Have questions or want to discuss cycling? Join Now or Sign In to participate in the BikeRide community.

New: Take Part in the November Giveaway for a Chance to Win a Hybrid E-Bike Worth $1329


Brakes & levers
#1
Hi All,

Call me dumbass, but after installing Avid SD 7's, i can't feel any difference in the little red cable pull angle adjusters in the levers. Cd. some1 please enlighten me anent what they're supposed to do?

Thanks
  Reply
#2
(09-27-2010, 12:43 PM)sidmarx Wrote:  Hi All,

Call me dumbass, but after installing Avid SD 7's, i can't feel any difference in the little red cable pull angle adjusters in the levers. Cd. some1 please enlighten me anent what they're supposed to do?

Thanks

Hi can you be more thorough of explaining your problem???
Good maintenance to your Bike, can make it like the wheels are, true and smooth!
  Reply
#3
Hi Bill,

As you know the SD 7 brake levers have a red plastic nut that turns by hand to move the cable swage retainer up and down within the grip housing. As far as i can see this changes the pulling angle of the cable at its joint with the lever. The problem is that i can't discern any change in lever play or feel or tolerance, etc. This makes me wonder what it's actually for, and how i should set it.
  Reply
#4
The adjustment is there to handle either v-brakes or cantilevers which call for a different amount of "cable pull". Cable pull being how much cable is pulled by the lever for a given amount of movement by the lever itself. The difference you would normally feel is that one setting feels "softer" as the brakes start to engage, but actually gives you higher max power. The other setting should feel "firmer" so the amount of resistance to the lever from the brakes comes on more suddenly. People often associate the firmer feel with better braking, but it can actually indicate lower max power because you are giving yourself less leverage.

I've had the same experience with avid levers where you can't feel a lot of difference between the two settings. But on other set ups, it's very obvious when you try to have a v-brake lever with cantis and vice versa.

I'd start with the recommended position for the type of brakes you have and only change it if you find you can tell and really prefer the feel of the other setting.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/cantilever-geometry.html
  Reply
#5
(09-28-2010, 02:24 PM)DaveM Wrote:  The adjustment is there to handle either v-brakes or cantilevers which call for a different amount of "cable pull".

I think you are mistaken. The SRAM website and others say that AVID SD 7 are a long pull lever compatible with mechanical disc brakes and linear pull rim brakes (V-brakes), not cantilevers.

http://www.sram.com/avid/products/speed-dial-7-lever
http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/BL306E01-Avid+Speed+Dial+7+Levers+08.aspx
Giant Cadex CFR | Trek 4100 | Aprilia Enjoy Racing electric assist
  Reply
#6
(10-06-2010, 07:46 PM)jateureka Wrote:  I think you are mistaken.

I think you are correct. I may be thinking of some older Avid levers that had a similar adjustment to change from linear pull to canti. But it sounds like my general description is right that it should adjust the soft/firm feel of the brakes. As to why OP can't feel any difference, don't know.
  Reply


Possibly Related Threads...

Forum Jump:

[-]
10 Latest Posts
What was your favourite bicycle?
Today 03:44 PM
Traveling to texas
12-10-2024 10:06 PM
Remedies for contaminated disc rotors
12-10-2024 07:29 PM
Gears and derailleur misalignment
12-10-2024 05:15 PM
What was your first bicycle?
12-10-2024 01:41 AM
Andre leducq bike. Any idea on value
12-09-2024 11:51 PM
Pogačar's 2024 dominance
12-09-2024 07:48 PM
Beginner Mountain Biking Tips
12-09-2024 05:55 PM
How often check or change mechanical dis...
12-09-2024 12:44 AM
Looking for Recommendations: E-Trike for...
12-08-2024 10:50 PM

[-]
Join BikeRide on Strava
Feel free to join if you are on Strava: www.strava.com/clubs/bikeridecom

[-]
Top 5 Posters This Month
no avatar 1. Alexjohnson
35 posts
no avatar 2. GirishH
16 posts
no avatar 3. meamoantonio
11 posts
no avatar 4. Flowrider
10 posts
no avatar 5. ReapThaWhirlwind
9 posts