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Avid Shorty centering screws

Started by David Ripton · · Last activity · 6 posts · 1,160 views

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01 / Original postAvid Shorty centering screwsDavid Ripton · 6 Mar 2006 02 / This pagePosts 1–6Page 1 of 1 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #6john · 6 Mar 2006

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Original section
Cycling Equipment
Published
6 March 2006
Last activity
6 March 2006
Original author
David Ripton
Posts
6
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Public discussion
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1,160
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Topics
Touring

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  1. Original post
    David Ripton
    Archived post
    #1

    Just picked up a used touring bike with Avid Shorty 6 cantilevers.
    It's missing 3 of the 4 screws which are used to adjust spring tension
    and center the brakes.

    One screw seems to be enough to center a brake, but zero is not. So
    the rear brake is dragging on one side. I can loosen the rear brake
    cable enough to make it stop dragging, but then it won't provide much
    emergency stopping power.

    Anyone know of a source for these centering screws? They seem a bit
    smaller than the #4 screws at Home Depot, have a very fine thread
    pitch, and take a 3mm allen wrench. (Though I'd be equally happy with
    a different head, if the screw fit.) The LBS didn't have any (except
    on brakes on bikes).

    SRAM now owns Avid; anyone have experience with their support people on
    small-parts issues?

    Any non-awful way to center these brakes without the screw? There are
    3 holes for the centering spring, but none of the combinations I tried
    helped. I have a non-locking straddle cable yoke; perhaps one that
    grabs the straddle cable would help? I could always deform the
    springs, but that seems a last resort, right before buying a new brake.

    Thanks.

    Report
  2. Eric
    Archived post
    #2

    I fought those screws over and over until I realized they were stripped
    out. I got replacement parts directly from Avid, but I don't remember
    if they were part of SRAM at the time or not. As I remember, they were
    sent to me in a few days.

    It turned out to be such a pain to replace the parts that I just got a
    whole new brake, but I was a lot more impatent at the time. 🙂

    Eric

    Report
  3. john
    Archived post
    #3
    David Ripton said:

    Just picked up a used touring bike with Avid Shorty 6 cantilevers.
    It's missing 3 of the 4 screws which are used to adjust spring tension
    and center the brakes.

    Hi David

    It's really not a big deal to find these setscrews. You are fortunate
    to have one screw left. Find a LBS that has these screws. If you can't
    find a LBS that has them, go to an Orchard Supply or other good
    hardware store, in the metric section, find a nut that fits your one
    screw. Note its size & find the screws that are the same size & length.
    Screws in this small size range are often available in both black oxide
    & Stainless Steel. Choose the finish that suites your esthetic taste.
    I'd buy at least 8, & put the remainder away in a safe spot

    The best hardware store in the Bay Area that I know of is Dales'
    Hardware in Fremont, Ca. I'm sure they have small metric screws in both
    finishes.

    If you don't have it already, buy a tube of blue LocTite 242, to apply
    to the threads so you don't lose any of the new screws. Due to lack of
    tension on these screws, this is a perfect use of blue LocTite.

    Odd this subject came up. I just finished, before I came online, blue
    loctiting & torquing the screws on a SPD cleat.

    Hope this helps, John

    Report
  4. john
    Archived post
    #4
    David Ripton said:

    Just picked up a used touring bike with Avid Shorty 6 cantilevers.
    It's missing 3 of the 4 screws which are used to adjust spring tension
    and center the brakes.

    Hi David

    It's really not a big deal to find these setscrews. You are fortunate
    to have one screw left. Find a LBS that has these screws. If you can't
    find a LBS that has them, go to an Orchard Supply or other good
    hardware store, in the metric section, find a nut that fits your one
    screw. Note its size & find the screws that are the same size & length.
    Screws in this small size range are often available in both black oxide
    & Stainless Steel. Choose the finish that suites your esthetic taste.
    I'd buy at least 8, & put the remainder away in a safe spot

    The best hardware store in the Bay Area that I know of is Dales'
    Hardware in Fremont, Ca. I'm sure they have small metric screws in both
    finishes.

    If you don't have it already, buy a tube of blue LocTite 242, to apply
    to the threads so you don't lose any of the new screws. Due to lack of
    tension on these screws, this is a perfect use of blue LocTite.

    Odd this subject came up. I just finished, before I came online, blue
    loctiting & torquing the screws on a SPD cleat.

    Hope this helps, John

    Report
  5. Tom
    Archived post
    #5

    You can find replacement screws at OSH.

    But you don't need them. You can remove the straddle cable and then
    loosen the mounting screw position the canti a little lower than it was
    and retighten the mounting screw. You may have to repeat this several
    times to get the tension balanced so that the canti's ride equally but
    that's the proper way to set the tension in the first place.

    Report
  6. john
    Archived post
    #6
    Tom said:

    But you don't need them. You can remove the straddle cable and then


    loosen the mounting screw position the canti a little lower than it was

    and retighten the mounting screw. You may have to repeat this several
    times to get the tension balanced so that the canti's ride equally but

    Quoted message said:

    that's the proper way to set the tension in the first place.

    Hi Tom

    Are you saying that changing the effective length or centering of the
    straddle cable can control the balance of canti brakes? If so, I'm
    highly skeptical, but willing to learn. Can you please further explain?

    Thanks, John

    Report

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