Shimano br-r550 cantilevers - what a drag!

On Dec 9, 10:02*am, AMuzi wrote:
JG wrote:
I decided my vintage MAFAC's needed an update and the Shimano BR-
R550's looked like the ticket. *Beautifully polished, and the cables
all tuck neatly. *So I picked up a pair in great condition with
KoolStop pads off of eBay, and...
Argh! they will fit which was my big worry, but there's no way the
spring will put any tension on the calipers and I only have one hole
in my vintage bosses...They are utterly useless and I suspect the new
models won't work with the traditional dimensions either...
JG

I'm not sure I understand but modern Shimano cantilevers
observe Mafac's classic mounting dimensions and work quite
well. Modern designs assume teflon lined casings and so have
a softer return spring.


*SNIP*

Modern designs also assume a return spring in the lever.

Hank wrote:
On Dec 9, 10:02 am, wrote:
JG wrote:
I decided my vintage MAFAC's needed an update and the Shimano BR-
R550's looked like the ticket. Beautifully polished, and the cables
all tuck neatly. So I picked up a pair in great condition with
KoolStop pads off of eBay, and...
Argh! they will fit which was my big worry, but there's no way the
spring will put any tension on the calipers and I only have one hole
in my vintage bosses...They are utterly useless and I suspect the new
models won't work with the traditional dimensions either...
JG

I'm not sure I understand but modern Shimano cantilevers
observe Mafac's classic mounting dimensions and work quite
well. Modern designs assume teflon lined casings and so have
a softer return spring.


*SNIP*

Modern designs also assume a return spring in the lever.

True, and that helps much more than people might think.

--
- Frank Krygowski