Front Wheel Swap Help

[figure8]

I'm trying to help someone who wants to swap to front drum brake set up. Xs front drums aren't cheap so I'm looking for alternatives. I found this rim off a Yamaha IT 175. Doing a little research it looks like this it's meant for a 15mm axle. Would swapping in the correct 17mm bearings be ok or would they be to thin to safely run?

The axle for these rims has a piece of curved rod off the end that I can only assume works as the brake stay? Yes I realize spacers would need to be made to correctly center everything up, along with fabbing up a brake stay.

Any help would be appreciated. Here's the rim in question.

http://m.ebay.com/itm/1982-YAMAHA-IT-175-OEM-FRONT-WHEEL-TIRE-BRAKE-DRUM-/121720470148?nav=SEARCH

 

[5twins]

Honestly, I don't think that's going to give you much stopping power. It's a small diameter and only a single leading shoe type. You'd probably be much better off using an XS360/400 drum. They are very similar, maybe even the same, as what came on the early 650s .....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yamaha-XS40...ash=item46431e974f:g:eNEAAOSwPcVV2jeB&vxp=mtr

All these brakes use a cleat on the fork lower to anchor the brake plate. That would involve aluminum welding one on a lower or buying a bolt-on one like this .....

http://www.motolanna.com/ourshop/pr...ront-CNC-Billet-Alloy-Yamaha-SR500-SR400.html

 

[fredintoon]

Hi figure8,
make 15mm to 17mm adapter bushings for that wheel's original axle and use a T-bolt clamp to hold a bracket onto the fork lower for the brake stay.
Mind you, that wheel would only be good as a rule-cheater to stop your buddy getting a ticket; as a brake, it'd be kinda pathetic.
I'm with 5twins, your buddy needs to find a better class of drum brake than that one.

 

[figure8]

Thanks for help. We just ordered the xs400 rim 5twins suggested. We'll see how this goes.

 

[angus67]

Honestly, I don't think that's going to give you much stopping power. It's a small diameter and only a single leading shoe type. You'd probably be much better off using an XS360/400 drum. They are very similar, maybe even the same, as what came on the early 650s .....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yamaha-XS40...ash=item46431e974f:g:eNEAAOSwPcVV2jeB&vxp=mtr

All these brakes use a cleat on the fork lower to anchor the brake plate. That would involve aluminum welding one on a lower or buying a bolt-on one like this .....

http://www.motolanna.com/ourshop/pr...ront-CNC-Billet-Alloy-Yamaha-SR500-SR400.html

I bought that motolanna adapter for a 71 drum put on a 1980. it does work, its a good piece. with careful grinding filing, looks good. Bolts right on to the caliper bolt holes on the forks. A bit steep in price, $60 from Thailand, but its the only adapter out there.
Heres my thread on the adapter, first page.
http://www.xs650.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42278

 

[figure8]

Thanks angus, I'll keep that in mind.