RADBMX.CO.UK
Technical & Reference Section => Tech and Restoration => Topic started by: punkdSICO on May 15, 2011, 07:45 PM
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Wooh!! Finally managed to get some levers Im happy with:
The below pic shows the angle I have added. Originally, the lever would have been straight down but I have pushed it back about 15 degrees.
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5092/5723404328_326a60d26f.jpg)
This pic shows how not to do it..!! I did the first lever using two spanners with no protection:
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2269/5722849395_ff68b633d2.jpg)
This is my second attemd, with only minimal damage. Again, I could have done better than this with a little hindsight.
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5144/5723404382_34003f1b5f.jpg)
Ohers have mentioned using a blow torch, but I dont have one. Also, not sure how much paint damage this would do..
Now I just need to decide if I want to put my old school Dia Compes back on the bike, after a little bending. Eitherway, ill replace the trashed lever with a new one (my local store has them on offer for sub-£10)
My tips for safe bending:
- remove the lever from the brake housing
- put something metal inbetween the levers two arms that the bolt goes through. I did not do this for the first lever and the vice colapsed the arms slightly. I then had the task of getting them back straight again..
- Use a vice and protect any metal on metal contact
- Have the lever poking out of the vice with the bend point on the edge of the vice
- Putting a bit of wood between the lever and your hammer, hit the wood frickin hard. Then it it even frickin harder!!
- Start off by practicing with a lever you dont mind spoiling. With practice, you can bend with little/no paint damage.
ta,
Paul
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Currently Hunterdubber is the biggest Bender on here :daumenhoch:
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nice bit of bending........... :( would have just dropped some tech4's on! :daumenhoch:
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nice bit of bending........... :( would have just dropped some tech4's on! :daumenhoch:
Yeah, someone else mentioned Tech4s but, they only bend in the one direction and dont follow the bars back. I know that is hard to explain but, althought the Dirty Harries are bent-t'feck, until I whacked them with a hammer, they were sticking out into space and nowhere near where I wanted them to be..
ta,
Paul
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I usually wrap a cloth round the lever or a bit of electrical tape stick a seatpost over it and bend away
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I usually wrap a cloth round the lever or a bit of electrical tape stick a seatpost over it and bend away
..Like the idea of that. And sounds a lot easier to avoid paint damabe..
I presume you have the other end in a vice??
Good tip..
Paul
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Benders - any others in here?
You're asking that on ere.... did make me chuckle... ;D
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I usually wrap a cloth round the lever or a bit of electrical tape stick a seatpost over it and bend away
..Like the idea of that. And sounds a lot easier to avoid paint damabe..
I presume you have the other end in a vice??
Good tip..
Paul
no vice required, just have your lever fitted to the bars as normal, and bend with seatpost :daumenhoch: