I have two sets of Campy brakes from the 1970's, and just recently I noticed a small hole at the rear of the upper arm that holds the adjusting knob. This hole appears only on the front brakes. There is a small rubber plug in the hole of one set, the other set having lost the plug, I guess. Is it possible that it is an oil hole? If it is, I can't figure out why it would be needed, and why does the front brake need oil and the rear not?
I have two sets of Campy brakes from the 1970's, and just recently I noticed a small hole at the rear of the upper arm that holds the adjusting knob. This hole appears only on the front brakes. There is a small rubber plug in the hole of one set, the other set having lost the plug, I guess. Is it possible that it is an oil hole? If it is, I can't figure out why it would be needed, and why does the front brake need oil and the rear not?
When the handlebars are turned all the way to one side, the "Y" arm of the front caliper can bump into the down tube (assuming your handlebar plug doesn't bump into the top tube first.)
The little rubber bumper is to protect the paint of the down tube.
Sheldon "Can't Live Without That Feature" Brown +-------------------------------------------------------+ | Le beau est aussi utile que l'utile --Victor Hugo | | (The beautiful is as useful as the useful) | +-------------------------------------------------------+ Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041 http://harriscyclery.com Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide http://captainbike.comhttp://sheldonbrown.com
I have two sets of Campy brakes from the 1970's, and just recently I noticed a small hole at the rear of the upper arm that holds the adjusting knob. This hole appears only on the front brakes. There is a small rubber plug in the hole of one set, the other set having lost the plug, I guess. Is it possible that it is an oil hole? If it is, I can't figure out why it would be needed, and why does the front brake need oil and the rear not?
When the handlebars are turned all the way to one side, the "Y" arm of the front caliper can bump into the down tube (assuming your handlebar plug doesn't bump into the top tube first.)
The little rubber bumper is to protect the paint of the down tube.
Sheldon "Can't Live Without That Feature" Brown +-------------------------------------------------------+ | Le beau est aussi utile que l'utile --Victor Hugo | | (The beautiful is as useful as the useful) | +-------------------------------------------------------+ Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041 http://harriscyclery.com Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide http://captainbike.comhttp://sheldonbrown.com
Thanks, that makes more sense than an oil hole, except the rubber adjuster knob seems to get there first when the bars are turned all the way??
I have two sets of Campy brakes from the 1970's, and just recently I noticed a small hole at the rear of the upper arm that holds the adjusting knob. This hole appears only on the front brakes. There is a small rubber plug in the hole of one set, the other set having lost the plug, I guess. Is it possible that it is an oil hole? If it is, I can't figure out why it would be needed, and why does the front brake need oil and the rear not?
I plied again:
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
When the handlebars are turned all the way to one side, the "Y" arm of the front caliper can bump into the down tube (assuming your handlebar plug doesn't bump into the top tube first.)
The little rubber bumper is to protect the paint of the down tube.
Bob said:
Thanks, that makes more sense than an oil hole, except the rubber adjuster knob seems to get there first when the bars are turned all the way??
This will depend on the geometry of the frame and the fork crown.
Sheldon "Sometimes Works" Brown +-----------------------------------------------------+ | If a little knowledge is dangerous, where is | | the man who has so much as to be out of danger? | | --T.H. Huxley | +-----------------------------------------------------+ Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041 http://harriscyclery.com Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide http://captainbike.comhttp://sheldonbrown.com
I have two sets of Campy brakes from the 1970's, and just recently I noticed a small hole at the rear of the upper arm that holds the adjusting knob. This hole appears only on the front brakes. There is a small rubber plug in the hole of one set, the other set having lost the plug, I guess. Is it possible that it is an oil hole? If it is, I can't figure out why it would be needed, and why does the front brake need oil and the rear not?
Yes, there was once a rubber plug in that hole. Now your arm hits the paint when you turn the bars all the way.
-- Andrew Muzi www.yellowjersey.org Open every day since 1 April, 1971
I have two sets of Campy brakes from the 1970's, and just recently I noticed a small hole at the rear of the upper arm that holds the adjusting knob. This hole appears only on the front brakes. There is a small rubber plug in the hole of one set, the other set having lost the plug, I guess. Is it possible that it is an oil hole? If it is, I can't figure out why it would be needed, and why does the front brake need oil and the rear not?
Yes, there was once a rubber plug in that hole. Now your arm hits the paint when you turn the bars all the way.
Hmmm ... I was under the impression it is there to keep the bbl adjuster in place when the cable is removed. How could that little nubbin protect the downtube?
I have two sets of Campy brakes from the 1970's, and just recently I noticed a small hole at the rear of the upper arm that holds the adjusting knob. This hole appears only on the front brakes. There is a small rubber plug in the hole of one set, the other set having lost the plug, I guess. Is it possible that it is an oil hole? If it is, I can't figure out why it would be needed, and why does the front brake need oil and the rear not?
Yes, there was once a rubber plug in that hole. Now your arm hits the paint when you turn the bars all the way.
Hmmm ... I was under the impression it is there to keep the bbl adjuster in place when the cable is removed. How could that little nubbin protect the downtube?
Robin Hubert
It will not keep the bbl adjuster in place, because the plug does not fill very much of the hole. I think Andrew and Sheldon are right, although I have a hard time visualizing a setup that will bring it into play.
>I have two sets of Campy brakes from the 1970's, and just recently I >noticed a small hole at the rear of the upper arm that holds the >adjusting knob. This hole appears only on the front brakes. There is a >small rubber plug in the hole of one set, the other set having lost the >plug, I guess. Is it possible that it is an oil hole? If it is, I can't >figure out why it would be needed, and why does the front brake need oil >and the rear not? > >
Yes, there was once a rubber plug in that hole. Now your arm hits the paint when you turn the bars all the way.
Hmmm ... I was under the impression it is there to keep the bbl adjuster in place when the cable is removed. How could that little nubbin protect the downtube?
Robin Hubert
It will not keep the bbl adjuster in place, because the plug does not fill very much of the hole. I think Andrew and Sheldon are right, although I have a hard time visualizing a setup that will bring it into play.
Hmmm ... it occurred to me to look at my own Shimano 7402 brakes (the memory of which stirred my original question), only to see the little nubbin on the rear brake as well. Is that to protect it from hitting something? Did I get screwed and receive two front calipers, one with a rear bolt? This leads me to uphold my original assertion. In fact, if I remove the cable/housing from the caliper, the rubber in fact is contacting the bbl adjuster in such a way as to keep it in place. On calipers without these (such as my Suntour 4000), the bbl adjuster wants to fall out.
>Bob Wheeler wrote: > > > >>I have two sets of Campy brakes from the 1970's, and just recently I >>noticed a small hole at the rear of the upper arm that holds the >>adjusting knob. This hole appears only on the front brakes. There is a >>small rubber plug in the hole of one set, the other set having lost the >>plug, I guess. Is it possible that it is an oil hole? If it is, I can't >>figure out why it would be needed, and why does the front brake need oil >>and the rear not? >> >> > >Yes, there was once a rubber plug in that hole. Now your arm >hits the paint when you turn the bars all the way. >
Hmmm ... I was under the impression it is there to keep the bbl adjuster in place when the cable is removed. How could that little nubbin protect the downtube?
Robin Hubert
It will not keep the bbl adjuster in place, because the plug does not fill very much of the hole. I think Andrew and Sheldon are right, although I have a hard time visualizing a setup that will bring it into play.
Hmmm ... it occurred to me to look at my own Shimano 7402 brakes (the memory of which stirred my original question), only to see the little nubbin on the rear brake as well. Is that to protect it from hitting something? Did I get screwed and receive two front calipers, one with a rear bolt? This leads me to uphold my original assertion. In fact, if I remove the cable/housing from the caliper, the rubber in fact is contacting the bbl adjuster in such a way as to keep it in place. On calipers without these (such as my Suntour 4000), the bbl adjuster wants to fall out.
Robin Hubert
I'm sure you are right about your Shimano 7402 brakes, but we were speaking of vintage campy brakes, which indeed have the rubber stop precisely for the purpose Andrew and Shelden said -- in building up an old frame this week, I encountered a situation in which the rubber plug did function to protect the finish of the down tube.
I have several sets of vintage Shimano and other Asian brakes which have O rings to hold the adjuster in place. Campagnolo used a flimsy piece of cardboard for this purpose, which was fine for shipping, but was of course lost by the time the brake was overhauled.
I have several sets of vintage Shimano and other Asian brakes which have O rings to hold the adjuster in place. Campagnolo used a flimsy piece of cardboard for this purpose, which was fine for shipping, but was of course lost by the time the brake was overhauled.
I never lost mine. It's a nice piece of cardboard, embossed with the Campi winged-hub logo. It's in the "bicycle" file in my filing cabinet.
Because it's cardboard, I figured it was only there for shipping, i.e. wasn't intended to stay on the bike after assembly.
