Eldorado front drum "mushy" feel

[Allflatblack]

Hey guys: I race with AHRMA and use an Eldorado front drum on my Sportsman bike. It stops perfectly and without question, and for the largest production drum brake available, $100 for the drum with the stock Borranni rim and stainless spokes made a big difference. My friends are throwing down $1,000 to $4,000 for stuff that I feel stops no better.
There is one thing: The Eldorado has a mushy feel. I can’t tell if it is flexing or the set up could be better. I have reconfigured it in a dozen ways over the last four years and just never get the feel of a positive stop. The brake begins to lock at a quarter of the lever pull but never really provides real resistance all the way to the lever. (at the lever it is providing real stopping power, confident at the 3 marker on the back straight at Road America going terminal, maybe 110 mph).
The cable is the thickest I can have made, the shoes are ferrodo and arced to shape. It works very well, never fades, just feels nothing like a Norton or triumph TLS. I am considering making new actuator arms out of steel, but can’t think of anything else.

Does anyone out there with an Eldo or Ambassador run this brake and concur that this is just the feel of the brake and nothing can be done? Have you tried something? Perhaps there is a brace out there I am unaware of, like a Norton?
I appreciate any advice.

[Tom H]

My Eldo must be set up just right. Easy pulling lever and stops on a dime, especially when I used a set of shoes from Guzzi Classics. My Ambo, I have yet to get it just right, lever is hard and just stops ok to good, just not great. I believe the Ambo has Ferado in it.

The Guzzi Classics shoes stopped great, but were a bit hard on the drum, rather aggressive material I think.

Greg Benders Guzzi site explains how to set up the front brake. I'm sure you have already look at that, if not give it a quick read.

Good luck,
Tom

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Only two things that I can think of and you might have already done both:

1) before final tightening the front axle nut, elevate the front end, tighten the axle nut, tighten the right-side axle pinch bolt, loosen the axle nut, spin the wheel as fast as possible (in the correct direction of rotation), "slam on" the brakes and hold them on, tighten axle nut. Then go back and loosen the pinch bolt, work the forks up and down, then tighten both pinch bolts. This "centers" the backing plate and shoes to the drum.

2) adjust the link between the two arms so that both shoes are applied equally. Tough to do sometimes.

Another tip someone (Vintage Brake?) told me was to put the locknut for the cable adjuster, down on the backing plate, on the rear side of the lug instead of the front side of the lug. Most times my cables are a bit on the short side and I can't do that, so don't know if it makes a difference or not.

Hope this helps.

[Allflatblack]

Thanks guys

[L.A.kevin]

A BSA A65 clutch cable fits (with a bit extra length but) is much thicker and less prone to stretching.

[John Ulrich]

Here's a photo of "Classics" lined shoes.   I made the mistake of running a finger over the surface when I got them and promptly cut my finger.

[Allflatblack]

I have to admit that while my street bike is a Guzzi G5, this AHRMA bike is a 69' Honda CB350 racer. basically everything is custom including a custom cable setup built for me by Barnett. The axle has been modified to fit a a 35mm CB550 front ens and so it is reasonable to assume that this feel issue is due to the different arrangements that I have had to make. ill try to post a picture



This is me being a cool guy at Kershaw the other week.

[Allflatblack]

No, No its an Eldo 2ls! Im not rich!

[Muzz]

Only two things that I can think of and you might have already done both:

2) adjust the link between the two arms so that both shoes are applied equally. Tough to do sometimes.

This would be my first thought. Sometimes easiest to do with two people, one to squeeze the levers hard on and one to adjust the linkage arm to the precise length.

[Allflatblack]

Thanks Muzz