RE: [CR]Re: universal criticism

(Example: Framebuilding:Norris Lockley)

From: "RB" <2wheelseal@earthlink.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: RE: [CR]Re: universal criticism
Date: Thu, 7 Jul 2005 20:56:41 -0700
In-Reply-To: <20050708030233.49441.qmail@web30914.mail.mud.yahoo.com>


Hehe. That sandpaper trick is a good'un. Very old skool. Glad to see it getting new life. Matchbook cover or business card halfway toward the back of the pad, between the rim and pad, for setting toe in.

Stradle cables should be as close to the tire, and as short and thick as possible (for maximum power).

Bill Roberts Jacksonville, OR

-----Original Message----- From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org]On Behalf Of Dale B. Phelps Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2005 7:03 PM To: Jay Sexton; classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: [CR]Re: universal criticism

1) they break IF you try to BEND them to adjust toe-in? Try facing the brake pads with 100 grit sandpaper on a 4" wood block, apply pressure on the trailing edge, allow the grit to float on the leading edge, 2 or three even, smooth swipes the width of your block will add the elusive matchcover's thickness toe. Remember you need to do this again if down the road you have problems with noise - note my experience is this is NOT a "given" your mileage may vary. Bottom line, my experience is they can be set up just fine, unless you're a muscle-bound lummocks incapable of finesse.

2) Hoods is hoods, if they deteriorate quickly, you're not caring for them. If they do not deteriorate quickly, that may not mean they were cared for at all, it only means they didn't deteriorate. I've said it in the past: BMW dealer : "Gummipflege"

Dale Phelps Longmont CO

Jay Sexton <jvs@sonic.net> wrote: Harvey,

Thanks for the great information! I found it very helpful. You really did your homework.

I haven't futzed with Uni 61's until this bike and didn't know that they will break if adjusted for toe in. Bummer. If they work great when set up right, doesn't seem like they CAN be set up right if you can't adjust toe-in. And I didn't know the hoods were short lived. Gee, maybe they DO suck.

Jay 'new territory' Sexton Sebastopol, CA

It happens that a few years ago I actually measured the lever movement and cable pull for some levers. The results, as a ratio of lever throw per unit of cable take-up, are below. What you will see is that the Universal has a very low ratio. Roughly speaking, moving the lever 2 mm shortens the cable ~1 mm. In contrast, with the Weinmann "red-dot" of the early 60s (a personal favorite), it takes 3 mm of lever travel to pull a mm of cable. As Joe B-Z says, the Universal has uncommonly low mechanical advantage. Lots of cable pull, very little force transmitted. It is not "powerful," but it is very direct since it takes up slack amazingly quickly and then has full contact. Then it is up to brute strength to get it to convince the pad and rim to get intimately acquainted.

Ratio, lever 3.2 DiaCompe 3.9 Weinmann Delta 3.0 Weinmann Red-Dot 2.1 Universal 61/68 4.2 Sachs "Ergo" 2.4 Shimano 105 Road (not sure which one)

AT the other end, the caliper, you can do the same sort of measuring. Let's ignore the straddle cable geometry for now, and just think about the relative lengths of the lever arms (pivot is the fulcrum). It's roughly 2:1 for the CP-61 and 1:1 for the SP-68. So, a mm of cable pull moves the brake pad roughly 1/2 mm with the 61 and 1 mm with the 68. That is one heck of a big difference. So, all other things being equal, the 68 SP calipers are easier to modulate and require less pressure than the 61 CPs.

My Hetchins came with Universal 61s. Even with the original pads, they inspire confidence by their combination of good feel/modulation and adequate power with the force my 60 year old fingers can maintain. Last week, I set up 68s on my NOS Weigle, which wants longer sidepulls than the modern fashion, with Universal levers. It was a bit scary, and I will change to levers that need more lever travel to take up cable, so they have more mechanical advantage.

Like most of us, Universals are quirky. In this case, great when set up right, impossible to adjust toe-in (guaranteed to break), lousy hood rubber but fine pads, poor chroming on the CP hardware... My own quirks are somewhat different.

harvey sachs mcLean va

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Dale B. Phelps, 303 939 6967 303 208 8664 pager

"Never be afraid to try something new. The Ark was designed by amateurs. The Titanic was designed by professionals." - R. Buckminister Fuller

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