Powabike Brakes

[Del 80]

Hello, I have a Powacycle Salisbury, on which the back brake is binding slightly, obviously there must be a spring to keep the calipers open when brakes are not applied, before I dismantle this, does anyone have any tips or hints [don't want springs flying all over] any help appreciated, Del.

 

[neptune]

Can you please tell us what type of brakes you have, Vee brakes, disc, or some kind of hub brake?

 

[Del 80]

Neptune, just ordinary brakes, two blocks that that go onto wheel rim, it says ''Wuxing'' on the brake levers, presumably that is the maker. Del

 

[flecc]

It's V brakes on the Salisbury.

 

[neptune]

Ok. It sounds like you have Vee brakes. On these, as the cable enters the brake , the inner wire passes through a curved metal tube called a "noodle". Does this sound like your brakes. Proceed as follows. squeeze the 2 calliper levers together, and at the lower end of the noodle, disengage the cable inner wire from its slot . This will allow the calliper arms to move apart. Using an allen key, remove the bolt on one of the calliper pivot points. Gently pull the arm from its pivot about 2 mm. You will see a spring protruding from the arm and engaging in a hole in a small plate welded to the frame. Often there are 3 holes. Note which hole is used. Carefully remove the arm, and clean and grease the pivot. Now do the other side. There are often 2 ways to adjust spring tension. One is to move the spring end to a different hole . Some brakes have a screw on the outside of the arm near the pivot . Tighten to increase tension.
Also note that poor cable routing near the noodle can pull the brake onto one side of the wheel . Hope this helps.

 

[Del 80]

Thanks Neptune and flecc, did what you said Neptune, step by step, no problem..........except no spring !! think someone has tried to fix it before, and has lost it, temporary repair with cable tie until I can get spring, any suggestions ? Halfords maybe ? Del.

 

[neptune]

I think it unlikely that Halfords can help, but ask anyway. Are both springs missing? I am not certain that all brands use the same spring. Your best bet could be an old established bike shop, that has a scrap heap/junk pile. Or your local guy who sells bikes from his drive. Look under electric bikes on Ebay, you sometimes see a pair of brake arms for sale. I suspect that all Vee brakes use the same diameter pivot, but flecc is more likely to know for sure. In the old days before all this Health and Safety BS, you could have got what you needed from the dump, or scrapyard.Maybe one of our members can help?

 

[Del 80]

Just the right hand side missing Neptune, we have a bike shop here in Grantham, so will try there tomorrow, Iv'e seen a lot of mountain bikes with similar looking brakes, as you say they may all use the same components, true what you say about H&S B.S...... Del.

 

[flecc]

The pivot posts do change, Shimano typically doing their own thing with different diameters and depths from many others.

 

[Del 80]

flecc, yes I expected as much, I shall shop around and see what I can find, temporary repair [cable tie] doing the job at moment, but want to have it ''right''.......Del.

 

[flecc]

As Neptune says, a local "old-fashioned" bike shop will almost certainly have the answer.

 

[Del 80]

Neptune, this would'nt be anything to do with brakes would it ? the chap I bought bike from gave me it, but did'nt know what it was for, I'm assuming you mean a coiled spring, and I can't see anything like this on the other side, or on the front brakes, just a thought....Del

 

[neptune]

To be honest, I have no idea what that bit is. The spring in question will be a coil spring of probably 3 or 4 turns, that works by torsion or twisting rather than by stretching or compression. You may need to take the spring from the other side with you when you go searching. Note carefully how it fits into the caliper arm before extracting it . I am not sure if these springs come in right hand and left hand versions, or if the same type fits either side.

 

[HD462]

View attachment 3712 Neptune, this would'nt be anything to do with brakes would it ? the chap I bought bike from gave me it, but did'nt know what it was for, I'm assuming you mean a coiled spring, and I can't see anything like this on the other side, or on the front brakes, just a thought....Del

Is that the full item, or is that just one side of it, with a mirror image out of shot? Just thinking it looks a bit like the spring used on the old caliper brakes which you don't see much now.

 

[Del 80]

HD462, That is the complete item, I agree it does look like a spring from caliper brakes, but it does'nt match anything else on this bike, bit of a mystery.......Del.

 

[Del 80]

Neptune, the chap also gave me this, again dunno what it is, I wonder if someone has tried to fix brakes with these components,and given up, leaving them behind, there is no way this fits anything, any suggestions as to what it is ?......Del

 

[neptune]

Sorry old chap, i have really no idea, but it doesn`t look like a bike part to me. I think it might be one of those thingies used to hang a peg bag on the washing line, so you can use both hands to put the clothes on the line before you peg them. I bet his wife is still wondering where it went!

 

[Del 80]

You know I thought it looked familiar, you could well be right, ahh well bike shop at weekend, thanks Neptune.....Del

 

[HD462]

Getting back to the original spring we think you're missing. From the description earlier, it sounds like it maybe one of these. By choosing a different hole of the three holes on the bracket on your frame, you can wind the spring up a little more putting more tension on it, and therefore increasing the force it returns the brake with:

 

[neptune]

@Mark. Those look like the ones . The problem is that I am not sure if they are available as a separate item.There is a pair on Ebay. Search for Powabyke Euro Brake Arms by seller Raywilliamsmotorcycles. These are not for your bike of course, but the powabyke Euro. Will they fit? I have a Powabyke Euro, and if you get stuck , send me the length and diameter of your pivot posts. Having thought about it the two springs shown above are identical, and would fit only the left side of a rear brake . So the brake takes two different handed springs which are not interchangeable.