V brake modulation
- Thread starter summerdays
- Start date
-
- Tags
- brakes
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OP
OP
summerdays
Cycling in the sun
- Location
- Bristol
I will do if only to say, I didn't manage to sort it out!
uphillstruggler
Guru
- Location
- Half way there
post a video, that may make it easier to see the issue.
I cant wait.
ps. I really dislike setting up brakes, really dislike.
shouldbeinbed
Rollin' along
- Location
- Manchester way
People are trying to be helpful to a fellow member on unclear specifics, giving a range of ideas, several already saying the same as you have offered up.
Seems a bit churlish to be having a go at people trying to help summer days think through and around what else might be happening.
Globalti
Legendary Member
I still don't fully understand what is actually happening to the brakes but it sounds as if they are sticking on, which would imply:
1 - Broken or dislocated return spring behind the brake arm.
2 - Brake block has slipped and is jamming against the tyre wall.
3 - Brake blocks have been set wrongly and have part-worn, over-riding the rim so far that they are sticking on.
4 - Simple rust or dirt is preventing the brake arms from pivoting.
5 - Sticky cable.
1 - Broken or dislocated return spring behind the brake arm.
2 - Brake block has slipped and is jamming against the tyre wall.
3 - Brake blocks have been set wrongly and have part-worn, over-riding the rim so far that they are sticking on.
4 - Simple rust or dirt is preventing the brake arms from pivoting.
5 - Sticky cable.
bykeshed
Owner @ Byke Shed Ltd
- Location
- Willenhall
If you can give the brakes a squeeze yourself and let us know, we might be able to give a more definite answer. Squeeze the lever and look at the pads at the same time to see what they're doing. Is the lever tough to squeeze with little or no movement from the pads? Does the lever pull all the way in before the pads move? Is one pad touching the rim before the other? Is one or both pads fully contacting the rim or is only a part of the pad hitting the rim?
One thing to check that no one's mentioned yet is that the brake cable is properly seated in the stops, from the lever along the frame to the guide pipe if it has one. I get a lot of customers who say their brakes are stuck on and it turns out their cable has slackened enough for the cable outer to jump out of a stop and the ferrule perching itself on the edge of the stop, effectively pulling the cable tight causing the brakes to stick on. In this case, it's possible the cable is so slack that the ferrule is popping in and out of the stop freely, most likely at the lever - when it's out it's pulling the cable enough so the brakes actually work, and when the cable pops back into the stop the cable is too slack for the brakes to work even a little. Literally need to pull on the brake cable outer casing and see if the ends of the casing come out of the stop. Worth a shot?
One thing to check that no one's mentioned yet is that the brake cable is properly seated in the stops, from the lever along the frame to the guide pipe if it has one. I get a lot of customers who say their brakes are stuck on and it turns out their cable has slackened enough for the cable outer to jump out of a stop and the ferrule perching itself on the edge of the stop, effectively pulling the cable tight causing the brakes to stick on. In this case, it's possible the cable is so slack that the ferrule is popping in and out of the stop freely, most likely at the lever - when it's out it's pulling the cable enough so the brakes actually work, and when the cable pops back into the stop the cable is too slack for the brakes to work even a little. Literally need to pull on the brake cable outer casing and see if the ends of the casing come out of the stop. Worth a shot?
yadder
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Kharkov. Ukraine
. Sorry! I dont know about this
OP
OP
summerdays
Cycling in the sun
- Location
- Bristol
On taking a slightly longer look today I decided it was because the lever didn't move very much - it didn't rub the wheel but the pads were quite close. So I have slackened off the cable a little. She is intending to take her daughter out over the hols to the park, and I will have another look when I next see her if it's still a problem.
That was the lever position at brakes fully on.
That was the lever position at brakes fully on.
Globalti
Legendary Member
That's a bit tight and the adjuster is screwed right in at its slackest setting. Can the child even reach the lever? She might be grabbing it and pulling it on hard. I would slacken the cable a little; undo the hex bolt that clamps it at the brake just enough to allow a couple of mm, no more, to run through then re-tighten.
Edit: you've done that.
Edit: you've done that.
OP
OP
summerdays
Cycling in the sun
- Location
- Bristol
The child was at school when I saw her Mum yesterday so I did the adjustment without them being there. If I catch up with her over the school hols I'll take a look with her on the bike.
