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V Brake Issue, Cable not tight at barrel adjuster,

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V Brake Issue, Cable not tight at barrel adjuster,

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flag showtyme4000
Posted: Oct 24, 2023 at 5:52 Quote
Id imagine this is a simple issue that I am overlooking. Everything seems good, elbow seems fine..I dont see any issues. Problem is that there is way to much slack in the cable from the barrell adjuster to the first boss (think thats what its called). It was fine till I messed with the brakes and tried to get the pads closer to the rim. Hope the photos work.
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flag BenLow2019
Posted: Oct 24, 2023 at 6:17 Quote
You have too much cable slack.
First I'd screw that barrel nut all the way into the brake lever and then loosen it a couple turns so you have some freedom to adjust later.
Then loosen the brake cable pinch bolt at the brake connection, hold the brakes still and pull the cable taught to the brake bolt. This action should slide the brake housing back into the brake lever. The trick is making sure that the brakes remain motionless in the open position, but not too far from the rim while you pull the cable. Using a Third Hand Tool makes this much easier. Once the situation is sorted then just tighten the brake pinch bolt.

This video may help. The pinch bolt tightening happens around ~2:50.

Make sure the edge of the cable housing isn't hung up on the rim of the barrel nut or anyplace else when you're tightening the cable.

Now, as you use your brakes and the pads wear out you should just be able to unscrew the barrel nut to compensate until the pads are due for replacement.

Good luck.
flag showtyme4000
Posted: Oct 24, 2023 at 9:07 Quote
Thank you I will give it a try. I thought I tried that and if I make it tighter the pads are right up against the rim. Then its to tight. I will try what you said.

BenLow2019 wrote:
You have too much cable slack.
First I'd screw that barrel nut all the way into the brake lever and then loosen it a couple turns so you have some freedom to adjust later.
Then loosen the brake cable pinch bolt at the brake connection, hold the brakes still and pull the cable taught to the brake bolt. This action should slide the brake housing back into the brake lever. The trick is making sure that the brakes remain motionless in the open position, but not too far from the rim while you pull the cable. Using a Third Hand Tool makes this much easier. Once the situation is sorted then just tighten the brake pinch bolt.

This video may help. The pinch bolt tightening happens around ~2:50.

Make sure the edge of the cable housing isn't hung up on the rim of the barrel nut or anyplace else when you're tightening the cable.

Now, as you use your brakes and the pads wear out you should just be able to unscrew the barrel nut to compensate until the pads are due for replacement.

Good luck.
flag kiranseligman
O+
Posted: Oct 24, 2023 at 17:28 Quote
showtyme4000 wrote:
Id imagine this is a simple issue that I am overlooking. Everything seems good, elbow seems fine..I dont see any issues. Problem is that there is way to much slack in the cable from the barrell adjuster to the first boss (think thats what its called). It was fine till I messed with the brakes and tried to get the pads closer to the rim. Hope the photos work.
photo

photo

photo

As long as everything else is good (pads both hit rim properly, cable is properly routed through the rest of the frame, brake noodle is properly in place in the brake arms) you should be fine to just loosen the cable pinch bolt and pull the cable tight via that and set the proper cable tension.
flag showtyme4000
Posted: Oct 25, 2023 at 6:01 Quote
Still trying to figure out. Seems that I got the slack out, now one of the brake arms is not straight, the other one is fine.
flag showtyme4000
Posted: Oct 25, 2023 at 6:08 Quote
The arm that is straight, the pad is right up at the rim. Seems that using the adjusting screw is worthless it doesnt do anything. The other arm is not on the rim but it is not straight. If this makes sense.
flag BenLow2019
Posted: Oct 25, 2023 at 6:34 Quote
Did you watch the whole video?
Now you're saying that the adjustment screw doesn't do anything which could be a couple things - all it does (if I'm thinking of the same screw you're describing) is push on the end of a spring under the arm. So you've either adjusted it as far as it will go or the spring isn't touching the screw or something else.

If it were me I'd simply take it all apart at the arms. Loosen the pinch bolt and take the cable off. Take the arms off the frame. Clean everything nicely, Put a little grease on the brake posts. Put the springs back on the posts and make sure I got both of them into the same positions on each side. Back the adjustment screws almost entirely out. Re-install the arms and torque them properly - make sure the spring is aligned to the arm correctly. Inspect the brake pads or just replace them depending on wear. Set the brake pads on each side the same and attach the cable. Then fine tune with the barrel nut.

If the video doesn't make sense the try YouTube for other videos about V-brakes. If none of it seems to work then recommend taking to a local bike shop.

Hope that thelps.
flag showtyme4000
Posted: Oct 25, 2023 at 7:02 Quote
I will try that, thank you. I did watch the video.
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