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How do you shorten a hand brake lever?
trialsman - 5/1/11 at 03:53 AM

I've seen a post on this here before but I can't find it now. My hand brake lever is too close to my gear shift in 2nd and 4th on my 79 Escort Mk2 Locost. How can I take about 5cm out of the overall length of it without messing it up. Thanks in advance, Russ

MakeEverything - 5/1/11 at 09:01 AM

Any Photos? Youll need to cut and shut it, or cut it and weld a piece of heavy gauge barrel into the handle.

nick205 - 5/1/11 at 10:00 AM

Could you move it further back on the tunnel top?

steve m - 5/1/11 at 10:13 AM

If you shorten it, you will also lose out on leverage

pekwah1 - 5/1/11 at 10:38 AM

he probably doesn't have girly arms like you though steve so can deal with the leverage

indykid - 5/1/11 at 10:55 AM

quote:
Originally posted by steve m
If you shorten it, you will also lose out on leverage

but if you're modifying it, you can change the lever ratio on the other side too. you'll gain stroke, but how often do you have the handbrake on?

i assume you'd just cut out as much as you need from the outer sleeve, cut the same from the inner rod, then weld it back together. for the forces it'll see, it won't need sleeving as long as you can weld.

steve m - 5/1/11 at 11:32 AM

hhahahaha

Girly arms. pah !

shouldnt you be out in that freezing cold garage waving spanners about ?

Im in mine, heater is on, and the cricket on telly, nice cup of tea

not much more work to do before the MOT, (dig)

pekwah1 - 5/1/11 at 01:23 PM

just been out there all morning actually!
i have some engine mounts!

Andybarbet - 5/1/11 at 07:49 PM

Luegos build diary had a how to on this, i have a copy somewhere but not sure where, maybe ask in the Luego section and you might find someone a tad more organised than me