spoked rim with drum brake 78 gs550 info needed.

[byrdman76]

Can anyone provide me with a good description or a picture of how the torque arm for the drum brake assembly mounts to the frame or swing arm. I'm trying to convert from mags to spoked rims and the disk brake torque arm is located on the bottom instead of the top.

Thanks,

Byrd

[Suzuki_Don]

Hi there. I have a '77 GS550B model. I'm at work now (live in OZ). I can take a pic and send when I get home if you like and also give an explanation if you like. Will be like another 10 hours. Someone else might respond before that.

Cheers

Don

[byrdman76]

Hi there. I have a '77 GS550B model. I'm at work now (live in OZ). I can take a pic and send when I get home if you like and also give an explanation if you like. Will be like another 10 hours. Someone else might respond before that.

Cheers

Don

Thanks Don - that would be great man!

I was able to get it to work but I had to mount the "torque bar" on top of the swing arm as it was with the disk set up. I also had to make a new brake rod to accommodate the new position of the brake drum. I don't know if this would be a problem running it this way, but hopefully if it is, moving it to the bottom will not be that involved. I can easily weld a new lower bracket but i have no idea of the correct location.

Thanks again.

[computronic2040]

I ran into the same issue. The disk swingarm on the 550 is different from the drum 550 swingarm in that the mounts are reversed, I am also going from disk to drum and I am having to change the rear brake pedal cam angle upwards to accommodate the different lever action.

[byrdman76]

I ran into the same issue. The disk swingarm on the 550 is different from the drum 550 swingarm in that the mounts are reversed, I am also going from disk to drum and I am having to change the rear brake pedal cam angle upwards to accommodate the different lever action.

Is it in the exact location only on the bottom vs the top? If so i could easily weld a bracket but i have no idea what rotational position is correct for the drum.

I used the original pedal and cam to retain the brake light sensor. The spoked version dosent pull the brake sensor correctly. I made a new brake rod and clevis and adpted the return spring on the new rod. Why doesent the original cam work? Maybe ive got something backwards, the brake pedal is supposed to pull the rod correct?

Glad to know im not the only one getting rid of perfectly good disk brakes for drums:-D Gotta have my spokes!

Good luck with your project - let me know what you come up with.

[TheCafeKid]

totally dumb question...why are you switching to drum brakes??

[Suzuki_Don]

I think they want wire wheels.

[TheCafeKid]

oohhhh

you mean like this??



sorry couldnt resist...:-D

What size is the rim on your bike??

[byrdman76]

I think they want wire wheels.

Hey Don you get a chance to get any pics as to where the torque bar mounts to the swing arm?

Also if you could get some shots of the brake cam - where the brake rod clevis mounts to the brake pedal cam.

Thanks in advance man:-D.

[byrdman76]

oohhhh

you mean like this??



sorry couldnt resist...:-D

What size is the rim on your bike??

Yeah just like that :-D. 18" same as your 750. The 750 and 1000 wheel is a direct bolt on retaining the disk brake but their hard to find for a decent price. Plus im going for that old skool cafe racer look and want the drum rear brake set up.

I may change my mind once i ride it :shock:

[TheCafeKid]

Yeah just like that :-D. 18" same as your 750. The 750 and 1000 wheel is a direct bolt on retaining the disk brake but their hard to find for a decent price. Plus im going for that old skool cafe racer look and want the drum rear brake set up.

I may change my mind once i ride it :shock:

I too have refused to part with my spokes for my cafe...but drums are scary..lol did ya check out that post just made with 77 550 spoke rims for sale?? looks like they were stock drums...

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=116750

[Suzuki_Don]

Drums are OK. Especially if you've been used to riding a '50 Dominator.

[TheCafeKid]

Oh ive got a couple bikes sittin here with drums, they are smaller and lighter, but given the choice..id rather have disc...:-D a 380lbs KZ is easier to stop than a 500lbs 750...lol

[Suzuki_Don]

Hi Guys I have taken the pictures, but alas they are too large to fit on this site. I don't know how to reduce the resolution to make them smaller. I can't email you byrdman (I don't know your email address). Email me and I will send the pics on to you. COMPUTRONIC2040 if you need the pics let me know and I can send them on. My email address is on my Avatar.

Regards

Don

[computronic2040]

I have both swingarms so it's just a matter of finagling now. To answer the question, I don't know if the arm mounts are in exactly the same place (top vs. bottom) on each swingarm but I will check today.

As for the brake cam, on the disk version is turned towards about 7 o'clock whereas the drum is pointed towards about 10:30. The sensor spring is just going to take a little tweaking to get it to trip the sensor haven't really looked at how I will do this yet, I've been indulging in the very easy and gratifying world of mopeds lately so this project is on the back burner after a flubbed Dyna install.

These wheels could use some serious truing. I just need my spoked wheels fix, I guess I'm trying for the poor man's British bike via a UJM. And, um, reliability really doesn't hurt.