Stuck Avid Brake Reach adjust

[nathanm]

Nearly finished the Dartmoor build and upon swapping levers I've found one of the reach adjust dials is stuck and wont turn. Did a quick google but wasn't able to find any info on possible fixes?

 

[Stredda]

My old Giant Anthem had Elixir 9 brakes and the dial down near the hose would often be hard to turn. I remember once using a pair of vice grips on them to free it up. Not saying that's the best way though

 

[creaky]

 

[ozzybmx]

 

[pink poodle]

Have you sprayed some lube in there to loosen it up?

 

[fatboyonabike]

you'll need on of these...doesn't matter which one, any will do the job

 

[nathanm]

Have you sprayed some lube in there to loosen it up?

Wasn't real keen on spraying lubricant into a brake component..

you'll need on of these...doesn't matter which one, any will do the job
View attachment 392153

Do mostly have those, but these came with the bike and actually feel good as they havr contact adjust

 

[pink poodle]

I used to squirt a bit of silicone into the adjusters on my avid brakes.

 

[link1896]

Which avids exactly?

 

[nathanm]

Which avids exactly?

Trail 9

 

[link1896]

Tool free reach adjusters on all avid and sram levers at random times will get stuck. Give it a squirt with silicon lube. Don’t go wild, piston bore isn’t sealed, the EPDM rubber seals are silicon grease safe, but you don’t want to attract grit into the bore.

Sometimes pulling the lever out so the reach adjuster is unloaded is enough, wiggle it both directions. Other times you will need a tool to really force the reach adjuster to turn.

 

[nathanm]

Sometimes pulling the lever out so the reach adjuster is unloaded is enough, wiggle it both directions. Other times you will need a tool to really force the reach adjuster to turn.

How much can I "really force" it before "oh no it's all gone wrong"?

 

[creaky]

How much can I "really force" it before "oh no it's all gone wrong"?

Just a tiny bit less

 

[pink poodle]

How much can I "really force" it before "oh no it's all gone wrong"?

You'll get a feel for it. Just lean into it firmly at first and then it will loosen up and then just after you have pushed it too hard and far you'll realise a little bit less would have been the right amount.

 

[nathanm]

Bit of wd40 and a spanner and it now turns, but doesn't do anything

 

[pink poodle]

Howany ugudugahs did you use?

 

[nathanm]

Howany ugudugahs did you use?

Very little actually. It will only turn when I pull the knob out so guessing it's whatever mechanism that moves the lever in/out is still frozen/rusted/seized.

 

[Live2DieTrying]

Is the lever stuck all the way out? It's possible that the master cylinder pushrod has come unscrewed from the lever blade if wound out too far.
If this is the case, try operating the lever reach with an allen key, while squeezing / pulling the lever to try to get the threads engaged again.

Failing that, push out the lever pivot, and remove the lever blade, then reassemble the lever blade assembly. Really it's just a knob on the end of the pushrod, so it's either unscrewed the pushrod, or threads are stripped on either part.