I need to replace the fork on a friend’s 2022 Cervelo Soloist with integrated brake hoses.
It’s a SRAM build, so has their Thingamajig fittings on the end of the hose where they go into the shifters. I will need to pull the front brake hose back through the bars and stem in order to drop the fork. Since the fitting is too large to pull through the holes in the bar, it’s typical to cut the fittings off and put new fittings on when you reinstall but I’m worried the cables will be too short to reinstall.
Can I “unscrew” the existing Thingamajig so I can pull the hose through the bars, then reinstall a new Thingamajig back into the end of the hose when I put on the new fork? If I have to cut the hose to provide a “clean end”, is there a minimum amount I need to cut?
I haven’t heard this discussed before, but since the Thingamajigs basically screw in, it makes sense that they can be unscrewed without cutting the hose. It seems like as long as I put in a new Thingamajig it should seal okay. Or am I missing something?
I don’t know about SRAM fittings. Certainly with the Shimano ones you have to cut them off the hose, and if the hose is too short after that, you have to fit new hose.
Reusing hydraulic fittings is not recommended. It can be done, I’ve done it myself when I was in emergency but you are introducing a non zero probability of brake failure into the system. Brakes are supposed to be 100 % reliable.
The olive is not reusable, it is meant to be crushed and capture the hose in the process. You could maybe get the insert pin out but they’re not expensive to buy, they might even come as a kit with the olive. Keep in mind that the thread on the insert-pin is reversed, from memory you’ll need a T10 spanner
The Stealthamajig uses a threaded barb, I have sometimes been able to unthread the barb with the olive attached but when I’ve done this I’ve still trimmed the clamped part of the hose off and used a fresh barb and olive to put the line back together. If you unthread them like this you can mitigate by a few mm how much hose you’re cutting so if there’s a little wiggle room I’d say that’s your best bet.
Thanks for the responses. As Aidan pointed out, SRAM uses a barb that threads in, while Shimano’s is pressed in. This is why there’s no option except cutting the end of the hose for Shimano. And I’m not planning on reusing anything but the end of the hose. @Aidan_Phipps I’ll probably take your advice and trim off at least a few mm off the end to get a fresh edge to screw in the new barb.