Adjusting brake lever reach

[Tuckervill]

I have a Trek 1000 WSD. I would like to investigating adjusting the reach on the brake levers. I checked out Trek's site and the manual online. Unfortunately, all the links for illustrations are broken, and I need a picture.

If someone wants to take a look at the manual and see if the illustrations work for them (and then send me the illustrations, maybe?), that'd be great.
http://www.bike-manual.com/brands/trek/om/road/index.html

I know I don't have the shims. Are they necessary? There is a screw on the top of the lever pointing forward. I was thinking maybe that was an adjustment screw? Or maybe there are shims necessary. See, I need a picture! :)

This is one of the rare times Sheldon Brown was not helpful.

Help?

Karen

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I don't know what kind of levers you have. Are they the kind that also have the shifters integrated in them? I think those are the kind that you can get shims for from Shimano. The shims are little plastic pieces you have to order. I seem to recall that the levers that are brake levers only do not have shims you can buy that fit them.
Why not call Trek?
I have heard that Shimano used to make short reach brake levers without the shifters (plain brake levers but for shorter reach). Maybe they still do. If not, you might be able to search Ebay for an old set of these- I would think they would be interchangable with any other Shimano levers without shifters.

[velogirl]

Karen, you can shim the levers yourself by inserting a small piece of adhesive-backed "stuff" -- so technical, eh? I use FeltGard Heavy Duty Felt Pads (they're intended to put under furniture on hardwood floors to prevent scratching).

To insert, open up the brake lever the same way you would when you apply your brakes. insert the felt (adhesive side down) and then close the lever again, depressing the felt pad to create adhesion.

Note that depending on how your brakes are adjusted, you might need to open them up just a bit after shimming. Spin the wheels (off the ground) and if the brakes are too close to the rim, use an alan wrench to slack a little bit of cable.

BTW, which model levers do you have (they probably have it printed on them). Sounds like older 105 or Sora.

[Tuckervill]

They're brifters, probably Sora. (yep! I looked it up.)

So you just stick something adequate down in there, without securing it or anything? hmmm...

I have some felt thingies somewhere. I'm sure I can find something suitable at the hardware store if I can't find those.

edit: oh, on re-read I see you were using the adhesive to keep them in. Okey dokey.

Thanks!
Karen

[DirtDiva]

If they're Soras, just screw in that screw you found. It's there to adjust the reach. :) Be a little bit careful though because they're only plastic.

[velogirl]

2nd what dirtdiva sez -- that screw can easily break and the range of motion is relatively small. I've still used external (or would that be internal?) shims when fitting sora components.

[SouthernBelle]

Specialized carried shims for Shimano levers. Not sure if they have them for sora though. I got mine on ebay.

[Kalidurga]

Nope, Specialized doesn't make shims for Sora (one more reason I wanna trade up!). The plastic screw is it, unless you jury-rig something as has been suggested.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I have plain old Shimano levers (no shifters in them).
I actually did try to use home made shims to shorten my reach- i used the felt furniture feet pads with the sticky stuff on one side. Unfortunately I found that when temps hit over 90 degrees F the sticky stuff kind of melted and the pads would move around and one got lost inside the hood and I had a heck of a time trying to fish it out with tweezers! :( I tried a couple more variations on that, including a different material, but the method just didn't work well for me.
My hands are actually stretching a little over time to accommodate the stretch, believe it or not. It's slowly getting better. As a musician I am familiar with this phenomenon- my left hand is currently stretching to adapt to my recently taking up mandolin again- some of those 4 finger chords are bears! :eek:

[Tuckervill]

I play ukulele! I never even attempt a song with 4-finger chords. But, I'm a rank amateur, not a real musician.

I haven't encountered a situation where the brake lever reach was a safety issue. I don't ride in the drops if I can help it, but that's where they're hardest to reach. If I get in the right shape and can ride in the drops, I'd like to be able to reach them!

Karen

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I play ukulele! I never even attempt a song with 4-finger chords. But, I'm a rank amateur, not a real musician.

Hey, Ukulele Lady! ;) I play banjo, mountain dulcimer, and a little mandolin. I used to play mando using only 2 finger chords, but I am finding the sound rings out too loud on the open strings while I'm singing (yodeling) so I enlisted a great mando playing friend to help me learn how to make 4 finger "closed" chords to get more muted chunky sound. I'm having to relearn mando from scratch now and it's a real reach challenge! I love uke and i have women friends who play uke and sing- it is a great instrument! I think the nylon strings on uke make for a softer sound when strummed open, thus 2 finger chords sound better on ukes, whereas the mando steel open strings ring out too loud.




I haven't encountered a situation where the brake lever reach was a safety issue. I don't ride in the drops if I can help it, but that's where they're hardest to reach. If I get in the right shape and can ride in the drops, I'd like to be able to reach them!

Karen

Yes I am trying to just adapt to it because i "can" make the reach so its not a safety issue. It's just a bit hard. It's easier with gloves that have only thin padding. I brake in the drops downhill, and I am managing ok- but happily i think my hands are s-l-o-w-l-y stretching more. So i figure the more I ride bike the better my mandolin playing will become! -or vice versa! :D :D ;) ;) :p :p