Mechanical Sidecar Brake

[koanes]

I'm looking for opinions on the use of the sidecar brake on a rigid. The machine is a 46FL with a flatbed package truck chassis. I have talked to a few sidecar jockeys and was told they are very hard to set up and not worth the effort. If it would help I would make up a brake rod and try to dial it in. Thanks for your input.

[Sargehere]

I've run Package Trucks and H-D passenger sidecars forty years. I've never found it hard or "not worth it." Make up the brake rod and dial it in. It will feel best if the sidecar brake "grabs" just a little after, behind, the bike brake. It will help tremendously in stopping, and in making right turns (RH sidecar). I had a 53M, a big, box sidecar, and made the brake work as designed and found it fully worth it. Especially when carrying a load in the sidecar.
It can be made REALLY helpful turning right if you rig a sidecar it so that besides with the bike's rear brake, you build a little mechanism to activate the sidecar brake also separately, by a separate right side foot pedal or by long front brake cable and handle, for use in very tight righthand turns. It's fun on a passenger sidecar, but it's not absolutely necessary. Hope this helps!

[Rubone]

Hi Kyle,
I have always used the brake on my UL/ sidecar rig. The brakes are poor enough without eliminating one of them. The sidecar brake needs to come on slightly later than the main bike brake in order to track correctly. Too soon and it tends to make the rig want to turn right, too late (or not there at all) and the rig tries to turn left. I just put the bike on the rear stand and block up the SC wheel, adjust the rear brake normally, then when holding the pedal to where it just keeps the rear wheel from turning, adjust the SC brake so it will turn with slight drag. I have a parking brake lever so that helps as I can lock it to just hold the rear brake on. The only other thing is remembering to adjust the brake when adjusting the rear chain. Since the threads on the rods are the same it is easy to move it the same amount. And as I said, any more braking you can come up with is a good thing!
Good luck
Robbie

[koanes]

Thank you Gentlemen, I'll hook it up and see if I can dial it in. I'm going to load my Triumph TR6C in the package truck and take it for a practice run. I've put around a thousand miles on the rig, but always empty or nearly so. The knuckle is unhappy about the marriage to the sidetruck (or is it me?), but the opportunity to participate as escort in the rally was too good to pass up. Having more safe braking power has to be a good thing. I'll report results.

[Chuck#1848]

Hi Kyle,
Like it has been mentioned to you earlier especially if the knuckle rig get's pressed into action the extra braking power is going to be helpful now,something else to consider is how the rig handles, if it feels light in the corners especially in a right turn you may want to consider some ballast in the form of a sandbag,or what I use to do was use a plastic collapsable 5 gallon jug filled with water or even a piece of plate any of these you will want it fastened as close to the sidecar wheel even that little bit of weight will make a big difference.

Now......how about posting a picture of this beauty

[knuckleheadtim]

I ran one day without a brake and nearly got killed on a steep hill with a right turn that banked out. after 25 years with a brake, i can't imagine running without it.

There's nothing difficult about dialing it in. I set it to be slightly too aggresive when empty and slightly weak with a passenger.

[Jerry Wieland]

I recently had the pleasure of being one of the 'Knuck trucks' that followed as sweep/pickup vehicles on the Cannonball Run from Kitty Hwk NC to Santa Monica, CA. I hooked up the sidecar brake as a late last thing on my 41 FL before embarking and I will say that never again would I consider running a sidecar without the brake. The braking power that was added to the rig was beyond belief and never once did I experience any negative. I had been told that without a load they would throw the rig sideways and with a load they were ineffective but I wholeheartedly will refute this. Not once when the car was empty or when it was loaded with a 500# 1915 Indian and its 250# rider did the rig do anything but pull down straight as an arrow. I came down some pretty steep grades loaded heavy and never once felt like I was pushing the envelope.

I had Deiter on the back when we pulled in to Santa Monica because he had snapped the frontend in half on his 1913 BSA and after a few quick stops he made the comment 'I thought HD's never had much for brakes'. I took it as a complement.

Adjustment was easy - Once I had the sidecar brake set where I wanted it in relation to the rear wheel I just made sure that I adjusted the rear chain in multiples of 3 flats which translated into 1/2 turn out on the rear linkage as both are 5/16 UNF.

Just my 2 cents. Jerry

[fillibuster]

add up the payload once:
47 Chief, 540# dry, plus saddle bags, pass-seat, tools, maybe round it up to 600#
sidecar, add another 350# (estimate)
Pilot, I weigh 250 plus about 15# of leather and helmet, whatevers
passenger (we're not in our 20's anymore). I hauled a 300# friend around the Black Hills one day.
First Aid Kit, aka the cooler .......... 20#
all your buddies' extra things..... 20#

1540# ... Had my front brake cable snap several times in last 20 years, once with sidecar on. Would have been disastrous without sidecar brake.

[SFMike]

You need the brake.
Just like the other guys said.
I set up my 1st one years ago (juice type) and tested it awhile without brake-disaster impended at every move.

Brake made all the difference in the world.