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  #1  
Old 11-20-2021, 04:18 PM
osbk67 osbk67 is offline
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Campagnolo Ergopower gut and stuff?
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Having recently down-spec'ed my 1997 Bianchi to down-tube friction shifting I'm lining up these Ergopower levers as replacements for its early, small and uncomfortable C-Record brake levers.

Looks like removal of the shift lever and internal mechanism will leave a viable brake-only lever, especially from the outside lever body face, but an opening where the shift lever previously actuated inwards.

I've heard stories of custom-made blocks to fill the gap, but have not seen any in the flesh, much less offered for sale.

Any stories to tell or lessons learned on this subject from among the Paceline community? I'm guessing some sort of 3D-printed solution is a theoretical possibility...
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  #2  
Old 11-20-2021, 05:11 PM
thirdgenbird thirdgenbird is offline
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I’ve gutted them and used them as brake levers. Never felt the need to fill the gaps left by the shifters.
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  #3  
Old 11-20-2021, 10:07 PM
osbk67 osbk67 is offline
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Rain and other factors confined me to the garage. Quicker and simpler than anticipated. Seems to work. Cheers thanks tgb.
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  #4  
Old 11-21-2021, 05:52 AM
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oldpotatoe oldpotatoe is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by osbk67 View Post
Attachment 1698035106

Having recently down-spec'ed my 1997 Bianchi to down-tube friction shifting I'm lining up these Ergopower levers as replacements for its early, small and uncomfortable C-Record brake levers.

Looks like removal of the shift lever and internal mechanism will leave a viable brake-only lever, especially from the outside lever body face, but an opening where the shift lever previously actuated inwards.

I've heard stories of custom-made blocks to fill the gap, but have not seen any in the flesh, much less offered for sale.

Any stories to tell or lessons learned on this subject from among the Paceline community? I'm guessing some sort of 3D-printed solution is a theoretical possibility...
Ya know, similar shape brake levers that didn't start life as a shift lever are available. But sure..don't need a plug is you strip the shifter guts to make brake levers.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/16517558181...QAAOSwZnNhiz9U

Ahh, re-read the post, you tried these..but sure, just replace the back cap after the guts are out.

Campagnolo also made post 1998, rounded top, carbon brake levers with a plug.
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Last edited by oldpotatoe; 11-21-2021 at 05:56 AM.
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  #5  
Old 11-21-2021, 09:16 PM
osbk67 osbk67 is offline
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Originally Posted by oldpotatoe View Post

Campagnolo also made post 1998, rounded top, carbon brake levers with a plug.
Cheers thanks OldP. I do have Record brake-only levers on another bicycle but I was two decades too late in buying them, by which time they were probably triple their original retail price. Made of unobtanium and I prefer the before and after Ergopower shapes rather than the 10-speed on which they were based. Which leads me to another thread...
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  #6  
Old 11-22-2021, 09:40 AM
Nomadmax Nomadmax is offline
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Where would someone start looking for some of those "brake only" levers? I've never seen them on Ebay.
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  #7  
Old 11-23-2021, 10:20 PM
osbk67 osbk67 is offline
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Where would someone start looking for some of those "brake only" levers? I've never seen them on Ebay.
They used to surface from time-to-time on eBay for USD/GBP/Euro 150-200 NOS/near-NOS but I haven't seen any there for a year or three.

In the unlikely event you can get someone to Black Mountain Cycles in Point Reyes Station, CA it looks like Mike Varley has some right now. No idea of price but they'll be gone by the end of the weekend regardless. Looks like they're on his Instagram but not his website. No affiliation but Mike's a great guy, and his frames are great too..
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Old 11-24-2021, 05:00 AM
Nomadmax Nomadmax is offline
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Thank you

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Originally Posted by osbk67 View Post
They used to surface from time-to-time on eBay for USD/GBP/Euro 150-200 NOS/near-NOS but I haven't seen any there for a year or three.

In the unlikely event you can get someone to Black Mountain Cycles in Point Reyes Station, CA it looks like Mike Varley has some right now. No idea of price but they'll be gone by the end of the weekend regardless. Looks like they're on his Instagram but not his website. No affiliation but Mike's a great guy, and his frames are great too..
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  #9  
Old 11-24-2021, 05:55 AM
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Where would someone start looking for some of those "brake only" levers? I've never seen them on Ebay.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/16518770551....c100167.m2940
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  #10  
Old 11-24-2021, 07:18 AM
Ralph Ralph is online now
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https://www.ebay.com/itm/26540434861....c101110.m1982

These come silver or black. Work great. No need to gut valuable campy Shifter/lever set.
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  #11  
Old 11-24-2021, 07:23 AM
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Gianni Bianchi Gianni Bianchi is offline
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As a dyed-in-the-wool Campy guy, this thread hurts my soul, but I get it. LOL Filling a gap in the brake lever food chain that doesn't exist.
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  #12  
Old 11-25-2021, 05:57 AM
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oldpotatoe oldpotatoe is offline
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https://www.ebay.com/itm/26540434861....c101110.m1982

These come silver or black. Work great. No need to gut valuable campy Shifter/lever set.
YES, those brake levers work VERY well, aren't expensive and have a QR in the lever, ala Campag BUT..the pictured ones are for 'linear' brakes..meaning 'V Brakes'..ya need ones for either canti brakes or normal brake calipers.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/26469717293...3ABFBM1NS276pf
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Last edited by oldpotatoe; 11-25-2021 at 06:00 AM.
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  #13  
Old 11-25-2021, 03:21 PM
Gwerziou Gwerziou is offline
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The TRP RRL levers seem to be a pretty nice option as well.
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  #14  
Old 11-26-2021, 03:22 PM
osbk67 osbk67 is offline
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DD3952F9-16BB-4B4C-ABD1-AF88E5A2E54F.jpg

More than happy to repurpose these from long-term storage. Vast improvement over the C-Record levers they replaced.
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