Bicycles Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for people who build and repair bicycles, people who train cycling, or commute on bicycles. It only takes a minute to sign up.
Sign up to join this community
I recently ordered a child bike for my daughter as a Christmas present.
The hand brake caliper was not assembled with the brake spring in place. Based on my basic understanding of how this works I cannot figure out how to attach the brake spring so it works properly.
Is it possible the brake spring is incorrect? Or is there a way to assemble this. All the research I have done makes me think this spring is incorrect but then again I have limited experience.
Any help would be appreciated.
Unless my brain is broken, that spring is distorted. When in place it should look something like:
The spring needs to push the arms back open. Its uncompressed state should be more flat, as opposed to how it's curled in on itself now. You might be able to get it back that way with pliers.
Presuming there's a coaster brake back in back, it's within reason to take the front brake off completely for now, then maybe procure a new one while it's not crunch time. Many 12" and 16" bikes come with a rear coaster brake only since those age kids don't reliably have the hand strength to do much with a brake lever anyway.
