New Front Brake Kit

well Rohan one test kit is being fitted as we speak and I think another will be fitted next week for testing.
regarding those steel brake pipes, I screwed the caliper banjos in either end and am chrome plating a couple of pipes and banjos to see how they go. I'll know mid week how the chrome goes,
The complete kits are about ready to go except for the fender stay, I'll check on them on Monday

Don't get too carried away with the chroming - it can make small items like these somewhat brittle.
Only if they get flexed though....

For cars these days you can get stainless brake piping, if you don't like your steel piping rusting...

at least 60% of my customers are from the US, bling bling bling

Rohan said:

worntorn said:

The Vincent's ancient double drum brakes were fine.

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We diverge, but Vincent/HRD Black Shadows had different brakes drums to the Rapides - to improve the brake fade situation ???
Vincents made much of this improvement....

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The Vincent principle of their front brake with one cable pulling and on pushing (via a rocking bream) is crap, hence they have to use an outer cable cover that is double wound to prevent the push one from collapsing.

worntorn said:

CJ, Same problem here, only I have had brake fade riding solo. The standard front brake on my MK3 hauls the bike down OK, but can only do it twice in rapid succession, after that there is no brake unitl it cools. I had this happen while chasing a fast Vincent on the Duffy Lake loop. On the third hauldown from 75 mph to about 10 mph,( downhil switchbacks) I had virtually no brakes. The Vincent's ancient double drum brakes were fine.
Looking at the two tiny pads that have to do all the work, it's not surprising they will overheat in a situation like that.

Glen

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If you really need to, get the front brake shoes relined with oversize green racing linings skimmed down on a lathe to fit the brake drum. Brake fade will mainly disappear .
The only real drawback with these linings is that they can “bite” when cold.

what was this thread about?? hard to keep track...

My point was that when put to the test, the stock Mk3 disc brakes aren't up to it, at least mine aren't. So an upgrade like this or the single sided version is top of the list.
Bernhard, as far as Vincents and cables go, all I can tell you is all of the cables on the Vincent work exactly the same way as every cable on every motorcyce, at least the ones I have worked on. When the lever or throttle or brake pedal gets pulled or twisted or stepped on, the inner is in tension and the outer is in compression. Without the outer they don't work.
And if the Norton brakes worked as well, I would not be in the market for an upgrade like the one Madass is doing.

Glen

Yes, please, move the Vincent stuff off this thread! Stay on the brake system progress and final offering.

Thanks

Ohoh, new mod on site
My fault, I ride both makes and always end up comparing things, especially brakes. Same thing happens on the Vincent site, only they don't want to hear anything about Nortons :mrgreen:

Glen

Just a short update, machining of the sliders has been a little slow, the machine shop did 6 and 3 have been and are in the process of being tested with very positive results , I'm very happy with, one of the testers will
probably do a report sometime next week, anyway I'm confident that everything is ok but at this stage I can only ship 3, the machine shop decided to start machining the sliders for the twin disc kit, but they will be back machining the single disc sliders in a day or two.
the 3 changes to the items in the pic earlier in this thread are, the fender stay will be zincplated only so you can paint it your own color, I will probably eventually powdercoat them silver/grey.
the other 2 changes is the small caliper brake pipe and the slider mounted brake bulkhead fitting bracket will be chrome plated not zinc plated,
I'm just getting some shipping quotes from Fedex now, if anyone is interested in one of the 3 kits available
I can probably ship from tomorrow on, Gold, Silver or Black calipers, all the disc centers are Gold color but not a good match for the Gold caliper, so dont buy if thats an issue,
for these 3 only $650 each kit, of course that includes the new mastercyl for the Lucas switch blocks.
everything is included in the kit to do the job.

Don , would it be difficult to do the fender stay in stainless?
I've gotten to quite like stainless for home shop fabricating. Once I finish making the item, it can be left as is or polished to look like chrome if desired, so no need to deal with $chrome platers or powder coaters. For a lot of things it is the least expensive way to go (for me) and is generally a lot tougher than chrome plated steel. Takes some extra oomph on the tube bender however. Of course you probably have good connections for chrome plating and aren't faced with the small job charges that we get nailed with locally. I had a quote on rechroming one 5" compression release lever(rare item)- $125!! So I will make a few in stainless instead.

In the first post you mentioned polished alloy as a possibility for the caliper. Is that still on? Orcould be left for the purchaser to do, ie leave caliper unfinished at your end?
I'm mulling whether to go to your two sided or single sided. I suspect the single is all the brake I will ever need for road use. I happen to need a new wheel rim so the twin setup which only needs a tire added is tempting.
With the single kit on a Mk3, are there any complications in switching the rotor to the right side as your kit requires?
Glen

my brake kit is offered as pictured and described, it is not and never was intended for MK3, the fender stay is steel and will never be stainless, polished caliper is available,
the dual disc kit is not available yet and wont be for a while.

Unfortunately I am stuck with a mk3( happily) I am guessing that the mk 3 fender needs to go, same as you mentioned re the twin disc kit.
Does the mastercylinder bolt up to the mk3 switch gear?

Glen

nothing in my brake kit is suitable for use on MK3

I'm feeling shunned :mrgreen:

it doesnt make economical sense to make parts for 1 year models.

madass140 said:

it doesnt make economical sense to make parts for 1 year models.

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Sort of, they were made 1975 thru 1978. You just had to live in the UK to get one after 1975.

76,77,78 owners please step forward, how many on this forum ? compared to 72,72,74 combined?
I think u get my drift Brent

1 sold, 2 left.

I know, just ribbing you a little. I do wonder how many 76-78 bikes exist. I have seen several on ebay UK.