Tektro RL-520 hood replacement
08-30-22, 03:56 AM
#1
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Tektro RL-520 hood replacement
Hi all. I'm planning some maintenance coming up soon. I had been thinking I should replace my Tektro RL520 long pull brake levers (not brifters, brake only) on my Surly Disc Trucker.
As it turns out, the hoods are the only beat up part (like high use areas worn thin flimsy) and the levers themselves, while scratched up and well-worn, work fine. I'm trying to make good decisions and not spend where I don't need to and I noted that Tektro offers a hood replacement for the RL520. I can't visualize how the old ones come off and the new goes on. Does anyone have any familiarity with this? I've had my existing levers off to change handlebars and other maintenance, and it's not been apparent to me the hoods can be separated from the levers. Is this an easy task, or am I better off just replacing the whole unit?
Thank you!
As it turns out, the hoods are the only beat up part (like high use areas worn thin flimsy) and the levers themselves, while scratched up and well-worn, work fine. I'm trying to make good decisions and not spend where I don't need to and I noted that Tektro offers a hood replacement for the RL520. I can't visualize how the old ones come off and the new goes on. Does anyone have any familiarity with this? I've had my existing levers off to change handlebars and other maintenance, and it's not been apparent to me the hoods can be separated from the levers. Is this an easy task, or am I better off just replacing the whole unit?
Thank you!
08-30-22, 06:12 AM
#2
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Most are very similar replacement process
08-30-22, 07:28 AM
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Gevenalle uses Tektro brake levers for their integrated brake/shifters and offers replacement Tektro hood/bodies assemblies as maintenance parts. Look here: https://www.gevenalle.com/product/replacement-brake-hoods/ These are nice since the hoods are already installed on new bodies and that makes replacement easy.
Their web site only lists replacements for the short pull levers (R200) but a call to them may get you some long pull bodies (RL520) as they do use them for some of their shifters.
Their web site only lists replacements for the short pull levers (R200) but a call to them may get you some long pull bodies (RL520) as they do use them for some of their shifters.
Last edited by HillRider; 08-30-22 at 07:33 AM.
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08-30-22, 07:57 AM
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Video of how to replace hoods although this is for a Shimano it's basically the same. In addition to using the alcohol as a lubricant you can throw the new hoods in some near boiling water for a couple minutes to make them more pliable for installation.
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