Hello
I'm in what feels like the final stretch of getting my 1963 88SS with a 650SS engine back on the road after 40 years slumber. Today's plea for help and enlightenment surrounds front brake cable length and front brake pivot arm position......
The standard front brake was taken apart to replace the brake pads and was then placed back into the re-laced and fettled front wheel. New AMAL style front levers were also acquired. A standard home market front brake cable was purchased but something is not right.
The brake lever arm seems to be a long way off the end of the cable and even with the standard 5 inches of cable travel we are about 2 inches short. I have tried moving the knurled retaining ring to the other side of the cable adjuster socket but this still comes up short.
The brake arm is set at 90 degrees to the expander cam so there is no adjustment there. What on earth is wrong? Pictures attached but it looks like with the current set up I'm about 2 or 3 inches short. Sadly I do not have the original brake cable to hand but I'm looking for it!!
Cheers
Kit
Looks to me...
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The standard lever doesn't have the adjuster.
As Ian says. The standard lever doesn't have the adjuster. So it's find a lever without adjuster, or get a cable made up to fit. Venhill will make you one to your supplied dimensions, but it's not cheap.
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So - the adjustment on the…
So - the adjustment on the cable is supposed to be just on the brake end? Makes sense.
The original cable has been located and is about 2 inches longer whilst the cable cover is also shorter. I have no doubt this has stretched over time as well. I'll look at the controls and try using the old brake lever to see if this eases the issue. I'll also flip over the arm as suggested but I tried this before with no change.
Back to the shed!
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Be careful
Be careful if trying to turn the lever over, if the hole for the cable then moves up to the cable end then the arm will be greater than 90deg and hence the efficiency of the brake will be reduced.
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Hub lever looks about right…
Hub lever looks about right . Just accept the fact that you have non std controls and need to make up a cable or shorten one . Learn to cut cable .shorten outers and soldering . You could try fitting a chain link to connect cable to lever as a temporary solution that will give more length .
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Try JJ Cables. They are…
Try JJ Cables. They are always at Kempton Park and Ardingly jumbles.
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Front brake cable length
I believe that there is a batch of front brake cables made to the wrong inner and outer lengths which are being sold.
In the last year I have bought two correctly labelled for my 88 and neither fit.
The photo tells the story just like Kit's.
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... like the cable is wrong. Standard levers don't have the adjusters. As well as that, the square hole in the arm isn't symmetrical (if I remember correctly) so putting it on the other way round (ie with what is now outside inside) can change the angle. But first step is to get (or make) a cable that fits.