This is (was) my bike, and although I can't look at it at the moment because it's all boxed up and waiting to go to Salt Lake City, I can recall that the pads on this were not in the greatest shape (so new thick pads would have helped), but the brakes had to be set up quite tight to work.
Another suggestion would be to add a washer or two if possible between the pad and the arm to effectively make the pads thicker. I do like Joe's suggestion of running the cable through the post though. Pretty trick if done well and the Zeus post is likely substantial enough to not have issues.
David -- David Bilenkey Ottawa, Ontario, Canada dbilenkey@sympatico.ca
> -----Original Message-----
> From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org
> [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of
> joebz@optonline.net
> Sent: Monday, May 01, 2006 6:58 PM
> To: dan kasha; Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Subject: Re: [CR]Zeus frame too small for rear centerpull brakes?
>
>
> I didn'e look at the best picture on the second page. The
> barrel is not all the way up and it wouldn't matter with this
> hanger. Dia-Compe made a really stubby hanger. This one
> looks extremely long.
>
> Joe Bender-Zanoni
> Great Notch, NJ
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: joebz@optonline.net
> Date: Monday, May 1, 2006 6:51 pm
> Subject: Re: [CR]Zeus frame too small for rear centerpull brakes?
>
> > Looks very dicey on this 52cm bike Zeus so it is no wonder your
> > smaller bike has a problem. Note barrel all the way up.
> >
> > http://www.wooljersey.com/
> >
> > I think you'll need every trick in the book. Thick shoes, minimum
> > straddle wire, minimum yoke width, shortest possible hanger. The
> > ultimate somewhat dirty trick: drill a hole crosswise through the
> > seat post and eliminate the hanger, just running the cable through
> > the post (be sure and profile the exit hole). Extreme problems
> > require extreme measures.
> >
> > Joe Bender-Zanoni
> > Great Notch, NJ
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: dan kasha <dankasha@yahoo.com>
> > Date: Monday, May 1, 2006 5:09 pm
> > Subject: [CR]Zeus frame too small for rear centerpull brakes?
> >
> > > I am working on an old Zeus bike. It seems all original. It is
> > > the durifort tubing model with all the standard Zeus compoents
> > > from the late 60's or early 70's. It is a small frame, about
> > 49cm
> > > C-C.
> > >
> > > I am having lots of trouble with this bike. The latest is with
> > > the rear center pull. It is the Zeus alpha. It had what seems
> > > like the original cable stop on the seat bolt, with the sliding
> > > barrel quick release to remove the wheel. The straddle cable
> > > seems orignal and the right length - short. But even so, the
> > > small cable fitting that can not be set high enough without
> > > hitting the brake cable stop. I have new pads, and the original
> > > Zeus 700c sew up rims.
> > >
> > > I tried a Mafac cable stop without the release mechanism, and
> > > that is no better. Could Zeus have sold a bike that did not
> > work
> > > out of the box? Something seems odd. A larger frame would not
> > > have this issue.
> > >
> > > Let me know if you can think of anything, or have some nice
> > side
> > > pull Zeus brakes for me:)
> > > Thanks in advance
> > > Dan Kasha
> > > Seattle, Washingon, USA.