Shimano R-505 (105) hydro levers and BR785 calipers

imposter2.0

Anyone got any workshop experience of these? I need to shorten the hoses and maybe bleed the fluid afterwards. I'm assuming it would make more sense to shorten the hoses at the caliper end, rather than mess about with the levers and covers?

Any help much appreciated...

ugo.santalucia

The opposite. If you shorten at the lever, you normally don't need to bleed... never done it on road levers though... on MTB levers is straightforward

imposter2.0

Agree it's certainly easier on MTBs to shorten at the lever - not sure if the same is true of the 505 road levers though, given that the hoses will be routed under the bar tape, under the hood covers, etc..

ugo.santalucia

I suspect the amount of road-hydraulic fettlers is minute and you'll probably have to find out for yourself. ATM road hydraulic seems a premium product fitted on mamils sportive type bikes.

If it's only a matter of removing tape and hoods, I would rather avoid having to bleed the system, but if it's technically challenging, then probably best to play it safe. Any help on youtube?

Alternatively try asking in the cyclocross section, where there are a few fettlers

frisbee

The dealer's manual is pretty good:

http://si.shimano.com/#models/2999

You are supposed to use a new olive and connector insert.

Possibly some shenanigans going on with easy hose joint systems somehow being built into the lever?

ugo.santalucia

frisbee wrote:

The dealer's manual is pretty good:

http://si.shimano.com/#models/2999

You are supposed to use a new olive and connector insert.

Possibly some shenanigans going on with easy hose joint systems somehow being built into the lever?

The reason you need a new olive is that the old one gets jammed in the cable and it's not easy to remove it... if you don't remove the olive, you can't remove the barbed connector. I think they cost a pound or two, so not a big issue

bbrap

I've done it when changing from BR-RS785 to RS505 flat mounts (I have ST R785 hydro levers). You do need a new olive and insert as removing the old insert without damaging it is nigh on impossible. I just chopped the hose to the required length at the caliper end and put in the new insert. On a road system you need to untape and re-tape the bars if you try and do it at the lever end, and it is still likely you will need to bleed afterwards anyway.