Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125719
the tool kit has long since vanished. This !1IoIne ;Worksbop means the rider is forced to use what he has at hand, more often than not large pliers or vice-grips, and the plug winds up looking like the one picutred here. Shown in the photo is a very simple and By Rod Breaker '" ~ ADJUSTING THE DOUBLE LEADING SHOE FRONT BRAKES w Z W ..J Co) >- Co) As I teach a class in Motorcycle Mechanics at the Norwalk-La Mirada Adult School, I receive many requests for information from my students that make me realize that the Owners and Riders Handbook sometimes leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to basic information that should be included for the rider's benefit. One that was brought to my attention recently was the fact that none of the manuals specify how to adjust the linkage between the two brake levers on a double leading shoe front brake. As you probably know. your greatest stopping power on a regular front brake is with the leading shoe while the trailing shoe is just along for the ride by comparison. Now that the machines are going faster and faster. the factory technicians have compensated for it by installing two cams in the brakes so that it provides the stopping power of two leading shoes. The only problem is that the rider doesn't really know if both shoes are contacting the drum or not and the only information he can obtain from the owners handbook is how to adjust the brake cable. As the rear cam lever is operated by the front cam lever and the front lever is operated by the cable. it means that if it is out of adjustment. one can stop the efficiency of the other by contacting the drum too soon. As it is a little tricky to adjust. I would recommend that you remove the wheel first and check the wear on the shoes first before attempting it. If after checking it out you feel that adjustment is needed, this is the proper procedure. With the machine on the center stand, block up the front of it so that the front wheel is off the ground and free to spin by hand. Spin the wheel and back off the cable adjusting nut until the brake cannot be applied even though the hand lever is pulled all the way. Then loosen the lock nut on the brake lever connecting rod and back the rod off so as to push the levers apart. Again spinning the front wheel with orie hand. run up the brake cable adjusting nut until a slight drag is felt on the front wheel. The important part here is to get the feel of the amount of drag that is on the wheel, remember to- just run it up enough so that there is a slight drag. but the wheel will still spin. This means that the front shoe is beginning to contact the brake drum. Now, again spinning the wheel, turn the brake connecting rod in so as pull the rear lever forward until a little more drag is felt on the wheel. in other words, the wheel should have the drag that means the same amount of brake is being applied by both the front and rear shoes. Now lock down the nut on the connecting rod and adjust the brake cable adjusting nut until you have the recommended 20 to 30mm play at the end of the lever on the handlebar before they start to grab and you are ready'to roll. (Or stop as the case may be), CLUTCH HUB HOlOING TOOL. Recently on these pages, I passed on the idea of making a clutch hub holding tool by making a locking another way out that can cut down the costs quite a bit. As most clutches have the clutch facing on device out of a driven plate and a driving plate the driving plates, (the plates that have the tangs that fit into the clutch hub are called the driving plates. the onew with the tangs by bolding them or welding them together and using engine compression or a support block under the pis10n when removing the clutch hub nut. This is a handy tool and works just fine. but what about the home mecl'lanic whQ deson't have some old plates lying around? To go out and purchase new ones can run into some money. Here is that are on the lnside to fit the clutch hub center are c1laed the driven plates) these are the most expensive while the plain steel ones are cheap cand can be converted into a holding tool by themselves. By taking one of these steel plates and weldinQ a holding bar This conversation was overheard at the start of the recent Desert M.e. Hare & Hound (in spite of the high wind). cheap tool that will do the job easily and is no hassle to make. As these plugs are usually either of the 12mm or the 14mm size, go to any motorcycle shop and purchase a long 8mm bolt with the proper size head to fit the hole in the plug on your machine. Clamp the head in a vice and put a right angle bend in onto it as shown in the photo, you will be able to hold it securely while working the nut. This tool is readily handy in case you have already removed the top end including the the boh as close to the head as you can lik the one shown, this may nCM/ be used to remove the plug with ease. piston. On the one pictured here, an old mirror arm was used as a lever. Any piece of stock will do, but it should be bent like shown to the tool will fit down into the clutch to get a good grip on the hub. lARGE DIAMETER AllEN SCREIIVS. Many German and I tal iaQ motorcycles have a habit of incorporating drain plugs, filler plugs and inspection plugs that require a very large allen wrench to remove. These are often included in the tool kit, but by the time the machine reaches the second or third owner, "ON ANY SUNDA Y" (Continued from ppge 5) Last Thursday night the mOtorcycle press attended a short. 16-minute introduction of what will be a full length. documentary film on motorcycle competition made by Bruce Brown Films. What we viewed was something only the motorcycle enthusiast could fully appreciate. Anybody who has seen Brown's "Endless Summer" epic knows his touch with a motion picture camera. His productions have a flavor all their own, a flavor every viewer enjoys. Thursday night, we got to "lick the bowl" so to speak while viewing the promotion release of "On Any Sunday," and we came out craving for more. "I hope you don't get too critical of it." Brown said during his introduction. "It was hastily put together to show the movie theate,r owners in Iowa, who don't know anything about motorcycle competition, what the fIlm will basically be about." If that was a plea not to be too cynical about the footage to be seen. then it should have been left unsaid. because. if technical errors were there. even the second viewing never showed them. Just seeing. a small fraction of approximately 150 hours of actual filming made the impact of what is to come on June 30 at the Hollywood' premier immediately felt. There was Mert Lawwill, walking down a pedestrian-filled sidewalk. In his dark suit. he looked like any other young businessman on the way to the office. "Mert is not a banker•... but he is I a professional. Mert's prof~ssion is motorcycle racing." Splash! Down the straiRht-away during a half-mile race,Mert. decked in his orange. white and black racing leathers. is leading the pack into turn one, Taking the curve, his Harley starts sending up an incredible rooster-tail while going into a full. power-locked slide. "Ooohs," and HAaahs" can be heard from the approximately 50 persons on hand to witness this showing. Brown's film doesn't let up. It is spiced with humor. tragedy. and rare moments of history. The time and effort really shows - from ice racing in Quebec, Canada. to the Salt Flats near Bonneville. Utah; Brown and his camera crews were on hand filming incredible footage in unbelievable color. In a few minutes. Brown's film dashes all those years of disappointed waiting. For a few minutes, we sawall that "The Endless Summer" had to offer, and more. F or a few minutes, we saw motorcycle competition through Bruce Brown'5 eyes, a view we never knew existed; we saw racing as if for the first time. The minutes went by so fast they seemed like only a few moments. What we have to look forward to is gO to 100 minutes of not more of the same, but better. That viewing will make the thousands of minutes until June 30, 1971. seem unbearable. The waiting is one feeling I wouldn't wish on anybody; so, in a way, those who missed it are kind of lucky. To you. June 30 doesn't seem like centuries away. HI, HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD AN AMATEUR PLATE? Only 3 weeks, but the way I'm scooping up points I'll make Expert by mid·summer. GOOD FOR YOU. BUT WHAT'S GOT INTO YOU SO SUDDEN? Well, I was determined to get a European bike. I finally decided on this Ajay just before Christmas. YEAH, I'VE SEEN A FEW AROUND LATELY. HOW IS In Man, I love it. You haven't experienced 900d handling till you've raced an AJS. YOU COULD BE RIGHT. ONE ZAPPED ME IN SOME WHOOP·DE-DOOS LAST WEEK AS IF I WAS STANDING STILL. YEAH BUT I CAUGHT HIM ACROSS THE DRY LAKE - WENT PAST THAT LITTLE ORANGE SCOOTER LIKE A DOSE OF SALTS. MADE ME 'N MY OLE 400 FEEL A LITTLE BETTER. You realize that Ajay guy was on a 250 don't you 7 Anyhow, he could probably pull a taller gear if only he knew. I'm 4 teeth higher than the stock 57 which gives me over 70 down a Fire Road. Heard Doug Douglas used a 48 when he did that crazy run down Baja. ).\f'IIIOUf'ICIIIG Exciting First Issue' on sale April 15! Devotedcompletely to the Off- Road Rider DIRT BIKE: is the First Publication of its kind in the Field! has actual Dyno Readings on te$t Bikes IS THAT SO? THAT WAS A DOGGONE GOOD EFFORT FOR A 4 SPEED 250 IF YOU ASK ME. HOW IS THE TRANS ANYWAY7 brings in depth eoverage of Motocross, Desert, Scrambles, Trials, Trail Riding! It seems really tough so far and the all metal clutch will take any abuse. The thing I like best though is the neat action of the shift. YEAH, I MUST ADMIT I HAVE TO PUMP MY LEVER QUITE A BIT. The Distributors are giving a new Ajay to the first Ajay rider to win a big Desert Run. That shows they're really taking an interest although I don't suppose it will be me who takes 'em up on tr,e offer. DON'T BE SO MODEST'. No seriously. their idea isn't so weird because George Zuber and Whitey Gregory are getting pretty close. WELL.. I'D LIKE TO SEE A NEW BIKE GIVE THE ACES A SCARE. ANDHEWILL . brings Expert Advice, Technical Tips, Shootouts! First Issue: An Interview with Whitey Martino at your newsstand for ~ or with our Special Offer ..........-.... FiF5t Issue: Motocross Shootout! CZ/ HU$ky/ Maico Compari$on and mor. tests, and more tip$, and more raee$. Be $ure you get every iSlue. On Sale April IS at-your favorite newsstand, or $ub$eribe now and save one third! Speeial introductory offer: Six Issues for only Three Dollars! Send check or money order to: DIRT BIKE Hi-Torque Publications, Inc. Box 154 Encino, California 91316