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a rant with a couple of questions....
anyone ordered a Brand X Ascend dropper recently? There seems to have been a design change. Just wanted to confirm that the lump at the end of the cable goes at the dropper end (with another "inner cable nut" up against the lump) and the other (non lump ) end of the cable is clamped at the lever?
This is what Ive settled on in spite of contradictory Youtube videos and a set of instructions that are barely readable and seem to refer to bits and pieces that didn't come in the box.
Anyway, the thing that secures the cable to the lever is a small cylinder with a grub screw inside it that takes a 3mm allen key. After a couple of hours of swearing i figured this out last night, and managed to unscrew it easily. I planned to finish the job today. But today the grub screw will not unscrew - it is seized solid and I have managed to strip it and round my allen key.
I've asked the reteiler if they can send a new part, otherwise I'll return the lot for a refund.
If I have to bail out from Brand X , any recommendations? I'm replacing a knackered reverb - I can't get a repair slot until the end of June so thought I'd flog the reverb for spares and go down the cable actuated route. Most people seem to speak highly of the brand X.
thanks
Sounds right - the cable end is at the post end and just hooks in. At the other end there’s a a round barrel with grub screw in it that clamps the cable in the lever if I remember rightly. Although since then I’ve had a Bontrager dropper lever (which is good with brand x but less ok with a Oneup post - so it’s now in my toolbox) and a ZTTO lever which is the best one I’ve had so far.
Maybe you need some better Allen keys - I’ve recently invested in some Wera coloured ones from Toolstation (£25) and they are really nice.
I thought from the instructions we got that the barrel could be fitted at the lever end or the post end, that's how all ours are fitted.
My stealth brand x you secured at base of post(bit more faff) I got an external one for another bike(attached are lever) think new design all versions clamp at lever
Barrel goes in the lever on the latest BX Posts.
Cable end goes at the base of the seatpost. Much easier to setup now than before as you can get the post set into the frame then the final thing you do is trim the cable and clamp tight.
Get a one up, works well and longest drop per length of any post and you can adjust length easily.
OK thanks everytone - at least think I had it correct then - there are 2 "barrels". The one with a hole that just slides onto the cable all the way to the cable end and attaches to the post...and the one with a grub screw which attaches wherever you need it at the other end of the cable and goes into the lever. Thats the bit I have stripped.
Maybe you need some better Allen keys – I’ve recently invested in some Wera coloured ones from Toolstation (£25) and they are really nice.
Thanks! I'll take a look. A better quality key might shift the grub screw maybe with some heat applied
Get a one up, works well and longest drop per length of any post and you can adjust length easily.
If i can get my money back on the Brand X I'll look into this
My Brand X and my Canyon one both use the cable nipple at the post end and the barrel at the lever end.
Why would they give you your money back for exceptional hamfistedness?
I think you've been a little unfortunate op.
I'd stick with the BX personally but One up is the only other brand I would consider, little dearer mind you.
Agree why should you get a refund because you couldn't fit it. You can buy the barrel with grub screw on eBay . Alternatively bontrager do a very good lever for under£20 .
For anyone interested.the new version has a shorter collar and a much shorter overall length.but more importantly the return speed is also faster,the offset of this is the initial feel at the lever is a tad stiffer but marginally considering the increase in the return speed.
Mine came with the metal barrel so the cable slides through it and then just insert that barrel to the btm of the post ....didn't use the lever there garbage .banged it on eBay and got £20 for it .
Still a sealed air cartridge that can't have the pressure altered .
Why would they give you your money back for exceptional hamfistedness?
You may be right Steve - if I get to that point I'll ask them and let you know
Agree why should you get a refund because you couldn’t fit it. You can buy the barrel with grub screw on eBay . Alternatively bontrager do a very good lever for under£20 .
Not that I can find on ebay....
you can buy a Brabd X lever kit for about £25 ..or theres the Bonty lever as you say. The expense of this cheap dropper is stacking up!
For anyone interested.the new version has a shorter collar and a much shorter overall length.but more importantly the return speed is also faster,the offset of this is the initial feel at the lever is a tad stiffer but marginally considering the increase in the return speed.
Mine came with the metal barrel so the cable slides through it and then just insert that barrel to the btm of the post ….didn’t use the lever there garbage .banged it on eBay and got £20 for it .
Still a sealed air cartridge that can’t have the pressure altered .
I have the 170mm Brand X and the whole thing is pretty long extended - way longer then the equvalent Reverb. On my T130 , at my 6'1 fairly long legged optimal ride height, the bottom of the post comes down almost to the bend in the seat tube which is quite close to the cable port meaning there's not a lot of cable inside the seat tube before it gets to the seat post.
anyway it feels very solid, just need to get the lever sorted...thanks for everyone's comments and suggestions
Still a sealed air cartridge that can’t have the pressure altered
My BX post has a valve to add air, thus improving the return speed no end. You have to remove the seat and clamp to access it (it’s hidden under a rubber cover).
My BX post has a valve to add air, thus improving the return speed no end. You have to remove the seat and clamp to access it (it’s hidden under a rubber cover).
Newest versions are sealed cartridge. No air valve.
OP, are you definitely putting the Allen key in the correct side of the grub screw? The reason I mention this is I was trying to nip mine up the other day and put an Allen key in what I thought was the correct side and it almost started to round off, before I realised it was a smaller (2.5mm I think) Allen key in the opposite side!
Just a thought in case you’re doing the same.
The post above is a very good point, the grub screw in the barrel doesn’t take a 3mm Allen key so you may be at the wrong side of it.....
@Tracey the old lever design you could but not anymore
@bullandbladder not on the new one or the previous one only the previous xl version
@rascott then you have the old version .
Funnily enough the 170mmm deeper I got from CRC only a couple of months back does indeed still have the air valve on it.
That said I do believe later ones should have no valve now which is a bit of a shame really.