Front Drum Brake adjustment help?

Hello!

I am working through the many issues remaining to get my commando back on the road...

The current problem is re-installing the front wheel after getting the brake shoes re-lined. The problem is that that the brake cable is now "too short". I need about 5 centimeters or so more cable length to allow me to hook the cable into the brake lever adjuster at the handlebar.

I believe I have turned in all the adjusters, and do not see anything obviously wrong with the orientation of the two operating arms. I got the shoes back from the shop installed in the backing plate. Can the shop have installed the shoes incorrectly??

The cable looks like a homemade one, so I wonder if it was made when the brake shoes were extremely worn then perhaps it was made with not enough play?

I am certain that I am not seeing the forest for the trees :shock: so a little outside assistance would be helpful. Thanks in advance!

Probably a modified cable made up as you say, to compensate for wear?
How long is your cable (measure both the inner and outer)?
Someone here will probably know what the correct length should be.
Are the handlebars standard? The type of handlebars fitted will also affect what the overall cable length needs to be.

I didn't measure the overall length, but the inner cable is 94 milimeters longer than the outer cable.

The bike has dropped cafe racer/ace bars on it, they were turned upside down when I got it. But now I have turned them around. Overall length is OK, but I could cut back the outer cable enough to give the correct play without the cable being strethched at max rebound I think.

skippy said:

but I could cut back the outer cable enough to give the correct play without the cable being strethched at max rebound I think.

Click to expand...

Yes, you could do that.

thanks for the encouragement

But before I hack away at the cable I was hoping someone might be able to confirm that the inner cable of a stock brake cable is around 15 centimeters loger than the outer cable?

Anyone out there that carries a spare and has the chance to measure??