Dirty old lever content...

[midschooljon]

Just following on from Dans platform DB thread (I didnt want to hijack that) I have heard a bunch of people over the last few years say that non locking tech 77's werent available in the 90's. However, to cut a long story short, in 97 I bought a 2nd hand 94 MK3 Holmes. This lever was on the bike when I bought it, and I have owned it ever since. When I originally got it the lever was in rather nice condition, but over the years it has had heavy use, including having the blade bent within an inch of its life during the "narrow bar years".

Anyway, as you can see from the pics it is a Japan stamped tech 77, and as you can see it is a non locking lever model. Even though I have owned the lever since 97, as I got it 2nd hand I have no idea how old it really is. If anyone knows how to accurately date it please let me know. I tried to take a pic of the numbers stamped on the blade but can hardly make them out. I think it says 9491 but have no idea if that even relates to years made.

 

[gary4130]

yeah got one of those myself jon,not sure of date -will have a look 
didn't they call this verson the 'race' lever 
remember DMC rider with a pair of non locking levers when he rode a black GT-will look for this pic also 

[Adam Dawson]

they have always had non locking tech 77s.  the decal would just say "dia compe"

date codes are on the lever near the where it bolts to the body. pull the lever back and you will see a date code 

[fugazi]

I bought a few pairs of non locking 77's throughout the 90's as well, so they were about 
Does anybody know when they started making them in Taiwan? Late 90's?

[nosepickben]

Nice one Jon, i didn't doubt their existence, it's just that they were thin on the ground. We had to use what we could get and what we could afford in those days!!

[boofy44]

i believe they switched to Taiwan as early as 1992 from something i read in an old BMX Plus.

[Dannywhac]

Nice one Jon, i didn't doubt their existence, it's just that they were thin on the ground. We had to use what we could get and what we could afford in those days!!

Exactly that for me n'all - you couldn't get the non-locking for love nor money in East Yorkshire in the 90's. Got my first pair I didn't have to belt the locks out of from Hot Wheels in 1997.

[Adam Dawson]

it was late 90s they went to taiwan. like 98 or so.

[Gary72]

it was late 90s they went to taiwan. like 98 or so.

Is this correct? If so I won't need to track down a Japan stamped lever for a post 2000 build

[ED209]

Just seen a Trick Stuff in BMX plus from Jan 1989

Shows Tech77s available with or without locking buttons :-)