Frozen/stuck brake lever
01-26-22, 11:07 PM
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Frozen/stuck brake lever
Hi,
I went to buy a used bike yesterday. Bike seemed ok overall, hardly used but probably sitting for very long. But, one of the brake levers was completely stuck. You just couldn't press it no matter how hard you tried. Brake cable seemed fine / no rust or fraying. The guy even squirted some oil somewhere in the brake lever, still no difference. Even disconnected the brake pads, again no difference. Can this be fixed or does it need replacing?
Thanks
I went to buy a used bike yesterday. Bike seemed ok overall, hardly used but probably sitting for very long. But, one of the brake levers was completely stuck. You just couldn't press it no matter how hard you tried. Brake cable seemed fine / no rust or fraying. The guy even squirted some oil somewhere in the brake lever, still no difference. Even disconnected the brake pads, again no difference. Can this be fixed or does it need replacing?
Thanks
01-27-22, 02:46 AM
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Not only didn't you provide a source to some pictures, but you don't even say what kind of brakes these are and you expect a diagnosis. Sure it can be fixed but sometimes that means REPLACING a part or two.
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01-27-22, 02:49 AM
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These are normal V-brakes with normal brake levers on a 20inch kids bike.
01-27-22, 02:59 AM
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So are you saying you removed the cable from the brake control and the handle still doesn't move?, could be a rusted pivot bolt or bent piece, still hard to diagnose with out pics
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01-27-22, 07:07 AM
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The cable is probably corroded to the housing between the lever and the caliper. If so, there's no alternative but to replace the cable and housing.
01-27-22, 08:34 AM
#6
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The levers are not built to a precision that they would seize. it is quite common for a cable to seize in a housing.
New cable and housing will make a difference on any old bike.
01-27-22, 08:37 AM
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There's not a lot inside the lever to corrode and bind, up it's likely the cables. When buying a used bike it's usually a good idea to replace the cables and housing on shift and brake anyway as well as pads, depending on how it seems the bike was maintained, and this one sounds like it wasn't.
01-28-22, 08:20 PM
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There's not a lot inside the lever to corrode and bind, up it's likely the cables. When buying a used bike it's usually a good idea to replace the cables and housing on shift and brake anyway as well as pads, depending on how it seems the bike was maintained, and this one sounds like it wasn't.
02-01-22, 08:47 AM
#9
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I've seen brake levers seize up. But it's probably the cable or possibly the brakes sticking on their posts.
To troubleshoot, disconnect the noodle (silver curved part) from the brake and try moving the arms independently. You can also try moving the brake lever at this point, but a stuck cable could still be the issue there. V-brakes and V-brake levers are cheap in the unlikely event they need to be replaced.
To troubleshoot, disconnect the noodle (silver curved part) from the brake and try moving the arms independently. You can also try moving the brake lever at this point, but a stuck cable could still be the issue there. V-brakes and V-brake levers are cheap in the unlikely event they need to be replaced.
02-08-22, 04:30 AM
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thanks everyone. I managed to fix it using some oil inside the lever and on the pin and in some other spots.
Also readjusted pad position and the brakes now work.
Also readjusted pad position and the brakes now work.
