Topica Loopframe_Guzzi Archive


Subject: Re: Fixin' the front brake switch

Author: Darrell J Dick

Date: Mar 31, 2005, 11:55 AM

Post ID: 1718628501



It sounds like you must have a pretty nice cable. Probably not stock. The
switches I have seen have a black plastic housing. The spring inside is
usually a rubber washer. I think the rubber breaks down over time, and is
either very squishy, or the switch sticks on, or maybe both.

Have fun!

Darrell Dick
Imlay City, MI


On Thu, 31 Mar 2005 19:13:17 +0000 Chuck Sherman <chucks-@aol.com>
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Cable switch on this beastie had a fairly stout spring. Cutting
half a
coil off made it work, and improved feel in the process. Cable is
thicker than the slots on the arm and the lever; a real bugger to
get
back into place.

Just want stuff to work the way it was supposed to!
Darrell J Dick wrote:
 
Most of those switches that I have seen over the years used a
piece of
 rubber for the switch "spring". Anyways, I'm not big fan of the
cable
 mounted switch. Even if they do work right, The compression
required to
 work them has an adverse effect on the brake operation. I think a
lot of
 the bad rep of the Loopframe TLS brake is because of cable issues.
Some
 of the aftermarket cables I've seen are really small diameter and
wimpy.
 I'm generally happy to ride without a front brake switch as long
as the
 rear switch is reliable. I always use the rear brake in tandem
with the
 front when I come to stop. I have always mean't to work out a
microswitch
set-up at the lever, but it hasn't become a priority yet.

Darrell Dick
Imlay City, MI

On Thu, 31 Mar 2005 02:59:05 +0000 Chuck Sherman
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Spent the evening futzing around with Giuseppe the Guzzi - lubed
up
 
 the
cables simply to pass the time. While at it, I noticed the
compression
switch on the front brake cable was inoperable...

Tore the cable apart to see what was the matter. There was an
aluminum
dust cover on top of the switch; felt that was limiting the
ability
 
 to
make contact. Cut it off - no closure. Checked continuity; had

 
 power
to both spades. Tried tightening the snot outta the adjustment
-
 
 even
with TWO hands I could not make the contacts of the compression

 
 switch
close.

I'm not a small guy; over years of restoration I've sheared some

 
 pretty
big bolts simply thru grunt power. If I had two hands on the
brake
 
 
there's a pretty good bet that the front end woulda locked up B4
the
 
 
contacts were closed.

So...I got to thinkin'...

Whipped out the dremel and cut off a 1/2 turn of the spacer
spring
 
 on
the switch. this was a gut decision, mind you - if it was
wrong,
 
 I'd
have to buy a new cable.

Put 'er all back together and...

Giuseppe LOVED it! brake light actuates with 1/2" of lever
travel -
 
 just
like it's supposed to. I suspect the switch NEVER worked - is
the
 
 true
with other bikes?

Pleased south of Pontiac,

Chuck.

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