Bank holiday build - Cannondale F600

sefton1275gt · 2025-05-05T18:03:55+0100

Spent the whole day striping, cleaning and rebuilding this F600.

Sourced some Nice wheels, gripshift (which are crisp)! Sach grips, XT levers, XT front & rear mech, Dia Compe Coda cantilevers, Coda bar, seatpost, Saddle, 8spd block and stem (which is about 20-30mm too short).

New cables/outers and chain.

I'm not sure I've set the cantilevers / Cannondale hanger up correctly (although they stopped well enough).

Pretty happy tbh

Thanks to everyone who's helped me source and sold me parts.

sefton1275gt · 2025-05-05T19:22:03+0100

Figured why the Cannondale hanger doesn't look quite right (front). US front brake levers fitted on the left? This would give a nicer flowing cable into the hanger.

TreaderSteve · 2025-05-05T21:06:34+0100

Neat Cannondale. I used this as my guide to the Force 40 https://vintagecannondale.com/tech/Force40Plus.pdf - they didn't look quite like how yours ended up but they sure work. I think they need a tinkering with.

TheElectronKid · 2025-05-05T21:18:59+0100

Great build, but my back goes into spasm everytime I look at the pics

sefton1275gt · 2025-05-05T21:28:09+0100

TreaderSteve said:
Neat Cannondale. I used this as my guide to the Force 40 https://vintagecannondale.com/tech/Force40Plus.pdf - they didn't look quite like how yours ended up but they sure work. I think they need a tinkering with.

that's brilliant, thank you!

sefton1275gt · 2025-05-05T22:06:24+0100

I also think my cable housing is a little too long (which is pushing the Force 40 out of position)

sefton1275gt · 2025-05-06T12:40:05+0100

Might sell

Vesatoro · 2025-05-06T12:53:22+0100

sefton1275gt said:
I also think my cable housing is a little too long (which is pushing the Force 40 out of position)

Nope, you have not adjusted the brake spring balance according to instructions:
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/archive/cannondale-force-40-plus-brake-cam.1038/download

The spring balance should not be even (as normally with cantilevers), but a bit more on the straddle cable side, so that the straddle side keeps tight until the other side pad touches the rim (and more force is directed to the straddle side).

sefton1275gt · 2025-05-06T12:59:42+0100

Vesatoro said:
Nope, you have not adjusted the brake spring balance according to instructions:
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/archive/cannondale-force-40-plus-brake-cam.1038/download

The spring balance should not be even (as normally with cantilevers), but a bit more on the straddle cable side, so that the straddle side keeps tight until the other side pad touches the rim (and more force is directed to the straddle side).

Thankyou.

Will report back once fettled with.

Bank holiday build - Cannondale F600

sefton1275gt

Retro Guru

sefton1275gt

Retro Guru

TreaderSteve

Senior Retro Guru

TheElectronKid

sefton1275gt

Retro Guru

sefton1275gt

Retro Guru

sefton1275gt

Retro Guru

Vesatoro

sefton1275gt

Retro Guru

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