F***ed hydraulic brake levers. Options?

[mrs quoad]

You can get a new complete lever for a bit less than £40 a throw.

http://www.trials-uk.co.uk/product.aspx?productid=179

Still a fair bit of wedge, but under a ton at least.

Apparently, the maximum recommended torque for those is 4 Nm

That does look interesting. It would be a £30 saving. Though I'd need to find someone who could do it - who has the Magura-specific bleed kit and bleed juice (Magura are the only people who use Magura fluid, I believe). And pay 'em. Given the hassle, and given that new brake pads are £12.50, I think (given the choice) I'll take the whole assembly

 

[Cid]

Go on...? I'm intrigued

No... I'm a bit prejudiced y'see.

Actually it's mainly the off-road hybrids I dislike, purely because they're not really any good for going off road other than hard pack canal paths etc (for which you may as well have a road hybrid anyway). Upgrades are a bit of an issue on a bike that can't decide what it wants to be too, although I'm surprised really as a lot of hybrids will come with disc hubs these days.

 

[weepiper]

Apparently, the maximum recommended torque for those is 4 Nm

You're shitting me? 4Nm is nothing, that's barely enough to stop the levers rotating on the bars! Pmsl at Boycey's explanation of exactly how tight that is

 

[mrs quoad]

You're shitting me? 4Nm is nothing, that's barely enough to stop the levers rotating on the bars! Pmsl at Boycey's explanation of exactly how tight that is

This is clearly why the bastards shattered

 

[gentlegreen]

Don't know if it's doable on a pushbike, but I used to drill and pin levers on my motorcycle handlebar to stop them moving around.
(I've heard it said that superduper lightweight bars have to be replaced from time to time for safety reasons)

 

[weepiper]

This is clearly why the bastards shattered

 

[cybertect]

You're shitting me? 4Nm is nothing, that's barely enough to stop the levers rotating on the bars!

That's more or less exactly what Magura said in the post I linked to on their forum.

Still, it is advisable to not tighten the clamp too tight from now on (with the new lever). Just tight enough to remain controlable yet loose enough for the lever to spin away in case of a hit. This is way below the recommended maximum tightening torque of 4Nm. After all, in case of a knock the lever only has two options: spin or snap.

It is a lot lower than I would have expected, but I suppose you could use a bit of thread-lock if you're worried about it coming undone.

 

[mrs quoad]

Two new brakes arrived in the post today! Beautifully boxed, as a set! Of two REAR brakes! Bastards

I've got two spare feet of cable at the front end. I'm waiting for Wiggle to get back to me...

 

[mrs quoad]

Hahaha!

Awesome.

Apparently, the Magura brake set comes with two long cables, so that the user can trim them down to size. For their convenience.

Trimming Magura brake cables down to size requires a Magura (professional) bleed kit, priced at £34. Magura brakes are guaranteed against accidental bleed for 5 years, meaning that after bleeding their brakes said purchaser shouldn't need the bleed kit again for 1,800 days.

Fuck THAT.

 

[weepiper]

take it your local friendly bike shop, bat your eyelashes and buy them some beer/cake and they might do it for you for a tenner or so.

 

[Cid]

Just buy some XT v-brakes ffs!

 

[weepiper]

Just buy some XT v-brakes ffs!

^^ or yeah, this

 

[mrs quoad]

take it your local friendly bike shop, bat your eyelashes and buy them some beer/cake and they might do it for you for a tenner or so.

They suggested I return it

They are wonderful; but these brakes've already cost £110. I'm seriously thinking of putting a road fork on the front, which'd make the front brake redundant anyhows.

Given the levels of dicking around that're looking necessary, a straight return looks like the most sensible option...

 

[mrs quoad]

Just buy some XT v-brakes ffs!

I've ordered one

 

[Cid]

Err... That was a little rash... did you remember that you need levers, cable etc? sometimes they're not included.

Stop doing rash things!

 

[mrs quoad]

Err... That was a little rash... did you remember that you need levers, cable etc? sometimes they're not included.

Stop doing rash things!

Oh, wank

Well, http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Shimano_XT_M770_V-Brake/5360031017/

If I need a lever / brake cable, then I've got the cable and lever from the unused Tektro 538 that came with the Charge...

e2a: all this bike stuff is turning out to be more cryptic than I expect

 

[Cid]

Ok, so either order the levers wiggle have on there (£50 for the pair of XT levers), browse for a cheaper set or go for something cheaper but reliable like the full Deore set they have on there.

 

[Cid]

Also wait until everyone isn't looking over their shoulders at work and can post longer responses...



<mmfmll>

No, no I was just browsing the sytem, for gods sake WHY????


Argggh!!!

 

[mrs quoad]

Ok, so either order the levers wiggle have on there (£50 for the pair of XT levers), browse for a cheaper set or go for something cheaper but reliable like the full Deore set they have on there.

So levers from another make of brake (e.g. tektro) would not work with the XTs?

I thought cable brakes were fairly interchangeable - no?

 

[weepiper]

So levers from another make of brake (e.g. tektro) would not work with the XTs?

I thought cable brakes were fairly interchangeable - no?

they might... depends what kind of brake was on it before, if it was another V-brake (same as the XT) then it'll work fine, if it was cantilevers or caliper brakes then the cable pull will be different and they might feel really squishy.

 

[mrs quoad]

Also... if it is going to be another £50 odd for V-brakes, I'm thinking it's worth just going to the effort of getting the Maguras cut down...

 

[mrs quoad]

they might... depends what kind of brake was on it before, if it was another V-brake (same as the XT) then it'll work fine, if it was cantilevers or caliper brakes then the cable pull will be different and they might feel really squishy.

No

They're callipers

It's the brake lever off the Tektro brakes that came with the Charge Plug

AAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarse.

I am a massive bundle of epic fail @ bikes

 

[weepiper]

No

They're callipers


I am a massive bundle of epic fail @ bikes

oh dear

Personally, what I would do right, is send the Maguras back and get a refund, then spend £45ish on a full set of Deore V-brakes (brakes, levers, cables all included) which you'll be able to learn how to set up yourself with naught but a set of allen keys and a phillips screwdriver.

 

[mrs quoad]

oh dear

Personally, what I would do right, is send the Maguras back and get a refund, then spend £45ish on a full set of Deore V-brakes (brakes, levers, cables all included) which you'll be able to learn how to set up yourself with naught but a set of allen keys and a phillips screwdriver.

OK - the set up isn't the problem. The Maguras are a piece of piss to adjust. The only problem is the cabling. Which contains mineral oil. Requiring a bleed kit.

I might investigate the Other bike shop in town later today, see if they could do it.

 

[weepiper]

OK - the set up isn't the problem. The Maguras are a piece of piss to adjust. The only problem is the cabling. Which contains mineral oil. Requiring a bleed kit.

I might investigate the Other bike shop in town later today, see if they could do it.

yes, but, they will still have mineral oil and need a bleed kit the next time something goes wrong with them (you crash and break a brake lever, or get a cable damaged...) and many bike shops won't keep the blocks or spares in stock, whereas (excuse the turn of phrase) aye cunt keeps V-brake blocks and MTB brake cables.

 

[mrs quoad]

yes, but, they will still have mineral oil and need a bleed kit the next time something goes wrong with them (you crash and break a brake lever, or get a cable damaged...) and many bike shops won't keep the blocks or spares in stock, whereas (excuse the turn of phrase) aye cunt keeps V-brake blocks and MTB brake cables.

I see the strength of your argument, but must mention: Maguras are really shiny. I mean, looking at V brakes in comparison... it's just not even worth mentioning. Nowhere NEAR as shiny. And they don't look like Robocop either.

 

[Cid]

Yeah that, but Tektro are shit, get Deores if you want a cheap lever (or the Avid equivalent).

 

[mrs quoad]

Yeah that, but Tektro are shit, get Deores if you want a cheap lever (or the Avid equivalent).

Tektro callipers came with the Charge.

I'll have a look at Deores / Avid, but'll be slightly tempted to hedge back to sorting out the Maguras if I can't find single brakes fairly easily (as opposed to sets).

 

[djbombscare]

this is probably a stupid question and probably atherad somewhere

but forks? brakes? bars. . .

have you stacked yer bike by any chance ?

 

[mrs quoad]

this is probably a stupid question and probably atherad somewhere

but forks? brakes? bars. . .

have you stacked yer bike by any chance ?

It has suffered a series of catastrophes, falling under the umbrella term 'mrs quoad's enthusiasm and a spanner (and pliers)'