Front brake identification

Fast Eddie

Fast Eddie

VIP MEMBER
Joined
Oct 4, 2013
Messages
21,434
Country flag
Anyone ID this front brake? I’m pretty sure it’s not a Grimeca, Suzuki, Robinson, Fontatana…

Front brake identification
 
Looks custom, very similar to two BSA 8" single sided brakes fitted back to back which I saw online some time ago but can't remember where.

Front brake identification


Found it

www.real-classic.co.uk

BSA Gold Star Brake Conversion - RealClassic

One front drum brake not good enough for you? DBD Brian grafted two BSA 8” front drums together to improve the braking on his Gold Star. Here's how he ...
www.real-classic.co.uk www.real-classic.co.uk
 
My old Vincent came to me with a double sided BSA brake like that. The work of Bruce Main-Smith in the early 60s (it weighed a ton though, so I never used it and fitted a nice 4LS instead).
 
The one in the pic is also 2LS from one lever each side, so unless there is an internal link its never going to match a 4LS.
 
I say this a lot about people’s specials- I would secure the brake cable further away from the tyre.

Also- I don’t fancy that torque arm in compression. Hope it’s a lot more rigid than it looks.

Front brake identification


Hold on- one more thing still bothers me…

Has he reversed a set of BSA sliders and spindle? You know, the spindle with a left hand thread to safeguard against it unscrewing if a bearing gets sticky?
 
Last edited:
kommando said:
A lot of Pop rivets to count too.

May be best we don't know where or what it is ;)
Click to expand...
Hope it’s nowhere near me on the road.

It’s blurry. Those could be button head screws holding the torque arm to the fork. Aren’t they always fully threaded? That’s not a good fixing for a stressed safety critical part.
 
looks like a cable on the other side of the tire too, so 4LS.
and where does that cable on this side go...under the fender?
 
YukoNorton said:
looks like a cable on the other side of the tire too, so 4LS.
and where does that cable on this side go...under the fender?
Click to expand...
That got my attention too. Why route the link cable under the fender - it's an accident waiting to happen?!
 
Yes I noticed the cable too. Perhaps its not as it seems, but it looks like the cable crosses over under the mudguard and links to the lever on the other side of the drum.

Clearly that seems not to make sense, on many levels, but it’s what it looks like to me…
 
Fast Eddie said:
Yes I noticed the cable too. Perhaps its not as it seems, but it looks like the cable crosses over under the mudguard and links to the lever on the other side of the drum.

Clearly that seems not to make sense, on many levels, but it’s what it looks like to me…
Click to expand...
I can only assume that whoever fitted the mudguard wasn't paying attention. The cable looks long enough to run over, and not under the mudguard.
Either way, it's a strange implementation, and a twin pull handlebar lever would surely be a better, and much safer solution?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

N
Braided brake hose for '75 MKIII
Replies
7
Views
238
Desmopower
Desmopower
D
Drum brake stiffening kit
Replies
7
Views
344
AndyDMC
A
jms
Hastings piston rings for Atlas
Replies
8
Views
233
jms
jms
W
72 Disc Brake issue
Replies
15
Views
576
wbehning1
W
G
Rear Brake Plate Movement
Replies
7
Views
347
Gunther
G
Back
Top