtime?

veganbikes

A bike to get the mail? That is a new one. I guess I can dig it and it looks like you are using a proper bike for it not the huffy. Though I guess in this case a huffy would be fine for 100 yarder. I guess I sometimes ride that distance to pick up stuff from a friends car or something when they are visiting but I didn't build a specific bike, maybe I should?

You got me thinking now I want a bike for short distances that is just easy to get on and cheap parts but I would probably just build a single speed conversion with some junk derailleur. N+1 I guess

RubeRad

The bike is actually my wife's doing. The frame (and a few bits attached) was a dumpster find of mine many years ago. I never got around to offering it on the C&V PIF thread. As a pandemic project to learn some wrenching, she wanted to see if she could build that up as a whole bike using all my other junk from around the garage. We both think it turned out pretty cool (I want to steal that bashguard for my 1x commuter!), but as the bike is way too small, its actual end use will just be out to the mailbox