Re: Weekend Puzzler

Posted by Marco on September 11, 1998 at 18:28:41

In Reply to: Weekend Puzzler
posted by Kevin Daly on September 11, 1998 at 14:45:55

Kevin,

Here we go again!I haven't even bought the books with my own (limited use) articles in them, but the one or two "how to" books I have include that one.I purchased it in 1975 and just noticed it wasn't fully trimmed and had to cut the pages apart to check out your reference!

First bad impression when reading was to use a large screwdriver to pry between the drum and backing plate to aid in removal! NOT GOOD.Now to the wedge studs.They were initially round, but sometime during production (late-'29?) they were changed as you describe and the flats were positioned top and bottom so the full diameter was still present for the stops.They are not cams but simply stops!

The modification described will gain absolutely nothing.The results would be to allow the shoes to retract farther from the drums.In the process the wedge would rise and the lever would move forward as described.However, when adjusting the brakes you would then need to compensate by shortening the brake rods to pull the levers back, which in turn would put the shoes back near the drums where they belong and you are now back where you started!Only one remaining aspect is you now have reduced the stability of the shoes since they are way off their stops when retracted.IT IS A WAIST OF TIME!!!!The proper way to regain leverage lost by wear of the push rods and their recepticles is the addition of rod shims or "brake pills".

The most important and critical aspects of the Model 'A' brakes are guide tracks, shoes ground to the proper diameter, and then centered perfectly so that when the drum is installed there is only a few thousanths clearance between the shoes and drum over the ENTIRE surface of the shoes.I would guess from experience that most A's are running around with 40-50% shoe contact and I don't wish to be in front of them!!!

Have fun!

Marco


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