Campagnolo levers -- buttons too strong, springs too weak?

[Originally posted to rec.bicycles.misc by mistake]

I recently purchased a pair Campagnolo of ergopower levers, and have
found that the thumb-operated buttons are almost impossible to depress
-- they require a huge amount of force. Is there any way to adjust this?

Secondly, the return springs on these units are very weak. I am afraid
that, when installed, there will not be sufficent force to fully close
my bartop cross levers. The cross levers tend to open on their own due
to leverage from the cable housing. Is there any way I can increase the
spring tension or otherwise keep the cross levers closed?

Thanks,
-Mike

none wrote:
[Originally posted to rec.bicycles.misc by mistake]

I recently purchased a pair Campagnolo of ergopower levers, and have
found that the thumb-operated buttons are almost impossible to depress
-- they require a huge amount of force. Is there any way to adjust
this?

No, but they will wear in and become softer. And you'll be getting a very
misleading impression of the force required if the levers aren't fitted
yet. They're normally good in practice. The buttons can be wraped in
self-amalgamating rubber tape to provide some cushioning if you like,
though.

Secondly, the return springs on these units are very weak. I am afraid
that, when installed, there will not be sufficent force to fully close
my bartop cross levers. The cross levers tend to open on their own due
to leverage from the cable housing. Is there any way I can increase
the spring tension or otherwise keep the cross levers closed?

The Ergo brake lever relies on the *brake's* spring(s) to open it. If
these are not sufficient then perhaps you could modify your brake.

Cable routing will need to be done very carefully as well. Not too short
or long, etc.

~PB

Pete Biggs wrote:
none wrote:
No, but they will wear in and become softer.

Thanks -- I will wait until I've hooked them up on the bars properly
before I try them again.


The Ergo brake lever relies on the *brake's* spring(s) to open it. If
these are not sufficient then perhaps you could modify your brake.

I use cantiliver brakes; is there any simple way of doing this?

Thanks,
-Mike

none wrote:
[Originally posted to rec.bicycles.misc by mistake]

I recently purchased a pair Campagnolo of ergopower levers, and have
found that the thumb-operated buttons are almost impossible to depress
-- they require a huge amount of force. Is there any way to adjust this?

No but the srping in the ders will help to depress them. make sure they
are not 'fouled' by the hoods.

Secondly, the return springs on these units are very weak. I am afraid
that, when installed, there will not be sufficent force to fully close
my bartop cross levers. The cross levers tend to open on their own due
to leverage from the cable housing. Is there any way I can increase the
spring tension or otherwise keep the cross levers closed?

After having installed top levers with ERGO, haven't seen any issue. If
the brakes don't 'open' the brake levers, the brakes themselves are not
adjusted correctly.

none wrote:
Pete Biggs wrote:
none wrote:
No, but they will wear in and become softer.

Thanks -- I will wait until I've hooked them up on the bars properly
before I try them again.


The Ergo brake lever relies on the *brake's* spring(s) to open it. If
these are not sufficient then perhaps you could modify your brake.

I use cantiliver brakes; is there any simple way of doing this?

Thanks,
-Mike

Three holes under the brake boss on the frame? Put the spring end of
the brake in the top hole.

Qui si parla Campagnolo wrote:
Three holes under the brake boss on the frame? Put the spring end of
the brake in the top hole.

Thanks! I did not know about this.

-Mike

Qui si parla Campagnolo wrote:
I recently purchased a pair Campagnolo of ergopower levers, and have
found that the thumb-operated buttons are almost impossible to depress
-- they require a huge amount of force. Is there any way to adjust this?


No but the srping in the ders will help to depress them. make sure they
are not 'fouled' by the hoods.

What do you mean by 'fouled'?

Thanks,
-Mike

none wrote:
Qui si parla Campagnolo wrote:
I recently purchased a pair Campagnolo of ergopower levers, and have
found that the thumb-operated buttons are almost impossible to depress
-- they require a huge amount of force. Is there any way to adjust this?


No but the srping in the ders will help to depress them. make sure they
are not 'fouled' by the hoods.

What do you mean by 'fouled'?

Thanks,
-Mike

The Campagnolo Ergo rubber hood goes underneath the levers. There are
slits in the rubber hood for the thumb button to move up and down in.
And for the finger lever to move back and forth. Fouled would mean the
rubber hood is covering the path of the thumb button and finger lever
more than it should.

none wrote:
Qui si parla Campagnolo wrote:
I recently purchased a pair Campagnolo of ergopower levers, and have
found that the thumb-operated buttons are almost impossible to depress
-- they require a huge amount of force. Is there any way to adjust this?


No but the srping in the ders will help to depress them. make sure they
are not 'fouled' by the hoods.

What do you mean by 'fouled'?

Thanks,
-Mike

The slot in the hood for the thumb button needs to open so that the
thumb button is free to move up ad down. I see bartape stuck into that
slot and around the thumb button all the time. Why we charge to put on
bartape, seems nobody really knows how to do it.