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ST-RS505 free stroke adjustment - how?

After some help - have RS505 hydraulics on my CX bike and want shorter reach with less free stroke.

I have adjusted the reach to be comfortable, trouble is I can't find the adjuster for the free stroke.

Read the manual and followed instructions, have found the hole for the adjuster but there is no 2mm head to turn. Same on both shifters.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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9 comments

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Boombang | 7 years ago
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And sorted, whole collar turns on the latest 505s.

The free stroke adjustment is quite effective and there is loads of range in the lever position too.

Got myself a very reasuring and tight feeling brake setup now.

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velochris | 7 years ago
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Download the technical docs from Shimano
They definitely show you how to do it on the 505.

I think you roll the hood back from the bars. Shift down to the bottom gear and the screw is accessible from underneath the shifter.

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Boombang replied to velochris | 7 years ago
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velochris wrote:

Download the technical docs from Shimano
They definitely show you how to do it on the 505.

I think you roll the hood back from the bars. Shift down to the bottom gear and the screw is accessible from underneath the shifter.

I did but seem to have got the old doc which was a threaded grub screw under the levers.

The latest version I found today shows turning whole collar, will check when next get a chance but hopefully problem solved.

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Boombang | 7 years ago
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Apparently the latest 505 has no 2mm grub screw.

LBS have said you simply put in an allen key for leverage and turn the collar!

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therevokid | 7 years ago
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there are 2 holes ... the reach adjustment one is behind (inline with) the

lever so you have to move it in before you can see it (apparently) and the

allen key would be facing straight down when inserted.

 

There's this too ....

 

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=13069980

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Boombang replied to therevokid | 7 years ago
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therevokid wrote:

there are 2 holes ... the reach adjustment one is behind (inline with) the

lever so you have to move it in before you can see it (apparently) and the

allen key would be facing straight down when inserted.

 

There's this too ....

 

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=13069980

 

Thanks, that's a great help - I can see the threaded hole and clearly don't have the screws fitted.  

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kev-s | 7 years ago
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Not worked on the RS505 lever but have done  quite a few R785 levers over the last few years

Not sure where the free stroke screw is on the RS505 but on the R785 lever its a pozzie head screw on the side of the lever body

The free stroke on the shimano road brakes is pretty crap tbh

To move the pistons in a bit to reduce the free stroke you have two options

1. remove the pads and give the lever a small squeeze to move the pistons in 1-2mm , refit pads and see how the lever feels, as there will be less fluid in the system now the pistons may retract over time

 

2. (the way i do mine) take the bleed block, sand off 1-1.5mm off one side, fit it to the caliper and bleed the brake as normal, this sets the pistons in a little bit and fills the system with fluid so theres no chance of the pistons moving back out

 

There's more info about the above in this link

 

http://forums.roadbikereview.com/components-wrenching/shimano-r785-disc-...

 

 

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Boombang replied to kev-s | 7 years ago
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kev-s wrote:

Not worked on the RS505 lever but have done  quite a few R785 levers over the last few years

 

Thanks but the 505 is completely different.

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Boombang | 7 years ago
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If anyone has a photo that would be really helpful - more I read up the more I think the screw is missing

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