What can I do to improve Universal 68 Sidepulls?
04-16-24, 07:00 PM
#26
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Keeping Seattle’s bike shops in business since 1978
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04-17-24, 08:37 AM
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I think Weinmann drillium levers look fine, as well as being more comfortable than the Italian ones, but they're possibly a bit low-rent for serious classics.
04-17-24, 08:57 AM
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I think Weinmann drillium levers look fine, as well as being more comfortable than the Italian ones, but they're possibly a bit low-rent for serious classics.
I use Weinmann levers on some of my French bikes as more reachable replacements for the long Mafac levers. They work well and fit the era. I don't worry unduly about whether they are classy! And this bike, as I mentioned above, is pretty ratty. Lots of scars and discoloration. I think that as long as I avoid turkey levers I'll be ok.
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04-18-24, 04:17 PM
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Make sure you have Ferrell on the cable housing.
04-18-24, 04:51 PM
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Yep, got 'em. (If you were looking at the first photo in the thread, that is the "before" pic when I first got the bike.)
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Last edited by Aubergine; 04-18-24 at 05:16 PM.
04-18-24, 05:17 PM
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04-29-24, 02:58 PM
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Update. I finally had a chance to try the Universal calipers with some other levers. They worked much more comfortably with both Campagnolo and Weinmann. I decided to use the Campagnolo levers because they're scratched up so fit in with the rest of the patina. And just to be sure I'm not missing anything with the calipers themselves, I have on order a Harbor Freight ultrasonic cleaner (thanks to another thread here) and will be sure they are fully cleaned, polished, and greased.
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04-30-24, 01:08 PM
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I had 68s on a road bike back then and tolerated them for a half year before replacing them. No reason to stick with marginal brakes. I’d get Tektro brakes of the appropriate size. If you want period appropriate brakes Superbe made some nice brakes. I had a set of Superbe centerpulls that were ok and looked nice.
04-30-24, 02:25 PM
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I had 68s on a road bike back then and tolerated them for a half year before replacing them. No reason to stick with marginal brakes. I’d get Tektro brakes of the appropriate size. If you want period appropriate brakes Superbe made some nice brakes. I had a set of Superbe centerpulls that were ok and looked nice.
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Keeping Seattle’s bike shops in business since 1978
Keeping Seattle’s bike shops in business since 1978
