TLS drum project part 2

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acadian

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Finally got around to ordering the rim, spokes and tire for my "waste of time, but what the hell" TLS drum project. I'd previously fabricated a spacer/torque bracket to adapt the drum to the disc fork bottoms, but this is the first time I'd ever attempted to lace a wheel, had a few false starts, but once I got the spoke pattern sorted it turned out well

TLS drum project part 2


spokes finally sorted
TLS drum project part 2


dialing in the offset
TLS drum project part 2


final truing
TLS drum project part 2


tire on and installed
TLS drum project part 2


haven't had a chance to test it out yet, but either way I now have it ready for the new 750 build I'm hoping to start this summer
 
Every race crash I have ever had, except one - has been due to a drum front brake. Even the single disc is not enough to safely stop a Commando in full flight
 
We all know you are going to put your eye out.

Did you use a torque wrench or gauge on your spokes? Or go by feel?
 
Sorry Alan - tool blaming won't cut it.
Ask Geoff Duke, John Surtees, Mike Hailwood etc how they went so well with drums.


A race mechanic spent an inordinate amount of time setting up a 190 mm Gold Star brake on a bike to be ridden by Hailwood.

He reckoned he’d got it as good as it could possibly be and was very proud of his work.

After the race, the mechanic asked Mike what he thought of the performance of the front brake.

“Never used it mate!”
 
Somewhat like my back brake....I only use it when the front doesn't.
 
Sorry Alan - tool blaming won't cut it.
Ask Geoff Duke, John Surtees, Mike Hailwood etc how they went so well with drums.

When those guys were racing, nearly everybody had drum brakes. If you have a drum brake and race against disc braked bikes, you need to be very careful. If you try to brake with them as they go into corners, they will brake much further into the corner and later. I think you will find that the MV3 Ago used in the 1970s had disc brakes. Same with Hailwood's Ducati. If you have a drum brake which is not a Fontana or an Oldani, you are asking for trouble. Grimeca seem to be OK. When I use a front brake at high speed, I like to be certain it will not lock or stay on. The really nice thing is when you really get going and get into a corner too hot with the front brake hard on, if it heats up enough the shoes either grab or fade. I used a drum front brake on a methanol-fuelled two stroke. It had green linings which worked well when cold. In a four lap race, the bottom end of the motor used to heat up, so towards the end of the race it was slower, and that was when I also stated to get brake fade. The two cancelled each other out, but still made me become a dud. If a drum brake stays on in a corner, the front of the bike stays down and that can steer you off the road. Road racing is too fast for that crap. Fit the discs- end of story !
 
Good thing I'm an old fart now and ride like I have all day to get where I am going. Which I do! The only reason these days to have a bike that will do the ton is so that I can get to 50 pretty quick!
 
I've had her out a few times now with the TLS, a few expressway runs, and progressively testing the brake. Compared to the 8" TLS on my Triumph and BSA (68-70 symmetrical hub version), I'm fairly impressed with the norton lump. I did machine the drum and radius the shoes, and installed the stiffener plate however. The one significant difference I've noticed is that it's a bit more challenging to dial in a more progressive feel on the norton unit than it is on the triumph.
 
I love looking at large TLS drum brakes, but nothing is safer than twin discs. Drum brakes and pudding basin helmets killed a lot of guys in the old days. What used to really scare me about road racing, was braking from speeds above 100 MPH and not knowing what the front brake was going to do. I once barely touched the lever and got launched - 90 MPH onto the non-skid, I rolled every inch of the way. It was like somebody kicking the shit out of me. There was a thing a friend used to say to me - 'BE TOLD' !
 
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As your drum brake is working well I assume your cable does not have the integral
brake light switch? If it does, replace the cable with one without the switch. The
difference is chalk and cheese.
 
As your drum brake is working well I assume your cable does not have the integral
brake light switch? If it does, replace the cable with one without the switch. The
difference is chalk and cheese.
Yep - absolutely agree!
About 3 years ago #Ned shared his fix which I have since done on both my featherbeds - works a treat. Thread below.
New Brake switch for my front TLS Drum brake

Edit: BTW - Venhills (UK) sell the switch - a Magura
https://www.venhill.co.uk/switch-2-pole-quarter-inch-32unef-off-at-rest-128500.html
 
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As your drum brake is working well I assume your cable does not have the integral
brake light switch? If it does, replace the cable with one without the switch. The
difference is chalk and cheese.

Yes, venhill heavy cable w/o switch
 
My TLS on the Atlas is a reasonable stopper after installing an axle bushing and stiffener plate. A friend bought a brand new TLS brake plate from RGM and it is a noticeably better stopper. A couple of possibilities....the new plate has no worn areas such as the operating spindles. 2nd....the angle of the operating levers on mine begin at about 90 degrees and go higher as the brakes are applied. Note the last picture above. The friend's operating levers begin about 80 degrees + and head towards 90 at full squeeze. I've tried flipping my levers over to get a better angle but it was minimal. Am considering taking a piece of 1/4" steel then cutting a slot for the spindle square drive. Then draw in the rest of the lever to re-angle the slot and cut it out. It wouldn't be much of a difference but I would like full braking before the lever reaches 90 degrees.
Yes, I have new linings..(another story)
Absolutely new springs.
Has anybody done this? I can't be the first one. Is there any danger of the cam not returning as fast, brake staying on longer than I want? Or locking?
 
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