Cantilevers:What a B*****d

Sam Salt said:

Decided to swap the front brake pads on the Galaxy yesterday.

Hmm...........

The pads are swapped but positioning the pads is something else.

I've been here before,it requires six pairs of hands,the patience of
Mother Theresa and cancelling all appointments for weeks to come.

I have three "third hands",and none of them work.

I find a strap around the brakes helps to hold everything against the rims.
And another to control the position of the brake lever.

I use either old toe-clip straps or a ski holding velcro straps, depending
on which falls to hand in the shed.

Quoted message said:

Even though they are cartridge pads there isn't enough cable to clear
the rims.

Let out a little bit on the straddle cable. Do it with the brake-blocks tied
together using the strap (above)

If you can still get the bits, the Shimano Y-cable straddles make life a
little easier.

But basically, adjustment of Shimano-style cantilever blocks stinks, and I'd
fit a cartridge pad to reduce the amount of adjustment fiddling required.
V-brakes style of mounting pads is a lot easier, and my bike with old
Suntour cantilevers is much easier to adjust than the other bike with
Shimano cantilevers (Suntour brakes use the same pad attachment as Shimano
V-brake pads).

Quoted message said:

Have had a read of Sheldon and will try again tomorrow,and probably
the day after and the one after that.

Good move :-)

- Nigel

--
Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/

Sam Salt said:

Decided to swap the front brake pads on the Galaxy yesterday.

Hmm...........

The pads are swapped but positioning the pads is something else.

I've been here before,it requires six pairs of hands,the patience of Mother
Theresa and cancelling all appointments for weeks to come.

I have three "third hands",and none of them work.

Even though they are cartridge pads there isn't enough cable to clear the
rims.

Have had a read of Sheldon and will try again tomorrow,and probably the day
after and the one after that.

Sam Salt

A good start is to throw away those third hand things.

Fit blocks and cables in the approximate position

Back out the barreladjuster at the brakelever about 1/4"-1/2"

Undo the clampbolt (10mm), push the block against the rim, and tightne
the clampnut again. Most canti's give you the option of sticking a
hexkey in the clampbolt to help keep the block in position.

repeat for the other side, back in the adjuster and equalise the
brakesprings to adjust the gaps
--
---
Marten Gerritsen

INFOapestaartjeM-GINEERINGpuntNL
www.m-gineering.nl

"Nigel Cliffe" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Sam Salt said:

Decided to swap the front brake pads on the Galaxy yesterday.

Hmm...........

The pads are swapped but positioning the pads is something else.

I've been here before,it requires six pairs of hands,the patience of
Mother Theresa and cancelling all appointments for weeks to come.

I have three "third hands",and none of them work.

I find a strap around the brakes helps to hold everything against the

rims.

Quoted message said:

And another to control the position of the brake lever.

I use either old toe-clip straps or a ski holding velcro straps, depending
on which falls to hand in the shed.

Quoted message said:

Even though they are cartridge pads there isn't enough cable to clear
the rims.

Let out a little bit on the straddle cable. Do it with the brake-blocks

tied

Quoted message said:

together using the strap (above)

If you can still get the bits, the Shimano Y-cable straddles make life a
little easier.

But basically, adjustment of Shimano-style cantilever blocks stinks, and

I'd

Quoted message said:

fit a cartridge pad to reduce the amount of adjustment fiddling required.
V-brakes style of mounting pads is a lot easier, and my bike with old
Suntour cantilevers is much easier to adjust than the other bike with
Shimano cantilevers (Suntour brakes use the same pad attachment as Shimano
V-brake pads).

Quoted message said:

Have had a read of Sheldon and will try again tomorrow,and probably
the day after and the one after that.

Good move :-)

- Nigel

--
Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/

Thanks Nigel,never thought of a strap.

Sam Salt

"Sam Salt" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Decided to swap the front brake pads on the Galaxy yesterday.

Hmm...........

Swap them for Deore V-Brakes and 287V levers and never look back.

Ken ;-)