Ger482

I have a broken Weinmann 235 brake lever that I need to replace on my 1970 Claud Butler. Do you think these newer model levers would be O.K. Can't find a replacement here in Toronto. thanks for the input...Scott

Tektro RL-340 Ergo Road Bike Brake Lever

merziac

Those will work but the CB deserves the real deal.

If you can hold out, someone here will have one, I may have, not sure.

Dia Compe's are the same and they paired one with the other by the 1000's.

Put out a request in the ISO/WTB thread.

I know I have Dia Compe's if you don't find any Weinmann's you can have them for shipping if I find a pair and you want.

Ger482

that would be great! I will hold off making a change and move the broken unit to the rear brake...Scott

Ger482

the lever on the right is the broken one,the metal must have fatigued after all these years.

merziac

So go post a request in the ISO/WTB thread and see what turns up, can't imagine somebody won't have one.

merziac

Sometimes you can use a screw type hose clamp temporarily to hold it together if you can find the right size and figure out how to place it so it will hold everything in place.

Chombi1 

Not a fan of those modern levers with the now common, squiggly bend to them. The shape of the levers just takes away any classic looks that it can have, otherwise.
IIRC, Velo Orange used to sell new, but very classic looking DiaCompe levers that would fit nicely on your classic Claude Butler. You should maybe try looking for those first.

John Nolan 

I have a a pair of Dia-Compe levers, if you can't find anything else. I'm in Ottawa, so posting shouldn't take too long. PM me if you'd like them.

Wileyone 

You can buy a set of these at Urbane Cycle in Toronto.

https://www.ucycle.com/product/tektr...evers-2294.htm

Charles Wahl

I'm fairly certain those Tektro levers would work OK, but there are no end of Weinmann vintage levers for sale in the world. I really like them, myself.
You have not been very specific about what, exactly, you are looking for. Weinmann made these in a dizzying number of variations: lever shapes, lever embossings or drillings, and with or without the "screw-on" adjuster on top for the housings. Show us a good photo of what you have, and maybe someone here can help find a mate for your good lever. Or go to eBay, where there are plenty of them for auction or BIN.

bikemig 

Velo orange sells dia compe non-aero levers; they're not cheap but they would look good on an old Claud Butler.

https://velo-orange.com/collections/...e-brake-levers

https://velo-orange.com/collections/...levers-drilled

You can certainly find weinmann brake levers on eBay and putting up a WTB in the C&V for sale is also a good idea.

Ger482

I will look around for another Weinmann.It's the lever body that broke,I will JB Weld it for now as I want to get out and ride.

alcjphil

I put a set of those levers on my 1980's Limongi which has Mavic branded Modolo brake callipers and was blown away by how well they work. The bike itself is very interesting with full Mavic components, but I am no purist. I will take function over appearance every time. I have a set of those levers on my touring bike as well. They are a perfect match for the cantilever brakes on that bike

Charles Wahl

I have a complete brake lever with housing that's (I think) probably a slightly earlier version of what's in your photo. You could put your lever into its housing, I'm sure and nobody would know the difference, since those appear to be identical. The lever has a slightly different quick release mechanism.
I looked it over, compared with your photo, and it looks like your housing cracked apart at the bottom, where it's held together by a slide-on joiner running along the bottom. The housing I have appears to have a very small crack there too, at the base of the wedge-shaped part of the extrusion that fits into the slide-on joiner; looks like a stress riser. I also notice on your housing a small stress riser crack right at the front interior corner, where the front opening for the lever begins -- same with the housing that I have. I'm sure you could prevent the first crack (at the joiner) from becoming a complete failure again by wrapping a couple layers of nylon filament tape around the housing before putting brake hoods on -- between the red lever axle and the bars. You could probably do this even to your broken housing, though part of the bottom casting is now missing -- so if it works, I would use it for my rear brake only, and not for very long.

Anyway, you're welcome to the lever assembly I have for the cost of postage. Where are you? I'm in 10025 (New York City).

Ger482

upon more careful inspection of the good lever,it too has a crack starting.I'm in Toronto not too far away.I think I will see if I can find a pair at my old bike shop tomorrow..thank you Charles and everyone for the information....Scott

fietsbob

BITD Suntour Superbe brake levers were such a close copy of Campagnolo , their parts were interchangeable..

John E

I like the old school Weinmann levers so much that I have them on all of my road bikes except the Bianchi, which has Shimano aeros. I just can't "get a grip" on Modolos or Campagnolos in a panic stop -- too long in the reach.

Salamandrine 

Yeah, I was going to suggest the same thing. The current issue gran compe levers VO sells would look good on the bike.

I haven't seen a reissue in person, but I believe those Gran Compes are more or less the same as old Superbe levers, which are in turn more or less copies of Campagnolo levers.

The 'red dot' levers made by Weinmann and Dia Compe are a different design, and use a different hood. Like you say, plenty available on ebay.

Charles Wahl

Now that you've pointed it out, I can see how your "good" lever appears to be experiencing the same failure, all along one side of the bottom, just not yet broken off:

I wonder what would cause this. It seems likely that a small stress crack could start at the rear because the housing gets a lot of pressure where it meets the bar on the bottom, whenever brakes are applied. But I've never heard of Weinmann levers failing this way before. Were the mounting bolts particularly tight (in a way that would suggest over-tightening when installed) when last removed?

Ger482

bought a pair of Gran Compes today .I'm back riding

Cougrrcj

Charles Wahl

Good on ya'; but -- yer brake housings are at least 4" too long.

ShannonM

The Tektro RRL-SL have fast become some of my favorite brake levers I've ever had. Took me a bit to get over the weird shape of the blades, but the drilled ones break up the look, and the shape is functionally perfect. Like, wherever my hand is on the bars, when I go for the brakes, I get the exact right amount of lever under my fingers. Actuation feel is on par with pre-brifter Shimano SLRs, and they have a push-button QR. And the lever body fits me like they used my hand for the mold. Gonna switch out the black hoods for tan as soon as I can afford, just cuz they'll look much-a mo' betta on my tan and brown bike. Only downside is that they don't make a non-aero version.

Dia-Compe used to make a non-aero drilled liver with a swing-out QR that I really liked, though they are a bit small in the bodies for my sausage hands. Don't know if they still make 'em. I liked them a lot on my tandem, with Campy OR cantis up front and a Deore XT u-brake out back. (The Superbe Pro aeros that everyone seems to adore are way, way too skinny for me. Hand hatchets, Even the Dia-Compe hoods were loose around the tops. The calipers, OTOH... Simply perfect.)

--Shannon