Cush drive installation.
- Thread starter PJFlynn
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I use a belt sander to remove some material off the thick cush pads. I get it to a point where the paddles will push into the pockets without any major forces applied. You may have to fix a tire on the road and you don't need to struggle with pads as well as a flat. Make sure your paddles on the drum do not bottom into the sockets. These need clearance. I have purchased drum brakes from parts suppliers that are too long. Just an FYI.
Cheers,
Thomas
Cheers,
Thomas
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Won't that void the warranty on the bike?
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Note: paddle peg studs can twist in drum til like putting square peg in round hole. Chews cushions up faster too. Its a welder then delicate bead grinder task if pegs found loose. Save old tires, as maybe get tired as me finding pads chewed/mushed up too soon, to eye ball fiber enforced side walls with a raised eye brow like me...
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You mean these bikes came with a warranty???
Now you tell me.I thought you had to be a mechanic to ride these things.
T
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Anything is possible. Never had a paddle twist but I have seen them too long from "new" and you wonder why you need to spread the swing-arm to fit the wheel back together again to the axle/spacers. Old tire trick also works but most of the time when your don't center the shoes to the hub by application of the brake when tightening the axle bolt and nut... then you would smoke (Melt)the new cushpads 3 miles down the road.
I always finger test the drum 1/2 mile down the road to see if it get hot to touch when ever I disturb the rear brake assembly.Cheers,
T
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Yep Sir, nail rear brake to center while doing axle nut up is the required ritual. Is there another brand other than Spragthrop that requires such gymnast athletics? Setting brake cable tension/slack is another compromise art, too little drag gives weak brake action while too much drags to melt the wimpy cushions. Believe it or not my factory Trixie rear is able to lock up rather easy but then tends to oil up form weepage till cleaned off again. So many have fully fettered Commandos to admire and so might you and me too - someday.
concours
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Parade ridden bikes don't loosen their drive pegs, but bank-robber ridden bikes do.
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Well my two Combats were owned by bank robbing bootlegging hooligans before me, so found loose paddles in both, repaired them so I could carry on same abusing tradition. I bought a set of new cushions for Trixie used in preserving timid way, parading to reach pavement for mature throttle/tire saving commuting to have another flat soon after to find the off the shelf cushions also gone in just a few 100 miles. Tried normal cushions early on in powerful Ms Pee if hot rod rooster tailing flat tracting to pavement normal cushions completely shredded melted in 5 miles. Can select side wall area for thicker pad for drive impulses and thinner for brake side of paddle. I leave pads ~1/16" proud of wheel hub so axle nip up compresses firmer but not so much to to prevent close mating. May trial error to get right. I glue pads in place assembled on floor till set up so they stay in place, especially appreciated on side of cold muddy road with another flat.
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