Put the rear tire on...now almost no rear brakes

[Guest]

Put the rear wheel back on...set the chain tension and have almost no rear brake force being exerted on the drum.

So, gurus of the "lets slow down" crew...what setup step am I missing?

It worked before I pulled the wheel to put a new tire on.

[bwringer]

Can you tighten the adjusting nut on the brake rod any more?

If not, you might have it backwards.

Here's a view of the hardware... Sometimes people get #12 backwards.

[pete]

Can't find where I set mine up in my rebuild thread at the moment but the setup looks identical.

Brian could be on the money there, I had to tighten 12 quite a way in to get the lever anywhere near the right spot, even though the adjustment indicator tells me I have plenty of adjustment left before needing new shoes.

[oldrookie]

Hmmm...I tightened the nut (#12) down as far as it will go. Possible I need to turn it out rather than in?

I'm beginning to think I might have contaminated the pad or the drum with some of the grease found on the bearings. Probably have to take it back off and clean everything with brake cleaner.

[bwringer]

I'm beginning to think I might have contaminated the pad or the drum with some of the grease found on the bearings. Probably have to take it back off and clean everything with brake cleaner.

That could be... the funky nut simply controls how far the pedal goes before the brake shoes engage the drum.

If this seems OK, but you're just not getting any braking force, you may need to clean or replace the brake shoes.

Also, bear in mind that you can't push the brake pedal hard enough by hand to do much. Not sure if you're getting a weak rear brake during an actual test ride or just when the bike is on the centerstand. You gotta use your foot!

[oldrookie]

Well, I just took it off and cleaned up some. The drum was really grimey and had black goop all over it.

I scuffed the shoes with the sandpaper to get some of the glaze off.

The pedal was moving much further than it was before I took it off to change the tire and I could bottom it out when I pushed it by hand.

Did confirm that the shoes are moving correctly when the cam is turned.

Hope to get it reassembled it yet tonight.

[jwhelan65]

re-position the main nut/clamp on the spindle and try it again.

[Dakotakid]

If soap or tire lube was utilized in the mounting, is it possible you "infected" the drum.

To tell you the truth....my whole time owning my GR was like that. I had the new shoes out 3 times to sand them. When I sold the bike, I had brand new EBC's ready to go in. Never saw the new owner in the obituaries. But, I was destined to appear there if I would have kept the bike!

[oldrookie]

re-position the main nut/clamp on the spindle and try it again.

I have brakes again. I cleaned everything and then re-positioned the nut and all is good again.

Now...I hope...comes the riding part.

Thanks for the advice all!

[pete]

Good stuff, let us know how it rides!

[oldrookie]

Morning, Pete! Hoping to see your ride report on the board shortly. Getting close with the scrambler when you can start worrying about the paint scheme!

Dakotakid, I sure hope that isn't the case with this one! I don't think it will be as they worked before I started "helping" it (though the pedal was really out of adjustment when I got it.) I really got a LOT of black gunk off the drum when I cleaned it and the brakes engaged strongly once I got it reassembled. Paid more attention to how the nut was positioned per jwhelan65's advice and it seems to be working.

[pete]

Mate nearly bedtime here... haha

If all goes to plan I will start her again tomorrow... I'm determined! And yeah, I can feel it... still a few things to do but this year is still theoretically possible depending on $$$ and time...

I found getting that rear brake right was a bit fiddly too, but I think now that I've done it once next time should be a bit easier.