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Conference noted::bicycle

Title: Bicycling
Notice:Bicycling for Fun
Moderator:JAMIN::WASSER
Created:Mon Apr 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3214
Total number of notes:31946

1793.0. "U-brake help!!" by PNO::STARKEY () Tue Dec 04 1990 13:34

I have a Trek 830 mountain bike and....
I need help on adjusting/setup of the rear u-brake. I believe that I finally
got all the pieces back inside the u brake ei spring and both metal parts that
the spring sits between. I guess my question is just how you go about getting
the spring tension set up so the brake wants to stay away from the rim.

Please don't say take it to a shop. The last time, 2 years ago, they refused
to show me how to do it. Supposely not enough work area for me to get back in.

Any help will be appreciated. I can't seem to find any information in the
library books..

thanks in advance.
mike

T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
1793.1It's simple...NANOOK::BRALEYEd Braley DTN 263-6085Wed Dec 05 1990 11:5327
    
    	The U-Brake adjustment is really quite simple. There are no
    spring anchors in the mounting bosses. Instead, the brake spring
    tension is set by tightening the anchor bolts (10mm) with the caliper
    arm angled away from the rim. Then, when the cable pulls the brake
    into the wheel the caliper spring comes under load.  So, the at-rest
    position for the caliper arm is where-ever you have it when you
    tighten that bolt.
    
    	Don't forget to adjust the brake pads so that the trailing edge
    contacts the rim first. If you don't, the pads will have poor contact
    with the rim when the u-brake and frame bosses flex under the braking
    force load. (And a bottom mounted U-Brake flexes a lot!)

    
    		Rough diagram with exaggerated angles:
    
       			direction of wheel travel
    				  |
   				  V	 
    				|   |
    			pad  \\ |   | // pad
			      \\|   |//	
				|   |
				|rim|
    
    
1793.2reply .1 "too simple"PNO::STARKEYThu Dec 06 1990 16:153
    Thanks Ed, that was my problem. I was tightening the anchor bolts with
    the pads next to the rim. Boy that was simple. Works ok now. Happy
    riding again.