fender1

Is there some one selling the brass sleeves? I see the washers for sale. Dawes-man, what a great story! I wish there was a machine shop around here that would do jobs that small. If he has the ability to take orders from the USA I would happily contact him.

rootboy 

Yes, Dawes-Man. Wonderful tale of the shop and the nice guy. You're a sentimental old fool, aren't you? Not many machinists would not only give you spares, but the tool to remove the old bushings. Very cool place.

Can't wait to see some pics from the shop.

Dawes-man

Mr Kondo made the brass sleeves to size. I'm not sure how much variance there would be between calipers but I think the holes for them must be the same. I can talk to him next time I'm nearby. Maybe he could make a batch for people here to fit themselves. I don't imagine there are many who would pay $160 odd to have their calipers done. If you are, you could send your calipers to me and I'd be happy to take them along to him.

Dawes-man

Well, yes, I suppose I am. I would rather you referred to me as a sentimental 'young' fool, though But come on, wouldn't you be touched by such kindness? It was a really nice gesture, I think. I am a foreigner here, after all.

For photos of the shop, click on the photo of the entrance. Or use this link:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/2298367...th/6794088021/

rootboy 

Yes indeed Dawes-Man. I would be touched too, and was touched by your account. Not many would show that sort of kindness. It's sort of a lost art in the marketplace. (I'm a sentimental old fool too :>)

Dawes-man

Since having my calipers re-bushed, I've found this seller on YahooAuction Japan who is offering a full refurb set of bushes and washers for just ¥1500 (£12.30 / $19.50).

[IMG]
kouichiwatanabe-img577x437-1277948006iv26f011790 by Dawes-man, on Flickr[/IMG]

https://page9.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/k141827702

They sell just the bushes for ¥800 and just the washers for ¥980.

The blurb says:
マファックのレーサー用に特注した真鍮ブッシュと、赤染ジュラコンワッシャー 1台分のセットです。

ブッシュは2サイズ作製しまして、通常はスタンダードですとすんなり交換できると思いますが、キャリパーにはは磨耗や個体差があります。

真鍮ブッシュ スタンダード （ 外径：9.95 ～ 10.00　内径：8.1　長さ：9.8　） ｏｒ オーバーサイズ （ 外径：10.00　内径：8　長さ：9.8　）
赤染ジュラコンワッシャー （ 外径：φ15±0.1　内径：φ8.1+0.1-0　厚み：0.5 ）

↓ジュラコンとは、強度、弾性率、耐衝撃性に優れたエンジニアリングプラスチックで、摺動特性に優れている為、 軸受け部品としても利用されている。
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/ジュラコン - from Japanese Wikipedia

追加でご必要な場合は、追加分 1セット @\1200で結構です。

真鍮ブッシュのみ 4個セット → \800、赤染ジュラコンワッシャーのみ 8枚セット → \800、にて追加も可能です。

定形外ですと\120、追跡可能なオプション特定記録扱いですと\280にて発送可能です。
レターパック350ですと\350で、土日も配達があり、到着も早いようです。
小さな物ですので、他の物とご一緒に落札いただきますと送料は掛かりません。

For those Japanese-language challenged among you:

The brass bushes are specially made to order for MAFAC Racer brakes and the set consists of the red washers and pivot bushes.

The bushes are made in 2 sizes, standard size and oversize. I think you can exchange them easily with the standard size, but if there is pivot wear you might have to go to oversize. The standard bush (outer diameter: 9.95 ~ 10.00, inner diameter: 8.1, length: 9.8) or oversize (outer diameter: 10.00, inside diameter: 8, length: 9.8)

The red plastic washers (outer diameter: φ15±0.1, inside diameter: φ8.1+0.1-0 thickness: 0.5) are made from engineering plastic which is superior in strength, modulus of elasticity and chip resistance, and has superior sliding quality, as it is utilized as bearing parts.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyacetal - from English Wikipedia

The rest is about postage within Japan...

I will be getting a set for my other worn out (at the bushes) Racer calipers and will report on it. I have that neat little drift to change them with

ColonelJLloyd 

Thanks for the information, Dawes-man. I ordered enough of the brass washers to outfit a pair of Competitions from the eBay seller in Israel a few days ago. Hopefully they'll be here before too long.

Dawes-man

Reviewing the thread I see that the picture posted by PDXaero at the beginning of it is identical to the one I lifted from the Japanese seller's YahooAuction listing and posted here earlier today. Where did you get your photo, PDXaero?

PDXaero

I got the picture off of yahoo auctions of course.
I have heard of not so stellar experiences when it comes to actually buying from yahoo.co.jp however so I tried to source everything that the seller was marketing.

Dawes-man

Aha, so I've managed to bring this thread full circle. How odd!

Anyway, about YahooAuction Japan, I've only ever used it here in Tokyo and in Japanese, but I've never had any problem. It's always been quick and hassle-free with goods usually being dispatched within a day or 2 of making payment. (Not so Rakuten, not an auction site but a sort of unified, one-stop shop window for businesses.... nightmare!)

For everyone's information, the seller with the listing on Yahoo does send abroad and has 1 negative feedback against 1,536 positive. The negative one was more than 2 years ago and whoever left it no longer has a Yahoo account so it's not possible to see what happened.

I'll get one of the sets, install the parts on my Racers and post how it works out here.

Dawes-man

There are repro straddle wires available at $20.99 - the type with a little paddle one end and nipple the other. I don't know how good they are... anyone know?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mafac-Comp...ht_1486wt_1265

ColonelJLloyd 

I don't know, Dawes-man. My Competitions take the straddle wire with two little spheres on either end. The Israeli seller with the washers sold me one along with the washers.

lotek 

again, https://sdbicyclegarage.com/French.html
Scott has many mafac parts and I believe has the later (or older I forget which)
straddle cables.
Dawes-man, I need the holder, not the blocks.

Marty

KvltBryce

What a wondeful thread.

knucks

Im bumping this - I got some brass bushings from McMaster but couldnt find ones w the proper ID - going to try to run em on a lathe..

Got some brass washers too but they are too thick *also the ID is a bit large but should work..

ColonelJLloyd 

Since this thread was started, Compass now sells these and these.

I've found these pretty nifty too.

knucks

Hey there J..

yeah, I know, but they are out of stock (the bushings)

ColonelJLloyd 

Ugh. Sorry. Did not see that. Maybe drop them a line to inquire about new stock or an alternate source.

satbuilder 

Awesome color on that bike.

repechage

A while ago I purchased a bike with Mafac Racers, they had poor power. I have a steep hill to descend and it was taking way too much effort to stop. I shortened the straddle cable considerably and now have enough power to bring the bike to a stop without excessive effort.

noglider 

Yes, it's possible to use a long straddle cable, but it's not a good idea. That's an advantage to the cables of fixed size; you can't mess up.

knucks

Well, The bushings i got from mcmaster fit but needed to be reamed, which I was going to do, but then i decided to try my hand at making my own at the machine shop so here we are! If anyone wants the bushings I got from mcmaster, I can ream them out and sell for $15 shipped for 4. They are the 'white' brass




The washers i got were too thick so i ordered ones from Compass

Iowegian

What a deal. PM sent.

knucks

McMaster bushings sold. I can try my hand making some if there's anyone looking for a set.

rhm

I could use a set too! I'll send a pm.