internal rear brake setup

[Steve Swan]

Glad to hear all comments. It seems the externally contracting rear band brake by it's self can do the job IF set up correctly.

I would appreciate hearing about proper setup of those spring-like flexible bands with new lining on the very rigid brake drum. How to set up the most possible surface area of band/lining in contact with the drum ??? Help me understand how arcing can be accomplished (is it even possible) on this type of flexible band that is pulled tight against the drum, very different in function when contrasted to an internally expanding set of shoes actuated by a cam making direct contact with the shoes.....?

Also..... brake band lining composition. Tommo is lucky enough to have original stock. I am using the fiber with metal wire impregnated in the lining, sold by Johnny Sells. Is there a particular lining folks use or is Johnny's lining what is used by people ?

I want to ride my bike. Based on Tommo's experience, it seems my brake may not be operating to it's full capacity. I'd appreciate being what i need to do to set it up properly.

Yup. Agreed, looking ahead and not down is one of the basics of driving a motorcycle. I am extremely confident in my riding ability. I can only tell you point blank, Fort Collin's drivers are rude and drive at will wherever, however and whenever they damn well please. I've probably ridden a half million road miles and my one accident was being stupid on my Ducati vs big horn sheep 60 miles west of here, up Poudre Canyon. My other accident was when i was 22 driving West and a 16 year old driving East made a sudden unsignaled left turn in front of me. And i have taught begining Rider's courses. Anyway....

If there's more performance i can get out of that rear brake, i need help being told what can be done to get more grip. Basically, i riveted on new lining on original bands and installed the bands on the actuating mechanism. The bands are centered on the drum, so i have full purchase of all available surface area to drum, at least as far as width goes.

What i may be lacking is as much as is possible surface area of the linings on the circumference of the drum when the brake pedal is fully depressed.

Most of my buddies, like me, only ride in Fort Collins to get out of town. If i could live in the country, i would, but separating from my wife's not in the plan. Oh well. Here we are. Thank you and looking forward to hearing what is proper procedure for rear brake set up on the 1927 JD.

I have never ridden a J era motorcycle until this one. So, i don't have any era appropriate baseline for comparison of my bike's braking ability to another of the same design.

[ChrisLewis]

Internal rear brake

Steve
I have been looking at the same option, from what I have gathered the internal brake was a parking brake, and was operated by a separate pedal located towards the rear of the footboard, these where evident on a couple of bikes at the Raalte show in Holland, however I did not get to talk to the owners, one guy told me they where more common on sidecar models.
Don't take this as 100% but it seems to stack up to me !
Chris L

[Tommo]

If it was a park brake how was it held on.
The park brake operated on the front brake pedal.

[Tommo]

Here's a couple of photos of the 4 different brake locks that I have.
As far as I know they are all factory HD produced.
The old guys reckoned that your trouser leg got caught on the 3 long ones and that the later short one was the best of the lot

[TechNoir]

Hi Tommo, my 20F came with a sidecar and the shorter of the 4 ratchet stops that you show in your picture. (in fact it came with the original one and also a NOS one)

This is the one that you describe as the later one but it is also the same one that is shown in my up to 1921 parts list. (described as a "brake lock"). It is shown in the sidecar section which makes sense.

Did this one start around about 1920 or 21 and the other, longer ones, were just for the teens?

John

[Steve Swan]

Here's a couple of photos of the 4 different brake locks that I have.
As far as I know they are all factory HD produced.
The old guys reckoned that your trouser leg got caught on the 3 long ones and that the later short one was the best of the lot

Thanks Tommo !

my "front brake idea" is on the "back burner." for time being i've decided i'm going to ride the bike with the rear brake and take some time to consider options for front brake possiblities.