ibs_m Posted April 13, 2010 Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 Just got new hope front brake - x2 and the lever is so sharp that when I pull it back it presses my finger on the bar and cuts the skin! Does anybody else have this problem and whats the best solution. So far I have resorted to taping a rubber thimble onto the lever so it stops cutting me - but its uncomfortable to pull on. Any suggestions? Can it be filed down without damaging it? Ibs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borat Posted April 13, 2010 Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 Give it a couple of days and this will happen: http://www.trials-forum.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=150639 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dale-Hill Posted April 13, 2010 Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 Run the lever a bit further out so it doesn't come to the bar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibs_m Posted April 13, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 Give it a couple of days and this will happen: http://www.trials-forum.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=150639 HAHA - I cant believe that - that is the exact same lever to mine!!! I knew it was f'king sharp!! Run the lever a bit further out so it doesn't come to the bar? I have tried - its as far in as it will go because its an oversized bar... Any other ideas?? Cheers Ibs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rowlly21 Posted April 13, 2010 Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 Give it a couple of days and this will happen: http://www.trials-forum.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=150639 thats horrible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cahill Trials Kid Posted April 13, 2010 Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 so its like when your pressing your brake the lever is cutting the fingurs thaa are on the bar ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibs_m Posted April 13, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 so its like when your pressing your brake the lever is cutting the fingurs thaa are on the bar ?? Exactly, I have played with the reach adjust to stop it getting as close as my fingers but it still hits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muel Posted April 13, 2010 Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 It's way too close in if it's hitting your finger, at full squeeze it should be at least three quarters of an inch away to get the full power out of the finger. Screw the lever adjuster much further out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike425 Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 I've had it with some new hopes where this happens, the lever adjust doesn't quite stop it further enough away from the bars. I have sorted it previously by adding more fluid into the brake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cahill Trials Kid Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 Exactly, I have played with the reach adjust to stop it getting as close as my fingers but it still hits. You shoud'nt be able to pull the leaver that far down at all, i would try re bleeding it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dErZ Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 Does the brake actually work? sounds to me like there is not enough fluid in the sytem or there is air in there. Time for a top up and bleed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Foamoi Refresher Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 wrap a plaster around the lever? and, move the lever further away from your hand, so if its your right hand lever, move the lever to the left, so that when your braking, your finger is right on the edge of the lever blade . . . . . has always worked for me, as i have been a long time sufferer of the same problem, oh, and get some gloves?? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Vandart Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 (edited) This is the exact reason why I was selling mine, it really pissed me off, that and the spongy feel of the lever. However as I have busted my ankle and had loads of time on my hands I decided to have a go at remedying the situation. The history of my experience with these levers and why they were pissing me off: 1st I bled them Then my mate Nick (Citech mechanic) bled them Then I took them to a bike shop and got a trained technician to bleed them, 2 of them had a go. I then decided that it was just that the lever design was bollox so I put them up for sale. Then I busted mt ankle and thought, surely this can't be right, I'm gonna get to the bottom of this. So what I did was:- I bled the brakes with standard mini levers. I pumped the pistons till they were working perfectly with these levers. I then disconnected the hose and taped it vertically on the bars to stop oil coming out. I took off the old lever and mounted the new (tech) lever to the bar. I bled the lever itself by blocking the hole at the end of the cylinder with my finger on the return stroke, this took a good few slow pumps till all the air was out of the lever. With the reservoir topped up and the lever held OUT I quickly took my finger off the end of the cylinder screwed the fitting on whilst very slowly pushing the lever in so there was a constant drip of oil coming out of the end of the cylinder till I had fully tightened the fitting with a spanner. I topped the level up again, tapped the reservoir lightly with the end of the 8mm spanner whilst quickly pumping the lever in small movements (less than half travel) to encourage any bubbles trapped in the res to migrate to the surface and then rolled the diaphragm on and buttoned up the cap. This worked perfectly with BOTH my levers and now they are seriously loverly. These levers are a ball ache to bleed and I don't care who comes on and says they are not, they got lucky. Edited April 14, 2010 by Matt Vandart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dErZ Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Sounds like a right pain in the arse but you got there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Vandart Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 It was! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Burrows Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 There is a pocket in the lever that can trap air because of the flip-flop design. You need to keep them pointing down at a 45 degree angle when bleeding which makes things a bit tricky. Even when bled perfectly they are still a spongey lever compared to the old one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Vandart Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 There is a pocket in the lever that can trap air because of the flip-flop design. You need to keep them pointing down at a 45 degree angle when bleeding which makes things a bit tricky. Even when bled perfectly they are still a spongey lever compared to the old one. Agree with the first bit. Used to agree with the second bit. Mine are now supper solid, like a well bled maggie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibs_m Posted April 15, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2010 Cheers for these tips guys - im not sure what im gonna do but ill try and avoid bleeding as its brand new. Cheers Ibs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark W Posted April 15, 2010 Report Share Posted April 15, 2010 Agree with the first bit. Used to agree with the second bit. Mine are now supper solid, like a well bled maggie. I still don't really get how they're that tricky to bleed - Ali did mine first go with a perfect bleed when I first got my Tech lever. Gives a nice solid lever feel too on the back, and the extra adjustment is pretty sweet... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Vandart Posted April 16, 2010 Report Share Posted April 16, 2010 Maybe he got lucky, like I did with the first one I had, or maybe Ali's just very good at his job. I'm no novice at bleeding hydraulic systems, bike brakes, motorbike brakes, car brakes, industrial applications you name it I've done it in vast quantities and it isn't rocket science. These brake levers are just harder to bleed than the previous levers thats all, simple as that. As Mark says once they are bled properly they are epic and the BPA and reach dials are very handy if a bit vulnerable to damage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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