Brakes

[Stripes]

Hi guys
My wife has just purchased a new Dutch style bicycle with a poor instructions manual
In putting the bike together all is okay until we test brakes...... Back brakes are fine though on compression of front brake there is no grip at all and pads are not touching rim.
Last bike I had I tried to fix same issue and messed up my braking system
So I'm asking please for help as to how to adjust pads and brakes properly as to not mess up my wife's pride and joy.
Any help would be brilliant

 

[Spiderweb]

Pictures would be good but it sounds as though you need a lot more tension in the brake cable. The brake cable clamp may not have been tightened up fully therefore the cable has just pulled through.

 

[Globalti]

What bike is it? Is there a website? What about a picture?

 

[raleighnut]

Picture needed.

 

[Stripes]

Pictures would be good but it sounds as though you need a lot more tension in the brake cable. The brake cable clamp may not have been tightened up fully therefore the cable has just pulled through.

Hi Spiderweb, thanks for replying
I have attached some pics which I hope may help and one of the pics I've compressed brakes as well.
Hope these are what you are looking for

Pictures would be good but it sounds as though you need a lot more tension in the brake cable. The brake cable clamp may not have been tightened up fully therefore the cable has just pulled through.

Hi spiderweb, have attached some pics. Hope they help

 

[Stripes]

What bike is it? Is there a website? What about a picture?

Hiya,
Attached a pic
It's a Viking Heritage

 

[Stripes]

Picture needed.

Picture attached friend

 

[Spiderweb]

It does look like lack of cable tension. Loosen the Allan key bolt to the cable clamp, grip the cable with some pliers, pull through about 10mm of cable and tighten the clamp see how that is.

 

[Stripes]

It does look like lack of cable tension. Loosen the Allan key bolt to the cable clamp, grip the cable with some pliers, pull through about 10mm of cable and tighten the clamp see how that is.

Brilliant I'll give that a go.
Many thanks mate

 

[Tim Hall]

Whilst I admire your have a go attitude, having to ask what looks like a fairly basic question in relation to a safety critical piece of kit is a bit worrying. I'd suggest taking it to a bike shop, handing over some money, and getting them to do it.

 

[raleighnut]

Brilliant I'll give that a go.
Many thanks mate

See where the kink in the cable is, that's where it should be (and probably was) tightened.

 

[Globalti]

The left hand arm looks worryingly far out compared to the RH arm, which looks kind of vertical. Pulling the cable tight might bring them more or less parallel again as long as the spring tensions are equal.

 

[I like Skol]

Before you do anything may I suggest you put some nuts on the front axle to stop the wheel falling out! I also second the recommendation that you allow someone with a bit of safety critical knowledge give the bike a check over before letting your wife ride it (unless she is well insured ).

 

[raleighnut]

^^^^^^^+1

 

[Stripes]

Before you do anything may I suggest you put some nuts on the front axle to stop the wheel falling out! I also second the recommendation that you allow someone with a bit of safety critical knowledge give the bike a check over before letting your wife ride it (unless she is well insured ).

View attachment 341020

Haha....You spotted my deliberate mistake......I have to keep everyone on cycle chat on their toes.
Honestly though I had just removed the nuts prior to the pictures to to take her basket off.....And yes she is very well insured but the thought has never came into my mind