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Hseidel49 · #1 19th May 2022

Has anyone one tried running a rear drum brake off of a hand lever? I have a 74 rigid that only has a rear drum currently (thats the way that I got it, front is not set up to run a brake.) I was thinking of changing out the backing plate for one that uses a cable and running it up to a brake lever on the handlebars and doing away with the left side foot brake.

mrmom9r · #2 21st May 2022

Compare the length of the foot brake lever to the length of a hand brake lever

and you may decide there's not enough leverage .

Plus there's a lot of difference in the pressure you can apply between squeezing your hand

and pressing down with your foot.

Ferrous Head · #3 22nd May 2022

Would you mind if I took out an insurance policy against your life ?

bustert · #4 22nd May 2022

super +1
you will be better off converting to hydraulic
with my 1974 and stock shoes, you almost have to stand up on the pedal. i solved this by making my own shoes with draw works brake material but at a cost of shorten drum life, no issue here since i can reline the drum
the rear is only 30% of braking power.

brucstoudt · #5 22nd May 2022

^^ how are you relining the drum?

Ferrous Head · #6 22nd May 2022

Surprisingly, the rear brake on Sportsters is good for what they are.

But they are really just barely up to the task and that's only because of the long brake pedal. Because the Sportster balance is farther towards the rear than most bike you do get some traction on the rear tire when braking.

Most bikes, with decent brakes, transfer more weight to the front tire as the front bakes bite and the forks compress. That helps the front tire gain traction.

In this day and age of cars with 4 wheel ABS disc brakes your eventually going to hit one.

But at least your thinking outside the box. Looking for new ways to get around problems. We all like that.

bustert · #7 22nd May 2022

they actually have companies that do this and there are several methods.
when the time comes, they will be trued and a 1/8 steel liner installed, cast iron is better but very hard to come by, the steel is easier.
there are a couple of ways to attach, one being epoxy and the other welding which will be my method.
the drum is trued once again. since the draw works material does not play nice with trying to arch them, it will be wear to fit. that material has everything but the kitchen sink in it. if it will stop a million pound draw works, what is a 400 pound mc?
thinking out the box is good, restored an old brake master that is hard to find even in repops.
made a brass liner and epoxied to the pitted out bore, still kicking today probably, if the dude is still alive and the machine still exists.

ryder rick · #8 23rd May 2022

A hand disc brake should be no sweat....