Rear brake drum woes

Ugh, went though this on Trixie Combat a season ago, kept finding the dual row bearing circlip coming loose [even with circlip sharp edge facing correctly, so drum shifted on axle increasing the cushion to hub gap, then found bad bearing and wrong drum to brake plate spacer involving the dummy axle. So happy as you are now, circlip pop out may mean going back in again, as usual per Commando learning curve balls.

Just now went out to shed and tightened up dummy axel to spec backed off time side axel bolt 2 or 3 turns wheel spun nicely with just a bit of a rub that I would expect from a new drum and shoes . SO WHAT AM I MISSING ???

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I know its a bit late but mine has a spacer not shown on

http://www.nortonmotors.de/ANIL/Norton Website/norton/n850_1/gif/020.gif

between 43 and 13.


Before you get too happy there is another quirk of the Commando rear brake when it is a cable operated brake drum. Think about the run of the cable between the brake 'lever or pedal' and the actuating arm as the rear suspension moves. The cable is sometimes slightly the wrong length and can catch on a bolt holding the silencer on when you run it behind the backplate. It's usually not long enough to run through the gap between the two silencer mounting plates without suspension movement interfering with the rear brake. It's something to watch out for, especially after you have been cranked over in a corner with a big bump mid corner which pushes the back wheel in on its suspension and applies the rear break for a second, mid corner. One of those moments where you can listen to your heart in your ears without a stethoscope.

Watch for it

Thanks for your additional thoughts Engie I will certainly keep a close watch on all brake /hub parts in the next little while.My bike does not have the spacer between #43 and #13,however I will be putting in new circlip this week and will re-evaluate every last component then

Hobot thanks to you too for pointing out some possible trouble area and I will Remain Diligent !
Again thanks to all for sharing your knowledge
Craig

Thanks for your additional thoughts Engie I will certainly keep a close watch on all brake /hub parts

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OH my yes for this alert that could apply on rough loose travel while just coasting timidly sPLAT.

No timid riders in NOVA SCOTIA just diligent fun loving peeps !!!

Freaking polar bear dudes ride Nova Scotia, its me that's timid on loose stuff and more so now I know I'd better double check brake tension after chain adjustments. I tend to need rear brake so tend to keep if adjusted at the ready just short of resting still on center stand drag.

We can usually ride here from April to December sometimes inclusive ...just want that out there so Hobot has no good reason not to make a ride up here before the end.Speaking of Hobot kudos to him, went for a rip last night and after a few corners and a couple of bumps seemed to lose power while challenging Harley on incline up to Harmony Ridge.Gave up came home opened up brake drum and circlip was out of place AGAIN !!! When I got bike I rebuilt all this stuff front and back and had no problems till now.I have changed tires twice both ends and had the bike in pieces once since then with no trouble what gives ?
Craig