The BSA A7-A10 Forum

Technical (Descriptive Topic Titles - Stay on Topic) => Frame => Topic started by: brissy_bsa on 26.01. 2014 12:26

Title: Front brake cable
Post by: brissy_bsa on 26.01. 2014 12:26
Hi Everyone,
I am hoping someone can tell me the exact length/part # for the front brake cable on a 1951 a10 Plunger? Regards Ian
Title: Re: Front brake cable
Post by: muskrat on 26.01. 2014 19:11
G'day Ian.
A10 cable is 67-8610, the A7 is 65-8675
I didn't realize they were different. Now I'll have to find out why.
Cheers
Title: Re: Front brake cable
Post by: Beezageezauk on 26.01. 2014 19:35
Hi Musky,

It might be something to do with the A10 having an 8inch brake and an A7 having a 7inch.....only guessing!!

Sorry I can't answer the original question Ian.

Beezageezauk.
Title: Re: Front brake cable
Post by: trevinoz on 26.01. 2014 20:06
Probably an academic question, it depends on which handlebars you use.

Trev.
Title: Re: Front brake cable
Post by: muskrat on 26.01. 2014 20:27
Just measured my '51's. 2'10" outer, + 6" of inner.
Cheers
Title: Re: Front brake cable
Post by: Triton Thrasher on 26.01. 2014 20:50
Whatever you buy won't fit.
Title: Re: Front brake cable
Post by: brissy_bsa on 26.01. 2014 21:15
Thanks everyone, I will need to check this out. The cable I was using was almost impossible to get the right tension setup on the front brakes...
I just finished a complete rebuild after a seizing a timing side bush :-( Shall post some pictures some time today.
Title: Re: Front brake cable
Post by: gary on 09.04. 2021 17:01
i am running into same problem my 51 did not have front brake cable purchased one from baxter and i measured mine and is about one and a quarter inches to long with measurements muskrat gave cable itself is forty one and a quarter.
Title: Re: Front brake cable
Post by: Rex on 09.04. 2021 17:45
The inner is 1 1/4" too long, or the cable itself is 1 1/4" too long?
Time to fire up the soldering iron and remake the end.
Title: Re: Front brake cable
Post by: mikeb on 10.04. 2021 01:44
Rex - obviously an option tho gets me anxious soldering a brake cable. if a throttle cable breaks it can spoil your day, but if a brake cable breaks it can spoil your life. Ian if you do solder it, at least clean it very well, make a decent 'birds nest' and use a hard solder (silver solder).
for minor front brake cable length problems I've used additional cable tensioners and spacers to avoid soldering.
Title: Re: Front brake cable
Post by: Rex on 10.04. 2021 08:53
I've never hard soldered a cable, but then I've never used a blow torch when soldering a cable either. A 75W electric iron is more than sufficient.
Spotless cleanliness, a good flux and a well-flared cable end...all absolutely essential.
As over-the-counter cables never seem to fit either well or at all, it's a worthwhile skill to learn. Nothing worse than seeing a new cable with it's adjuster would out to it's max in an attempt to make it work.
Title: Re: Front brake cable
Post by: KiwiGF on 10.04. 2021 09:01
Rex - obviously an option tho gets me anxious soldering a brake cable. if a throttle cable breaks it can spoil your day, but if a brake cable breaks it can spoil your life. Ian if you do solder it, at least clean it very well, make a decent 'birds nest' and use a hard solder (silver solder).
for minor front brake cable length problems I've used additional cable tensioners and spacers to avoid soldering.

Wouldn’t hard solder result in an annealed cable? I use plain old (soft) plumbers solder and flux, and a gas torch, it would have to be pretty high wattage electric iron to do the job.

The secret to making a good brake cable is to use the proper materials and properly splay the ends of the wire into the recess provided in the fitting, or make a “birds nest” as mikeb said, also as mikeb said this is not a job to take on lightly, it would be best to have someone with experience show you how to do it first.

The spline the brake lever is fitted onto affects the length of inner “showing’ and is a reason cables often won’t fit without modification.

Another tip, use a dremel with cutting disc to cut inners and outers. It does a great job.
Title: Re: Front brake cable
Post by: Rex on 10.04. 2021 10:01
it would have to be pretty high wattage electric iron to do the job.

75W is 75W and even that can get the nipple hotter than it needs to be. I guess we all have our own pet way of doing things.
Regarding the idea of "knowing what you're doing" that applies to many aspects of bike mechanics, but most of us seem happy to trust our own skills to a greater or lesser extent.
Title: Re: Front brake cable
Post by: terryg on 10.04. 2021 10:40
https://www.a7a10.net/forum/index.php?topic=15166.msg127608#msg127608

Some useful relevant information in the above thread, I thought.
Title: Re: Front brake cable
Post by: mikeb on 10.04. 2021 10:57
Kiwi - i use a 70W soldering iron that adjusted to about 450-480F which melts silver solder well. not a torch. its only needs to be a little hotter than the lead/tin melting point.
each to their own, as they see the risks and benefits, be it soldering cables or winding out adjusters
Title: Re: Front brake cable
Post by: berger on 10.04. 2021 11:16
haha  Rex  "knowing what you're doing" this doesn't apply to me when i'm working on the yonda *whistle* *bash*