hovel
ol' stupid
I have an earlier model. My rear brake is properly adjusted and I can lock it up at will. Maybe you mean something else about lost cause.
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Recommendations for better brakes.
- Thread starter oberling
- Start date
Mine too! The drum brake will lock up. ('83 model)
1980 Special Twin
XS650 Enthusiast
Hey folks, didn't want to start a new thread to ask a (possibly stupid) question, but would there be any increase in braking power if I run a master cylinder on my rear drum brake? I'm currently running forward controls on a custom swivel and rear braking power is a joke. Most people seem to do the MC with disc conversation.
jpdevol
Hacker of Frames,Wires and other things
To run hydraulics on the drum, you'd have to have a slave cylinder in the drum - not feasible IMO.
Leverage is the key to mechanical power. Some of the FC set-ups I've seen have inadequate lever arms @ the pivot.
Leverage is the key to mechanical power. Some of the FC set-ups I've seen have inadequate lever arms @ the pivot.
Does the brake control rod run straight to the actuator? There should be no bends in it. Is the actuator oriented correctly? The dot should be closest to the axle. Next, remove the glaze from the inside of the drum. Also, you can source Ferodo shoes from 650 Central. You should be able to skid the rear tire. I can.
1980 Special Twin
XS650 Enthusiast
My swivel is completely bogus. It flexes and plays. I definitely need to fabricate something better. But i figured while i was at it i could consider an upgrade. Maybe i'll just get the swivel sorted and be good to go.
jpdevol
Hacker of Frames,Wires and other things
See how little leverage is at that pivot in Marty's post (short arms)....
Here's a hacked together set-up using the stock pivot arm, a piece of the formerly stock brake pedal and a Hugh's Handbuilt pivot kit.
It's capable of locking it down with a cable....
Here's a hacked together set-up using the stock pivot arm, a piece of the formerly stock brake pedal and a Hugh's Handbuilt pivot kit.
It's capable of locking it down with a cable....
1980 Special Twin
XS650 Enthusiast
These are great ideas. I initially built my chopper "pipes and pods" but decided to add emgo shorty mufflers so the predictable swivel doesn't work. I added an extension which is flexing badly. If I reinforce it I should be fine. Gonna head to the garage tomorrow.
Maybe knock out a piece that has several holes, each further from the pivot to mount the accuator rod. Select the hole that gives best feel and make a finished piece with that dimension.
That seems close to lethal. If somehow that downward pointing arm hits a curb or similar, the rear wheel will lock momentarily.
I really wonder why make such a contraption, instead of making a longer cable, connected directly to the pedal?
jpdevol
Hacker of Frames,Wires and other things
The brake pedal, that is part of the V-Star floorboards, is designed for a hydraulic brake and the linkage pushes rearward. The rear hub is off a CB77 and that's the stock cable. I left the XS brake pedal on the longish side as I didn't know (when fabing it up) how much leverage the thing needed to work properly (erred side of caution, can always make it shorter). And.....it only is below the frame rail perhaps an inch. It works well, but would be better if I shortened it a bit (now that I know I can afford to give-up leverage) and would probably look better too (hasn't been a priority).
Lethal??
The Standard
XS650 Addict
The Standard
XS650 Addict
Can anyone advise where they are sourcing the Ferodo Platinum brake pads from? Ideally in US as opposed to internationally.
Application would be for ‘72 XS2 front caliper.
What’s going rate for them?
Thanks
Application would be for ‘72 XS2 front caliper.
What’s going rate for them?
Thanks
http://650central.com Go there, get the number and call Michael. He’ll hook you up.
1980 Special Twin
XS650 Enthusiast
An update from OP:
I had originally built my bike "pipes-and-pods" with no mufflers. I added the shorty mufflers for the sake of my neighbors (and to be a little more original), which is why I had to micky-mouse the rear brake pivot. In the end I removed the mufflers and it gave me plenty of room to re-install a stable pivot. It sounds nazzzzzzty and also stops correctly.
I rebuilt the caliper, ditched the stock front brake line for a cut-to-length braided line, and attempted to rebuild the master cylinder and I'm not sure why it failed again but I ended up replacing the MC with an unknown MC from a friend. The bike was running fine, now it stops, too! I miss the look and sound of the shortys but brakes are more important.
I had originally built my bike "pipes-and-pods" with no mufflers. I added the shorty mufflers for the sake of my neighbors (and to be a little more original), which is why I had to micky-mouse the rear brake pivot. In the end I removed the mufflers and it gave me plenty of room to re-install a stable pivot. It sounds nazzzzzzty and also stops correctly.
I rebuilt the caliper, ditched the stock front brake line for a cut-to-length braided line, and attempted to rebuild the master cylinder and I'm not sure why it failed again but I ended up replacing the MC with an unknown MC from a friend. The bike was running fine, now it stops, too! I miss the look and sound of the shortys but brakes are more important.
The Standard
XS650 Addict
Thank you. I see he has an recommendation for the early bike calipers.
I bought my 1st set of Ferodo Platinum pads from 650Central and paid a premium price. I now find them on eBay for much less, but you have to be patient as they don't come up much.
I’ve recently had good luck with EBC brake pads. Only available fir certain years. Have them on the Ducati and just installed on my 4Runner.
This guy overseas sells a big brake kit. Quite nice: https://freedomengineering.org/product/big-brakes-kit-xs400-xs650-320mm-rotor/
