I bought this bike for my wife and the cable hanger is in the stem. I want to raise the handlebars but it pulls up the brakes. Before I start taking stuff apart, does anyone has some insight? Is it as simple has removing an inch or so of the cable housing? Super novice over here!
by cooker_86er
4 Comments
Would be easier to just get a new brake cable and learn how to install it with a YouTube video. It’s pretty simple, you’ll need some strong cable cutters to cut the cable to length.
Just unclamp the cable at the brake and reattach it closer to the end, you should have enough slack.
If you want to be safe just swap out the cable entirely, they are incredibly cheap but I wouldn’t cut the housing as it looks like it has the perfect gradual bend. Any more might create strain in the cable but if it feels like you can cut it, that would work perfectly fine
Your brake cable/stradle has enough length to loosen the cable pinch bolt and raise the stem. Please take note that ALL threaded stems have a MINIMUM insertion. Do NOT exceed that mark. (Ok.. P.S.A. over with)
If you happen to need more height from the cable or notice the brake cable has frayed , just go ahead and replace the cable. Well worth the $5.
While you are adjusting the stem, go ahead and apply fresh grease to the wedge nut and stem bolt threads for good measure. Keep in mind that the stem bolt had a pretty good torque value. 18Nm is about average.
BTW, that’s a good looking ride ya got there.
Sorry if this was already mentioned but another idea is to get a cantilever brake hanger that’s separate from the stem.
The most common option clamps onto the threaded stem neck atop the headset lock nut – but this is dependent on the hanger clamp size matching the outer diameter of the of the stems for 1 1/8 in threaded headsets, and this bike might have the old 1 in standard.
I also saw another option that threaded into the fork crown hole.
The advantage in performing this conversion is that as you are trying to figure out what is comfortable for your wife, you can adjust stem height, even swap out the stem for a shorter one, and the brakes will be unaffected.
Cool bike!