DiaCompe 287 Levers, etc?

PatC said:

I bought a pair of DiaCompe 287 brake levers for my Surly Long Haul Trucker
build. I got them working, but I have a couple of questions.

First 287 question - one lever has a small hole to "stop" the brake cable
housing. The other lever has a big hole - too big to stop the housing.
How are you supposed to stop the housing?

Second 287 question, maybe related - what's the aluminum thing for, with
the two different size holes in it?

Third question, are the Cane Creek SCR-5 brake levers a worthwhile upgrade
from the 287? I like the Campy-style cable release for removing the
wheels.

Finally, the front brake cable and housing makes a tight turn underneath
the stem to enter the hanger. I can't really get the stem adjusted low
enough without bending it even tighter. Can I use a MTB noodle thingie or
something to make the bend tighter?

You might have DiaCompe 287T for dual cable use. Regular
287 levers have the same cable aperture left and right.

Moreover the 298 series lever requires an odd ferrule inside
the lever. It's thick, aluminum and domed at the top.
Setups without that ferrule bind in a 287.

re:cane creek. Both brands of lever work fine.

re: hanger noodle. Good solution. (A brake hanger noodle is
smaller and tighter radiused than a VBrake noodle)
--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

PatC said:

I bought a pair of DiaCompe 287 brake levers for my Surly Long Haul Trucker
build. I got them working, but I have a couple of questions.

First 287 question - one lever has a small hole to "stop" the brake cable
housing. The other lever has a big hole - too big to stop the housing.
How are you supposed to stop the housing?

Second 287 question, maybe related - what's the aluminum thing for, with
the two different size holes in it?

Third question, are the Cane Creek SCR-5 brake levers a worthwhile upgrade
from the 287? I like the Campy-style cable release for removing the
wheels.

Finally, the front brake cable and housing makes a tight turn underneath
the stem to enter the hanger. I can't really get the stem adjusted low
enough without bending it even tighter. Can I use a MTB noodle thingie or
something to make the bend tighter?

You might have DiaCompe 287T for dual cable use. Regular
287 levers have the same cable aperture left and right.

Moreover the 287 series lever requires an odd ferrule inside
the lever. It's thick, aluminum and domed at the top. Setups
without that ferrule bind in a 287.

re:cane creek. Both brands of lever work fine.

re: hanger noodle. Good solution. (A brake hanger noodle is
smaller and tighter radiused than a VBrake noodle)
--

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

A Muzi <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

PatC said:

I bought a pair of DiaCompe 287 brake levers for my Surly Long Haul
Trucker build. I got them working, but I have a couple of questions.

First 287 question - one lever has a small hole to "stop" the brake
cable housing. The other lever has a big hole - too big to stop the
housing. How are you supposed to stop the housing?

Second 287 question, maybe related - what's the aluminum thing for,
with the two different size holes in it?

Third question, are the Cane Creek SCR-5 brake levers a worthwhile
upgrade from the 287? I like the Campy-style cable release for
removing the wheels.

Finally, the front brake cable and housing makes a tight turn
underneath the stem to enter the hanger. I can't really get the stem
adjusted low enough without bending it even tighter. Can I use a MTB
noodle thingie or something to make the bend tighter?

You might have DiaCompe 287T for dual cable use. Regular
287 levers have the same cable aperture left and right.

Moreover the 298 series lever requires an odd ferrule inside
the lever. It's thick, aluminum and domed at the top.
Setups without that ferrule bind in a 287.

re:cane creek. Both brands of lever work fine.

re: hanger noodle. Good solution. (A brake hanger noodle is
smaller and tighter radiused than a VBrake noodle)

Thanks for the response! I'll probably just get a pair of Cane Creek's,
as I had very little money in the 287's. Put it this way - the bar tape
is worth more than what I paid for the levers.

By chance, do you know where I can order a "hanger noodle"?

PatC said:

By chance, do you know where I can order a "hanger noodle"?

If your LBS doesn't have any, they can order one for you. I think they
all come attached to a hanger, not individually.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

PatC said:

I bought a pair of DiaCompe 287 brake levers for my Surly Long Haul
Trucker build. I got them working, but I have a couple of questions.

First 287 question - one lever has a small hole to "stop" the brake
cable housing. The other lever has a big hole - too big to stop the
housing. How are you supposed to stop the housing?

-snip-

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

You might have DiaCompe 287T for dual cable use. Regular
287 levers have the same cable aperture left and right.

Moreover the 298 series lever requires an odd ferrule inside
the lever. It's thick, aluminum and domed at the top.
Setups without that ferrule bind in a 287.
re:cane creek. Both brands of lever work fine.
re: hanger noodle. Good solution. (A brake hanger noodle is
smaller and tighter radiused than a VBrake noodle)

PatC said:

Thanks for the response! I'll probably just get a pair of Cane Creek's,
as I had very little money in the 287's. Put it this way - the bar tape
is worth more than what I paid for the levers.
By chance, do you know where I can order a "hanger noodle"?

Call us if you rLBS doesn't have 287 ferrules or hanger noodles
608.257.4737
608/257.733
--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

Quoted message said:

PatC said:

By chance, do you know where I can order a "hanger noodle"?

juicemouse said:

If your LBS doesn't have any, they can order one for you. I think they
all come attached to a hanger, not individually.

Well, yes, in a catalog. Any competent LBS which commonly
services bicycles will have separate pieces, silver or black.
--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971