Triumphrat

Mad

My rear brake keeps getting tighter and tighter without any adjustment made by me. Is this a common problem? I keep backing off the adjustment before I ride and when I get home the rear brake is so tight that I can barely push the bike while in neutral. I'm afraid one day the rear wheel will lock up while I'm riding the bike.
I guess I shold just take it apart and have a look.
thanks, Mad`

jimballard

Definitely take it apart and take a look at it. Just for the sake of argument, do you ride with your foot resting on the brake pedal; is everything moving freely? Also, check the pivots for the pedal and the brake arm; the rear arm has a grease fitting on it and it may be sticking a bit if it hasn't been greased in some time. Don't forget the return spring either, it may be broken. It's a very simple brake, you should have no problem finding the culprit.

Hope this helps; Jim

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Jim Ballard

The older I get, the faster I was....until lately!! (Speed IS the fountain of youth)!

tommyturbo2

Mad: Sometimes when a bike is restored the restorer fails to arc the brake shoes in to the radius of the drum after the new brake shoes are installed. This results in the brake shoes dragging which eventually expands and overheats them. I've restored several old Triumphs, and when I received the new shoes, they all have required arcing. Theres also a possibility that one of the shoes may have broken off a chunk and is causing the drag. Either way you have to pull the rear wheel, separate the brake drum and find out what the derangement is. Call me if you have any questions, or email. tommyturbo2

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TTG..Three Triumph Garage

panda

Make sure your wheel nuts are tight...
but tighteening brake indicates something is badly amiss. sort it out.. is one of teh few things i would worry about on such a bike. Any chance the operating rod is getting bent ??

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A wise man learns from his mistakes..
A genius learns from other peoples mistakes.