Bending brake levers.

t4tomo

My littlest nipper has just moved up a bike, but is struggling to grip the brake lever as the reach is a bit too far for her little hands.

If I heated them up with a blow torch do you reckon they would bend in a bit, or would they just snap off?

Anyone tried?

I know this should probably go in workshop, but its a little quiet in there.

tgotb

What are they made of?
Carbon => No
Metal => No (how good is your blowtorch?)
Plastic => Possibly, but I wouldn't recommend it.

Can you find an alternate pair with less reach?

rick_chasey

You can get spacers for a smaller reach (usually)

Kieran_Burns

Erm - personally I'd get Social Services involved and you arrested for child cruelty, you b*stard.

Some people.....

Torvid

dont they make shim's you can put behind the leavers to move them closer for people with small hands?

First.Aspect

Don't do this. If the levers are weakened, the first you know of it might be when the brakes are used with any force. Not, in all likelihood, a good time to find out.

Instead, figure out a way to shim the brake levers, ie. adjust the brakes so that they bite when the levers are closer to the bars, and affix something to the body of the brake lever to prevent them from springing all of the way out. To get an idea of what I mean, look up how "reach adjustment" is achieved on things like Sram Force/Red levers.

graham.

Kieran_Burns wrote:

Erm - personally I'd get Social Services involved and you arrested for child cruelty, you b*stard.

Some people.....

Yes. I had to read it a couple of times.... a most disturbing image!
Graham.

ride_whenever

Assuming v-brake style levers.

There should be a little screw between the cable and the bars, this'll push the lever in. If it doesn't adjust enough then get a longer wood screw. You will need to losen the brakes a little bit.

If there isn't a screw, you could drill a small hole and fit one, have a chat to the guys in your lbs and they should be able to show you what i mean.

nickel

ride_whenever wrote:

Assuming v-brake style levers.

There should be a little screw between the cable and the bars, this'll push the lever in. If it doesn't adjust enough then get a longer wood screw. You will need to losen the brakes a little bit.

If there isn't a screw, you could drill a small hole and fit one, have a chat to the guys in your lbs and they should be able to show you what i mean.

Failing that these are decent levers with a reach adjust that wont brake the bank:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=22388

Cafewanda

Have a word with Islabikes as they make bikes for children/short adults.

www.islabikes.co.uk

t4tomo

ride_whenever wrote:

Assuming v-brake style levers.

There should be a little screw between the cable and the bars, this'll push the lever in. If it doesn't adjust enough then get a longer wood screw. You will need to losen the brakes a little bit.

If there isn't a screw, you could drill a small hole and fit one, have a chat to the guys in your lbs and they should be able to show you what i mean.

yep V brakes but as its a bit of a BSO, they haven't got the reach adjuster screws, which is a shame as they brakes don't need much travel

Will investigate shims or maybe I can use the levers off her old bike if they have enough grab.

What are they made of?
Carbon => No
Metal => No (how good is your blowtorch?)
Plastic => Possibly, but I wouldn't recommend it.

How many kids bikes come with carbon levers? Would I really suggest a blowtorch on plastic? Really some people shouldn't be let out during the week.

desweller

You can probably get new adjustable levers from Halfords for not a lot of money if you don't find a solution.

I wouldn't recommend bending the lever arms unless they're steel. If they're aluminium you'll risk setting them on fire; you'll definitely get a lot of oxidisation even if they don't actually ignite.