"Flapping" brake lever

[Tufftrax]

Any ideas for helping me fix an annoying rattle on my 1981 350K please. This is the single disc Sport model.

My front brake lever seems to have a considerable amount of up and down "play" which rattles and "buzzes" at higher speed. At low speeds I can counter this by riding with fingers covering the lever (as I do the clutch lever - an old 2-stroke habit) but at higher speed this is not practical as I would rather concentrate on staying on the bike! I am concerned that the lever could fracture and break at speed as it appears to be a "cast" item.

Neither the lever or the housing are broken and I think it's simply 30 plus years of wear and won't be getting any better! I suppose I could see if NLM has a newer lever but the old one is intact and was considering fitting a small shim between lever and housing to take up the slack but obviously still need to allow some clearance to ensure the lever does not jam - thoughts anyone?

Thanks in advance,

Keith

[unreal]

Hi Keith, have you tried a wavey spring washer in there, it should take up the slack without binding.

Simon

[3potjohn]

I was also about to suggest a wavy washer. I can speak with experience that trying to fix it by crimping up the pivot point is a very bad idea.

[Tufftrax]

Thanks guys, wavy washer/shim fitted (taken from part of a Shimano bicycle brake assembly I had knocking around) and no more flapping! Still enough free play to ensure lever does not jam and pivots freely. Road tested and works fine. Thanks again.

[EVguru]

Normally the lever has recesses for washers and at least one of them should be a spring washer (single curve type originally).