how to centre ad 990?

[alltalk]

Sorry for being dumb
can't find any info on how to centre these things
first time I've used u brakes - always used normal calipers before
they're 996 fiesta if it makes a difference
thought I had it cracked but now one side is always at the rim

cheers

Martin

[TwoBobRob]

It's all about the spring tension buddy   


All you need to do is hold the outer nut with a 13mm (i think) spanner, rotate it toward the tyre so it brings the pad off the rim. 1/8th to 1/4 turn is all you need. Hold that postion with the spanner, and lock off the centre bolt with the 5mm allen you're holding in your other hand   

Repeat for t'other side.  Be aware that the springs are different colours, as they are wound in opposite directions....

Hope that helps   

[alltalk]

thanks for that
I think I might not have loosened the allen bolt enough before I adjusted

I can't have been so stupid as get the springs mixed up ............ could I?
was messing with a few different sets when I built the bike......nah....couldn't be THAT stupid     

[TwoBobRob]

The centre bolt just needs to be cracked off, so that the adjuster nut can freely rotate.

As for mixing the springs up, yeah. It happens to all of us 

I think  (my bikes in the garage and I can't be arsed to go and look),  as you look down on the brake the gold spring is the left spring.  I'm sure you'll see a pic elswhere in this section, AD setup has been discussed before.

By the way, if the springs are buckled out of shape  (due to overadjustment usually) then they're scrap really. You can get new ones from Billys. 

[perry]

go for as little spring tension as you can for a nicer feel at the lever

mates back in the day would crank them right round  it was like a full on forearm workout

[JT71]

yep just a quarter turn. I got advice on setting my Hombre up from twobob and he was spot on. 

[alltalk]

done it!
the spring was bent out of shape like you said - I had another though luckily
adjusted perfect

thank you very much for the help

[subversion]

it was like a full on forearm workout

Like when the wifes out?

[perry]

exactly 

[pickle]

aint got a clue what you two are on about 

[perry]

getting our spanners out and twisting some nuts 

i always put plenty of lube on the posts too 

[TwoBobRob]

done it!
the spring was bent out of shape like you said - I had another though luckily
adjusted perfect

thank you very much for the help