Does anyone have a solution to the following problem?
The drive side caliper will not return to a normal position when releasing the brake. It just drags against the rim.
Does anyone have a solution to get the caliper arm to return to the normal position and/or does anyone have the instruction manual that came with the brakes?
Thanks
Brian, sounds like either a brake centering problem, or a cable drag problem, does the brake open and center fine without the cable connected?
Kevin
they are center pull brakes, each arm is independent of the other. A triangle with some plastic clips holds them together.
I’ll post a pic in a few minutes, eating burritos right now.
Mounting bolt on one side too tight?
Doesn’t matter if I have the bolts tight or removed completely. Drive side doesn’t spring back to where it should.
Here are the pics. I’m about 3 minutes of wrenching away from selling this thing and getting something else.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c74/desertdude111/transitionbrakes001.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c74/desertdude111/transitionbrakes002.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c74/desertdude111/transitionbrakes003.jpg
Are the hinge above the one that you unhook the brake tight? does the lever to unhook it open easy?
Just a guess…
And at the risk of repeating something obvious that you’ve already checked…
Is the drive side return spring missing, bent, dislodged, or gummed up? (Does it spring back under finger pressure with no cables attached?)
If the spring seems to work Ok, is there a set screw to adjust the travel limit? It would likely be a recessed alan bolt near the pivot points.
It doesn’t spring back at all now that I think about it. Do you have a solution to fix that? It went from working and returning to not returning at all with one pull of the brakes.
nebmot, the lever is pretty solid when everything is tight, until I hit the brakes then release. Then the drive side doesn’t return.
I’d unscrew the pivot bolt and take a look. It sounds like the spring might be missing, bent, or out of position.
EDIT:
Missing or Broken = Call Specialized.
Bent = grab some pliers and re-shape.
Out of Position = find out where it is supposed to fit by looking at the non-drive side and fit that sucker back in place.
Thanks! After I walk my dogs to get my frustration level down with this bike, I’ll pull it off and see what I can find.
Walking the dogs, that’s what you crazy kids are calling it these days?
Dude you’re killing me. I did walk the dogs not the dog.
Happy birthday on Friday!
Awww how sweet you remembered. You know how I know you are gay?
Thank you!
If those brakes work like old style MTB cantilever brakes then there is an inernal spring behind each arm. The arm that is not springing back into position probably has the spring in the wrong position to build up tension. Usually with those brakes there is a a portion of the spring that has to be locked into position, either against a fork boss or somewhere inside the brake mechanism.
Duct tape.
I’ve pulled the brake completely apart and fixed that. Due to how it’s designed though I’m having trouble getting it back into place with the brake arm lever on the correct side of the opposite fork brake mounting bracket.
Nothing a bit of insomnia won’t have hopefully fixed by the time it’s time to get up and ride this morning.
No solutions…but I just wanted to chime in that my husband was putting together the last bits of my Transition last night, and hooking up the brakes and getting them working about gave him a fit. He was ranting and raving about “returning to the old days” and wanted to know why they use that style. He also wondered about the rear wheel drop out. I was like… “ah… i don’t know, but I bet someone on ST does…”
I’ve given myself until Saturday evening to decide if I can live with a high maintenance bike.
If not I’m thinning the herd since I have 2 other bikes lying around begging to be sold.
Thanks to everyone who has posted tips and/or PM’d me with tips!
I would think once you have it fixed it should stay fixed, although the one issue with those underchainstay brakes is that they are in the way of all kinds of crap thrown up off the road. Was it a pivot or spring issue?
Kevin
It was a spring issue with the front brake, but not I can either fix the spring and not get the lever in the right place or put the lever in the right place and not have the return spring work.