As a general rule, it's easy to tell what sort of kit one has if it's Campy, say - items more often than not have the groupset marked on them somewhere and then the generation is determined by the number of speeds if it's transmission. But how do I identify Shimano's products? Is there a general rule that anyone is aware of? For example do they stamp a relevant serial number anywhere? I use a lot of second-hand equipment and when I find an item I particularly like, I would like to find out more about it. Sometimes it can be difficult.
A recent example is this dual pivot brake from Shimano. It's rather good and so I've popped it onto my Moulton, which came with a plain-vanilla OEM jobbie... All it says is 'Shimano'.
picture of a brake
and another
...and another
one more
& one for luck.
S
(on the look out for Armageddon, on board a Brompton nano & ever-changing Moultons)
That looks like a Shimano long reach non series calliper. Possibly BR R600/650. Non series (non groupset) components are generally thought to be around Ultergra quality.
It should have a model number stamped on it somewhere.
EDIT - Eagle-eyed readers will have noticed that the pads are assembled incorrectly for a front brake. They should be the other way round, with the tell-tale pad-retention button screw at back...
S
(on the look out for Armageddon, on board a Brompton nano & ever-changing Moultons)
I've always found Campag stuff harder to identify than Shimano stuff, which does usually have a code stamped somewhere. I've acquired a lot of old Campag mechs and chainsets and have no idea with many of them whether they're 8/9/10 speed......
Steve wrote: ↑10 Feb 2022, 1:27pm
I've always found Campag stuff harder to identify than Shimano stuff, which does usually have a code stamped somewhere. I've acquired a lot of old Campag mechs and chainsets and have no idea with many of them whether they're 8/9/10 speed......
True.
What we need is the bike product equivalent to facial recognition software.
The older I get the more I’m inclined to act my shoe size, not my age.
Yes, I rather regret typing my opening claim that Campy stuff was easy to identify - especially having had no end of trouble working out exactly which 10 speed brifters I actually had! It was only with asistance from sundry Campag. experts on this very forum that I was able to identify the shifter and its matching parts list in order to reassemble the ratchet, about 18 months ago...
S
(on the look out for Armageddon, on board a Brompton nano & ever-changing Moultons)
TheBomber wrote: ↑10 Feb 2022, 2:52pm
Now you have it installed you need to remove that bit of black protective tape. It’s in The Rules, or should be .
Careful, Simon will be asking how to remove the sticky residue next.
Try WD40
Peugeot 531 pro, Dawes Discovery Tandem, Dawes Kingpin X2, Raleigh 20 stowaway X2, 1965 Moulton deluxe, Falcon K2 MTB dropped bar tourer, Rudge Bi frame folder, Longstaff trike conversion on a Giant XTC 840, Giant Bowery, Apollo transition.
Shimano is absolutely the best manufacturer for easy and exact identification of its products! Almost every single Shimano component will have a product code stamped somewhere on it. There are a very few smaller parts that don't but I can't remember what they are. No messing about you'll know exactly what you've got, what you need and can access compatibility tables etc. Campanolo you're looking at names and shape of various components to try to get the model and year down. Various SRAM/FSA components can be a bloody nightmare with inadequate marking to differentiate between years slightly different specs and variations of the same named component, with documentation that doesn't help the process.
All brake calipers inspected, tape (not put there by me, mind) picked off and sticky residues removed... see how much I take your comments to heart?? Funnily enough, as far as I could see, none of the tape was situated anywhere where any rubbing could actually take place!
S
(on the look out for Armageddon, on board a Brompton nano & ever-changing Moultons)
simonineaston wrote: ↑10 Feb 2022, 4:45pm Funnily enough, as far as I could see, none of the tape was situated anywhere where any rubbing could actually take place!
It is not to protect against rubbing in use but when fresh, new, spring relaxed before fitting. It is probably the quick release nut that will sit against that tape.
Makes some sense, that ttn... what makes less sense is that previous owner appear to have replaced the non-sticky plastic film square that I guess was there for the reason you outline above, with a piece of tacky, hairy, rough-cut duck tape, presumably thinking that it would do some, unspecified, good.
There is none now.
S
(on the look out for Armageddon, on board a Brompton nano & ever-changing Moultons)
As an aside, the OEM brake removed when replacing it with the Shimano brake turned out to have a short centre bolt, identifying it as intended for rear fitment. Having added a steel loop to mount my B&M front lamp, this meant that the nut was rotating onto the bolt by 4 turns only, which is less than 4mm. On reflection I don't think that was enough and given the disaster that could result from a front brake working loose and coming free, I'm now super-glad I replaced it with the Shimano brake complete with its 70mm centre bolt.
It may be that without the extra depth put in place by the B&M lamp loop, the brake was secure enough, even though using a short centre bolt, however it's not unlikely that other folk may use the same way of mounting their front lamps and I don't think 4mm is enough thread to secure the brake properly.
S
(on the look out for Armageddon, on board a Brompton nano & ever-changing Moultons)
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