User Guide

Introduction
The brake system allows you to control the speed of your bicycle,
and this function is critical to your safety. The brake system can be
difficult to adjust properly without the proper tools and training. If you
are unsure of the brake adjustment, or suspect any problem, do not ride
your bicycle. Take your bicycle to your Fisher dealer for service. It is
strongly recommended that adjustment of critical components such as
brakes be done by your Fisher dealer. If you need more specific informa-
tion regarding your brake system, contact your Fisher dealer.
Inspection
Before every ride make sure your brakes are working properly. Before
every ride check that the brake pads are in proper position (Fig. 50).
Your rims are part of the braking system, so keep them clean at all
times. Check that there is no oil, grease, or other dirt on the rims.
Every month check your bike’s brake cables and housing. Check
the cables for kinks, rust, broken strands, and frayed ends. Check the
housing for bent ends, cuts, stretched coils, and wear. Replace any part
of your brake cables or housing which do not pass inspection.
Every month, inspect your brake pads for wear. Brake pads have shallow
grooves in their braking surfaces to channel water from the rim. If any
of these grooves are less than 2 mm deep (or 1 mm deep for direct-pull
brakes, Fig. 49), replace the pads.
Every 3 months for caliper brakes tighten pad fixing bolts to 40-60
lb•in (4.5-6.8 Nm). Tighten caliper fixing bolts to 70-85 lb•in (7.9-9.6 Nm).
Every 3 months for direct pull brakes (Fig. 49), cantilever brakes (Fig.
51), or U-brakes (Fig. 52) tighten pad fixing bolts to 70-80 lb•in (7.9-9
Nm). Tighten arm fixing bolts to 70-85 lb•in (7.9-9.6 Nm).
Every 3 months tighten lever clamp bolts (Fig. 53) to 40-60 lb•in (4.5-
6.8 Nm).
Adjustment
Adjust the brake pads so they are 1.5 mm to 2 mm away from the rim when the brakes
are not applied. This is done by turning the brake cable adjusting barrels on the brake
calipers (or brake levers if equipped with direct pull brakes). To bring the pads closer to
the rims, turn the adjusting barrel counter-clockwise. To move the pads away from the
rim, turn the adjusting barrel clockwise.
If the pads of direct-pull or caliper brakes cannot be adjusted close enough to the rim in
this manner, loosen the cable anchor bolt until the cable is loose. Screw the barrel adjuster
all the way in clockwise. Hold the brake pads against the rim, and re-tighten as in Inspection.
Changing the brake cable length in a cantilever brake requires special tools and training,
so should only be done by your Fisher dealer.
To adjust the alignment of the brake pads, loosen the brake pad fixing bolt and align
the pad so that the pad surface and the rim surface meet correctly (Fig. 50). The toe-in
36
BRAKE SYSTEMS- RIM BRAKES
Pad and rim should be
parallel
Brake pad aligned with
the rim surface
Direction of rim
rotation
Fig. 50
0.5 - 1mm toe in
No contact
Fig. 49
Pad
fixing
bolt
Arm
fixing
bolt
Cable clamp bolt
Centering
screw
Fig. 51
Linkwire
Pad
fixing
bolt
Arm
fixing
bolt
Centering
screw