Schwinn Meridian Tips Back Brake

[@tech4life884]

Thank you for this tip. I really appreciate it. I just couldn't figure out how to tighten the rear brakes. You saved me from having to stand out in this 98 degree Florida weather.

[@vidcreations]

You're welcome, glad I could help.

[@luckysmith8275]

Thanks for posting this! I would be grateful for any repair videos that you could do about this model of bike, especially even just simple stuff like how to change a tube to fix a flat tire or how to replace broken spokes. I have this exact bike and get a flat about once every three months, sometimes more often in Summer. There are not very many videos to be found that show how to repair anything on this model of bike and I am hoping to learn how to do repairs on it myself.

[@vidcreations]

Here's a few. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jojJdJegdrWfsKM and kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqmngHWum7aNeJI

[@carrolkeller5298]

Thank you for the video. Short, sweet & to the point. I got it in one.

[@vidcreations]

You're quite welcome.

[@sunnybeaches1331]

Wow! Thank you. I love Meridian Trikes. What are the (adjustable?) screws around the peremeter of the brake for? I thought that they may adjust the brake as well.

[@vidcreations]

I'm not a bike mechanic, but the best I can figure is to true your brake pad if it is out of round. Glad you like the video.

[@astutenomad2879]

We shouldn't even call a rear brake a 'brake'. We should call it a yield. That's what I use it for. The front almost wants to flip me over lol XD

[@g_men2121]

Sounds like urs is too tight lol

[@cherylwade4914]

Too true.

[@rbaldwin3208]

Excellent videos! I watched and saved your front brake videos and full tricycle assembly ones as well. I have a Moon Cool tricycle, which uses similar braking systems. I assembled my trike myself and it's good to check whether I did it correctly or not. The printed instructions that came with the Moon Cool are not very clear or detailed!

[@vidcreations]

Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed my vides.

[@BrunoZbysko]

Jimmy, I’ve been working on my Mom’s Schwinn Meridian, and I just took it out for a ride and it rode great. Then I worked on the handlebars, and when I brought my Mom out to show her, all of a sudden the wheels wouldn’t turn when she sat on the bike! I don’t know what happened? The chains still look fine but when the pedals turn the back wheels don’t move. Only the front chain goes around. Is this is simple fix? Did I just hit some common trigger on the trike?

[@vidcreations]

The middle sprocket is a common free wheel sprocket. It sounds like it has quit working. It's just like a free wheel sprocket on a single speed bike. It should grab when you pedal, but coast when you don't pedal. Take the font chain off of the middle sprocket. Rotate the middle sprocket with your hand towards the front of the bike, it should grab. If it doesn't grab, then it needs replaced.

[@cwmaxfield2000]

Because I'm motorising my trike I'm using a dual brake lever. Not sure how that will work as the rear brake is that band brake you describe. I don't want the clutch lever and a brake lever on the same side.

[@barb8997]

Does anyone know if these kind of bikes can be modified with a recumbent seat and the long handle bars not sure what they are called. Sorry I’m just learning but trying yo get what I want without so much money. I’m wanting this for my back support

[@nikolasroyal8856]

Hello ii wondered if you give me some advice ive brought second hand a Jorvik trike and the drum seems to be rubbing now the cable is totally old and work out ive got replacement but feel this may not solve the problem, many thanks nik

[@vidcreations]

If you disconnect the cable and the brake is still rubbing, a new cable will not fix the problem. It's the brake pad rubbing on the brake drum.

[@tshotflash7293]

By logic, perhaps erroneously, I've always been afraid of squeezing the front brake too hard and causing the back wheels to just raise up, rotate over my head and turn the whole trike and me upside down. I try 2 squeeze both equally.

[@BC-kn6cw]

You'd have to be travelling at phenomenal speeds AND brake so perfectly the rear wouldn't swing left or right. A professional stunt rider would have trouble achieving it. On a trike the worst case scenario is your front wheel locks up, twists left or right and pitches over like you took a corner too fast.

[@ledesclos5321]

Thank you. I needed this guidance.

[@vidcreations]

You're welcome.

[@vidcreations]

You're welcome.

[@taffyjones57]

I would like to know how you can repair this type of back brake. When I pull the rear brake handle and push the bike the rear drum that is on the axel does not stop the bike. The axel just rotates freely. Could you help me?

[@vidcreations]

You may just need to adjust the brake cable. I made a short video pointing out where to adjust the cable. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4CvaYqCnpZloZY If there is something wrong with the brake shoe, you can find the brake shoe assembly on-line. I think it was under $20.00. The front brake is what actually does all the stopping. I made a video giving you tips on the front brake if you need help with it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJTLoaB7jt92e7M

[@josephriebow4567]

Can you just buy brake pads for the back brakes

[@vidcreations]

I haven't found just the pad, but the entire back brake assembly is under $20.00 at Amazon.

[@angelinabrooks5158]

Thank you for these videos... I bought one of these bikes used... I love it but, it keeps breaking it's chain (shorter, back chain for pedaling)... basically, I have to replace the chain every 2-3 weeks ... someone told me there is a flaw in the design and to put an extra link in the chain so that it will stop stretching and breaking the chain... can you help, please? This bike is my current means of transportation.. thank you.. :)

[@vidcreations]

Sorry for the late response. There should be plenty of adjustment where the rear axle assembly bolts onto the frame and no need for an addition link. Check the slack in the back chain. If it is too tight, loosen all four bolts and adjust the distance of the rear axle from the frame to give you more slack.

[@candacerushing6882]

The handlebars on my Meridian hurt my hands! They are in a really unnatural position with my wrists turned out awkwardly. I bought some new handlebars that are a higher rise and are less curved, but I’m afraid I might need to replace my brake cables with longer ones. The cables are only $8.99 at Amazon (vs paying a bike shop $100-150). There are good videos on replacing a front brake cable, but none on replacing the back cable of a tricycle. I’m sure I’m not the only one who’d like to ride in a more upright position with my wrists straighter. How about doing a video on replacing the handlebars and on replacing the brake cables, if necessary? Thanks!

[@vidcreations]

I have been thinking of a video like that. I will look into it. Thanks.

[@mmkore199]

Where is the rear brake pad located on Meridian 26” or does it have one?

[@grandmajeanetteleece839]

THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO!!!

[@vidcreations]

You're welcome.

[@anthonyromero47]

Basically their no point of fixing the back brake just as long as the front is working wow was going to spend money to fix the back brake good thing i saw this video =)

[@vidcreations]

Sorry for the late response. Yes, in my opinion, you really only need the front brake.

[@Rdzfam1]

My question isn’t brake related but I recently purchased one and it’s not even a month old and every now and then it makes a clunk sound and it has only been used about 6 times around my neighborhood any ideas???

[@vidcreations]

Most likely you're hearing the clunk sound of the rear housing. It seems to happen to a lot of Schwinn Meridians. In my opinion, it's a manufacture defect, and I haven't heard of anyone knowing how to fix it.

[@viewer54322]

youd need to put the rear up on stands and rotate pedals while using mechanics stethoscope to pinpoint the clunk. Or does it only happen with weight on trike? p.s. call pacific cycle and mention the problem. If their first advice doesnt help, call them back. They were shockingly helpful for me.

[@allkindsaints420]

​@@vidcreations Thank you I also experienced the rear rt side clunking. My Schwinn Meridian trike is about 2 months old. Big problems with Amazon assembly technician. He ran the brake cables up in front of the handlebars. Another issue I have is occasionally the secondary chain falls off. I took it to a bike shop and it happened again after he checked it out, corrected and adjusted the brakes. I called the shop and he told me maybe I have a bent sprocket. I only rode the bike several times, Could the sprocket have been damaged somehow and wouldn't the mechanic have noticed then? Any advice and helpful thoughts out there would be greatly appreciated. Again thank you for this video! I'm learning!

[@vidcreations]

@@allkindsaints420 The clunking is a very common problem that nobody seems to have a solution to. YES! The shop should have noticed if the sprocket was bent when they checked it out. What you can do. Block up the right rear side of the frame so the right rear tire is just off the ground. Crank the pedal with your hand, DO NOT sit on the bike. Watch the rear chain and sprocket to see if they are bent, or if the chain is coming off. You can also take the rear chain off, place a straight edge along both sprockets to see if they are miss aligned. If so, loosen the bolts to the rear axle and move the axle to align the sprockets. You may need some help, but it's not too hard. Hope this helps.

[@marioguitron1535]

Is it possible to do a rear disc brake conversion and can you use any manufactured brakes for Schwinn Meridian

[@vidcreations]

I'm sure you can find some conversion, but I don't see any advantage. As I said in the video, your front brakes do the stopping. Many mountain bike riders also say the stopping power of caliper brakes, which are already on the front of the bike, are better than disc brakes.

[@mikestrawn3661]

@@vidcreations As an avid mountain biker I can tell you that disc brakes are far better then caliper brakes. Caliper brakes can fail if the rim gets wet or muddy which is easy to do. Disc brakes are much less likely to get muddy and offer more stopping power as well as better modulation. On a mountain bike you use your rear brake far more often than your front. If you slam on your front brake you'll most likely lock up your front wheel and sail over your handlebars. It's less likely on a tricycle but I guess it could happen. The rear brake on my wife's tricycle is useless at best and I would prefer an upgrade of some kind. Disc brakes may be overkill but I'd like her to use her rear brake more often than her front.

[@KathyCupo]

My front hand brake gear isn’t working ,

[@g_men2121]

Will that prevent the squeaking?

[@vidcreations]

I haven't been able to stop them squeaking.

[@juanriat4056]

How can I adjust the front brake? I press it and it doesn't work too well.

[@vidcreations]

Here is a video I made about adjusting you're front brake. kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJTLoaB7jt92e7M

[@peggybrown1887]

What is the screw onto of the drum brake?

[@vidcreations]

I am assuming you are asking what am I talking about at 2:42. It is a cable stop. You thread your cable through the cable stop and tighten it down. When you pull the back brake, it stops the cable from pulling through the drum brake arm that activates the brake.

[@peterweatherby8816]

@@vidcreations It's known as a "pinch bolt" more commonly than "cable stop". You sure provide a good service with your videos. Well done sir!

[@vidcreations]

Oh, in the kart racing world they are know as cable stops. @@peterweatherby8816

[@dorotheebuckley2130]

Jimmy, why is my meridian (24) so very hard to peddle? Nothing is rubbing. There's little or no freewheeling. Is something wrong or is it me?

[@Chocaluvr]

You may want to check the chains for tightness or looseness

[@vidcreations]

Sorry for the late reply. If nothing is rubbing, a tight chain might be the problem, but more likely you just are not used to riding a three wheel bike. For some reason I have found people have a more difficult time pedaling a three whee bike.

[@tshotflash7293]

@@vidcreations Of course, 3 wheels on asphalt create more resistance than two. If you've never ridden a two wheeler, you'd probably not notice.

[@jb-wm5uc]

Does this bike tip easy?

[@vidcreations]

Depends how and where you ride it. If you watch my other video, "Schwinn Meridian Tips", at 10:10 I show you how to ride the bike and it does get up on two wheels if you are not careful. kzbin.info/www/bejne/i2XKn2Wma790aLM

[@williamnicolay5593]

Thanks so much!

[@vidcreations]

You are welcome.

[@deedarkadir7598]

How do I fix a noisy brakes

[@closcastillojr76]

Try spraying some w40 on it.

[@vidcreations]

Sorry for the late response. If the brake is noisy when you are pedaling, it's rubbing and needs adjusted. If it makes a noise when you are braking, that's is very common. You could take some sandpaper and LIGHTLY sand the braking surface. (Wheel rim or back drum) Do not sand the brake pads. If you apply something like WD40, your brake will not work. You are applying a lubricant, brakes need friction to work. If you did apply a lubricant, try using spray brake clean. It will most likely remove the lubricant from the brake pad and brake surface.

[@jayp1509]

Thanks Mike Nesmith of the MONKEES

[@tshotflash7293]

Mr. Nesmith just died a few days ago. This is Dec 17, 2021. Would it be too bold to ask why you thanked him back then? Thanks!

[@lindabell627]

My daughter just brought me this bike I have a problem with it pulling to the left

[@vidcreations]

The bike is right wheel drive, so when you pedal, it may slightly pull. If it pulls while you are coasting, then it sounds like there may be an issue. It is also common, when first learning to ride the bike, to drift either left or right. I think it is because you are trying to balance it like a two wheel bike, but there is no need. It takes practice to learn to sit up straight and hold the handle bars straight. You also will need to learn how to turn the bike. You don't lean, but stay straight and turn the handle bars. You are holding the handle bars and keeping them straight when it pulls? You can not ride this bike without holding on to the handle bars.

[@vivekpawar4872]

Sir but you use mechanism for the rear brake

[@davidbird2459]

Adjusting front brake

[@michaelwright1177]

The back brake is a total design failure and should never been approved. Useless. For older folks, the strength need to use it is too much.

[@mmkore199]

Where is the rear brake pad located on Meridian 26” or does it have one?

[@vidcreations]

If you go to 1:16 in this video, you will see the bronze colored drum with a chrome band around it which is the brake. The band is the brake lining.

[@mmkore199]

@@vidcreations I recently took my 8 yr. old trike in for front and rear brake adjustments at a reputable shop and was surprised when told that leather was used as a pad. I had requested a new rear assembly and was told that was not available. I later ordered a new one on eBay so now I scout for a new tech. Thank you for the clear and simple valuable videos.

[@mmkore199]

Where is the rear brake pad located on Meridian 26 or does it not have one?