Straightening bent clutch/brake levers

**Crasherfromwayback** · 9th November 2009, 17:11

Dunno about you guys/girls...but one of my pet peeves is bent levers on a bike. They pull in at a funny angle...they make the whole ride awkward and unpleasant. Sometimes even dangerous. So here's a tip for you..so you can straighten them rather than having to fork out for a (sometimes well expensive) new one.

The spares manager at work would choke if he saw this...but this is for the riders that simply can't afford a new one...and want it sorted until they can.

Acc levers are not covered by this tip...as the alloy they're made of is shite.

But I've NEVER snapped a genuine lever doing this. Some people recommend using heat. Bollocks. Do it cold.

Remove the lever (funnily enough)...place it on a solid bit of timber. Using a soft hammer/mallet...bash it back straight with a series of small hits rather than belting the fuck out of it.

Sorted. The bike is nicer to ride...and you've saved some serious coin.

As you were.

Pete

**Sidewinder** · 9th November 2009, 17:15

what are levers used for?

**Crasherfromwayback** · 9th November 2009, 17:35

Originally Posted by Sidewinder

what are levers used for?

Jamming your fingers to the bars when you bin it...so you can then grind ya fingers off.

**Trudes** · 9th November 2009, 17:36

I obviously must buy cheap shitty ones as mine always snap, bloody hell, I learnt to always have spares at the track otherwise it makes me a very sad little bucketer.

**sparkles** · 9th November 2009, 17:37

a hammer fixes every THING

**dogsnbikes** · 9th November 2009, 17:42

Straightened the daytona brake lever in a 3" vice it was more of a "you got nothing to loose" situation bugger me it worked

almost as good as new except for the gravel rash on the back of the knob

**slofox** · 9th November 2009, 17:49

Originally Posted by Crasherfromwayback

Dunno about you guys/girls...but one of my pet peeves is bent levers on a bike. They pull in at a funny angle...they make the whole ride awkward and unpleasant. Sometimes even dangerous. So here's a tip for you..so you can straighten them rather than having to fork out for a (sometimes well expensive) new one.

The spares manager at work would choke if he saw this...but this is for the riders that simply can't afford a new one...and want it sorted until they can.

Acc levers are not covered by this tip...as the alloy they're made of is shite.

But I've NEVER snapped a genuine lever doing this. Some people recommend using heat. Bollocks. Do it cold.

Remove the lever (funnily enough)...place it on a solid bit of timber. Using a soft hammer/mallet...bash it back straight with a series of small hits rather than belting the fuck out of it.

Sorted. The bike is nicer to ride...and you've saved some serious coin.

As you were.

Pete

Damn - I ordered such an one this morning...why didnya post this yesterday?

Actually one of my customers has got the bent one sorted for me today anyway - him being an engineering sorta type.

Good advice for next time anyway, Pete - thanks.

**Shadows** · 9th November 2009, 20:41

Originally Posted by dogsnbikes

almost as good as new except for the gravel rash on the back of the knob

Shit that sounds painful

**slofox** · 10th November 2009, 10:20

Originally Posted by Shadows

Shit that sounds painful

It is...DAMHIKT....

**fusquisat** · 13th November 2009, 07:41

I accept with infomation: Dunno about you guys/girls...but one of my pet peeves is bent levers on a bike. They pull in at a funny angle...they make the whole ride awkward and unpleasant. Sometimes even dangerous. So here's a tip for you..so you can straighten them rather than having to fork out for a (sometimes well expensive) new one.

**vifferman** · 13th November 2009, 09:01

[QUOTE=dogsnbikes;1129504703... almost as good as new except for the gravel rash on the back of the knob

[/QUOTE]
Fixable.
I've done a couple: just use a fine file to get rid of the scrapes and restore it to a more normal shape, then follow up with sandpaper. Depending on how badly scraped it is, it may not end up looking like new, but at least it will be barely noticeable.

**Shadows** · 13th November 2009, 09:50

Originally Posted by fusquisat

I accept with infomation: Dunno about you guys/girls...but one of my pet peeves is bent levers on a bike. They pull in at a funny angle...they make the whole ride awkward and unpleasant. Sometimes even dangerous. So here's a tip for you..so you can straighten them rather than having to fork out for a (sometimes well expensive) new one.

That's what he said.

**MSTRS:Me** · 13th November 2009, 10:40

Originally Posted by dogsnbikes

...gravel rash on the back of the knob

Originally Posted by Shadows

Shit that sounds painful

Originally Posted by vifferman

Fixable.
I've done a couple: just use a fine file to get rid of the scrapes and restore it to a more normal shape, then follow up with sandpaper. Depending on how badly scraped it is, it may not end up looking like new, but at least it will be barely noticeable.

Sounds like more pain. I find that if you apply the right salve and leave it alone...