How To Adjust Spring Tension On Dia Compe Cantilever Brakes

I show how to adjust the spring tension on Dia Compe cantilever brakes. Most cantilever brakes have a little part of the spring that sticks out the back and fits into one of the holes in the boss. But Dia Compe cantilever brakes may only have one side that uses the holes in the boss, or on neither side. They have something call a spring block. The spring is inside the brake. Just watch the video. It is easier to show you then to describe. The bike is a 1998 Cannondale H500.
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[@RJTheBikeGuy]

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[@swingout201]

Thank you. I tried for hours to make the tension spring fit into the bosses on the forks. Now I know it doesn't have to! Saved once again by your expert knowledge.

[@US4Sam]

Had exactly the same thinking :D

[@killer_subzero1116]

I know this a old videl but thank you for making this i have a 94 cannondale and i was like wtf why are the brakes not working. Lol. Thank u again.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Yeah, these brakes are weird.

[@clemv104]

Very useful. One thing to add: I couldn't get the return spring to work on the side where the spring engages with the friction nut rather than the sockets in the fork. I eventually traced this to a seized bush in the brake pivot housing. There is a steel shaft in a brass bush which needs to pivot freely. I drove the shaft out of the bush with a suitably sized pin punch, cleaned the rust off, lubricated the bush and reinserted the steel shaft so that it pivots freely in the bush. Thereafter, the cantilever sprung back correctly under the action of the return spring.

[@JohnnyFingers227]

I've been trying for days to get my Cantilever brakes adjusted. Thank you RJ

[@basho321]

I really appreciated this, especially since you took the trouble to change the camera angle when you mounted them to make it clear that the spring doesn't engage the frame. These were a mystery to me, since I'd never mounted a set. Working on a Bridgestone MB2, and I knew they HAD to work, since they were original equipment for 1988. Thanks for a great tutorial, much appreciated!

[@ajb73]

That’s so useful, I’ve been trying to work this out for ages and your video has saved me more hours of searching and trying. 👍

[@brianreddish4874]

2021 and this video is still super helpful!

[@vaiduliuke]

Thank you! Bought a new bike and one side of the brakes was not moving at all. Turns out whoever preassembled it did not fit the string in one of those three little holes. This saved me a lot of time and stress.

[@ZephyrFly1]

Congratulations on 300,000 subscribers! I know 500k is within reach during these times. Thanks for helping all of us sharpen our bike knowledge RJ

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Thank you very much!

[@genuinelunch]

just got an old schwinn paramount mtb with these and i’d never seen this type of mechanism. thanks for posting, gonna go dial em in and do some stoppies ;P

[@hilltopper600]

you saved me buying new brakes! Thanks

[@tovaristchPavlik]

thank you again ! this evening I faced dia-compe xcm - they have different spring mount like you mentioned- so I was a bit confused first how that special nut works. - that s pretty handy to adjust actually. cheers!

[@ivanizzg]

this was very helpfull.
I almost went to buy new brakes

[@nmh5075]

You saved the day once again.

[@katinachoovanski7691]

Thank you for the helpful info! I'm in the middle of overhauling my bike with the same brakes and I was afraid of taking them off for a thorough cleaning. The plastic covers on the backs are cracked or fell off; are they necessary or do I need to replace my brakes altogether?

[@brentstewart4360]

great video - exactly the information I needed! thanks!

[@gordianheindrichs2836]

Thank you, that was very helpful in a situation where I had no idea how to adjust the DiaCompe 986 spring tension on my Bridgestone MB-zip.

[@dworker3]

Thanks. You exactly answered my questions.

[@mervincass859]

Very helpful. Thanks very much.

[@Alfa011]

Learned how to fine adjust my cantis Thanks!!!

[@NoWhiteBalls]

Thank you very much!!

[@jamesghofulpo6051]

Thank you!

[@jonowens460]

Thise are on my Giant that is under refit,kool to see how

[@lapac1]

Hi RJ. I have those exact Dia Compe 986 brakes that I want to replace. When I turn the 5mm allen bolt clockwise, it tightens as expected. When I turn counter clock wise to remove, it loosens but then I feel a spring tension tightening up. I don't want to continue as I might damage the spring, how did you remove the brakes from the bosses?

[@beansurfin]

RJ, do you happen to know which Dia Compe brake models have the "spring blocks" on both sides? I have a Vintage Raleigh frame were the cantilever bosses are reversed not allowing me to use the standard brake with where the pin needs to fit in one of the three holes. When you try there is simply to much tension. Thanks.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

+beansurfin Not offhand. You would need to research.

[@jpsalis]

Had some problems with this bike I got, I can't tighten the bolt enough to get it to stay with friction no matter what I try.
Edit: AAANND, the same day I realized I was being stupid and took it apart and cleaned it. Works fine. maybe the shifters will work this way too.