Brake question

[Thorpie]

Received my 98 Stumpjumper today, beautiful bike and in excellent condition. One issue I have is the front brake. When you pull the lever in to use the brakes it stays in and the actual brakes also stay in with the pads locked on the rim. I have tried adjusting everything but to no avail. Does anyone have any ideas or are the knackered? The brakes are Avid speed dial V Brakes.

Trevor.

 

[billinjah]

grease the pivots? or maybe the rim is so badly worn the pads are sticking to the rim?

 

[Thorpie]

No, the rims are fine. I will try the pivots tomorrow. Are there any springs in the brake levers or just the ones on the actual brakes? May look for a set of XT M739 to replace the Avids, anyone got any?

 

[jango]

Sounds like your noodle is full of CR@P!!!

V-brakes do tend to suffer from this if ridden in anything other than bone dry conditions....I recommend 'Gore-tex Ride on' cables, expensive but fit and forget for the next 10 years

edit-: I've had Avids where the springs have gone 'soft', release them from their stops and bend them out to increase their springiness, that may cure the problem temporarily.

 

[xizang]

V-brakes do tend to suffer from this if ridden in anything other than bone dry conditions....I recommend 'Gore-tex Ride on' cables, expensive but fit and forget for the next 10 years

I use XT cables but full length outers. Squirt bearing lube/white grease down them and they'll be fine for a long time as it's a sealed system.
Do the spring thing as well

And I do have a full set of XT M739 V's but I may be keeping them for a bike I'm building for my daughter

 

[FairfaxPat]

It's probably the cables at fault -try replacing them with new ones.

 

[FairfaxPat]

I love my full sus. Fisher Cake- it's like riding a mattress and gives me great confidence at speed in the rough stuff. I have my 1991 Funk hardtail fitted with slicks for the road, but I doubt it will be used in the dirt anymore. That being said, One Eyed Jim- don't bother waiting any longer. the suspension technology has matured, been sorted out and works marvelously!

 

[Thorpie]

Sorted. The actual lever body must have been damaged/bent in transit as the body had compressed onto the lever. Couldn't bend it back out but took away one of the plastic washers from the lever bolt and that has done the trick. The bike is looking mint, such a beautiful Ritchey frame with ultra neat welds, just need to replace the shifters to black XT and it will be sorted. Already replaced the black Ritchey bar for a silver Syncros one, looks alot better matched with the silver seatpost. Pictures will follow!

Trevor.