Subject: RE: Brake Cables
Author: Ray Hale
Date: Mar 30, 2005, 9:43 AM
Post ID: 1718621791
ThaNKS gREG,
so...who sells an aftermarket cable with switch and chunky enough cable
thickness?
Ray
pax sine tedio
73 Eldo "19"
Greg Bender wrote:
Hi AJ, There are a few things going on with the cable issue...this is what I understand to be the case: Historically, there was a time when brake light switches were not required for the front brake...only for the rear brake. I believe the loop frames straddled this era, leaving original examples of front brake cables with and without the brake light switch. The original cables were made a of thicker diameter cable that was wound differently than some of the cable available today. It is said that original cables are less likely to stretch than some of the thinner aftermarket cables. This gives a more direct link to the brakes and a stiffer feel at the lever. To add trouble with the mix, the brake light switch adds additional mushy-ness to the equation. The old switches worked by compressing very dense rubber (if I remember right) whereas the new switches work by compressing springs. The old switchs feel firmer, if I'm not mistaken. To get the most direct link to the front brakes, you'll want to use a thick cable without any switches. But, you pay the price of not having the rear brake light come on when this happens. On my Ambo, I'm using an original cable with the original switch. The switch didn't initially work, but only required disassembly and clean up to get it going again (it's pretty simple). I'm happy with this compromise as I don't want to always have to remember to use the rear brake to activate the brake light. There really isn't a clear "best" choice, but I hope I've unmuddied the waters a bit. AJ Huff wrote:
Regards, Greg Bender 1971 Ambassador 2000 Quota http://www.thisoldtractor.com/gtbender Florida MGNOC website http://www.thisoldtractor.com/fl_mgnoc Minnesota MGNOC website http://www.thisoldtractor.com/mn_mgnoc |