SA front drum brake conversion

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Des49
Posts: 799
Joined: 2 Dec 2014, 11:45am

Re: SA front drum brake conversion

Post by Des49 »

niggle wrote:
Des49 wrote:Is a Shimano V-brake lever ok for a SA drum brake?

I have recently purchased one with a dynamo to build up for someone. The bke currently has I think Shimano LX V-brakes, it would be nice to keep the same lever.

I think not, unless your levers have an adjuster in them that will let you change between v-brake and canti/roller brakes pull. Best IMO would be the genuine Sturmey Archer levers: http://practicalcycles.com/products/233 ... canti.aspx or something else designed for traditional side pull calliper or canti brakes like http://practicalcycles.com/products/334 ... ebars.aspx or http://practicalcycles.com/products/233 ... evers.aspx

EDIT: Sturmey also do a parking brake version: http://practicalcycles.com/products/107 ... lever.aspx


Thank you for this info and the links.

Not sure if the current levers are adjustable, the bike is with one of my daughters who lives a fair way away. Those SA levers are pretty cheap so may just be best to get those. The rear brake will remain a V for now, though in time it would be great to migrate to a hub gear and drum brake too, will cut down on maintenance and keep things cleaner for her. Though this was a £60 bike, the value is increasing a lot with a few additions which defeats the original aim somewhat.
niggle
Posts: 3435
Joined: 11 Mar 2009, 10:29pm
Location: Cornwall, near England

Re: SA front drum brake conversion

Post by niggle »

Des49 wrote:
niggle wrote:
Des49 wrote:Is a Shimano V-brake lever ok for a SA drum brake?

I have recently purchased one with a dynamo to build up for someone. The bke currently has I think Shimano LX V-brakes, it would be nice to keep the same lever.

I think not, unless your levers have an adjuster in them that will let you change between v-brake and canti/roller brakes pull. Best IMO would be the genuine Sturmey Archer levers: http://practicalcycles.com/products/233 ... canti.aspx or something else designed for traditional side pull calliper or canti brakes like http://practicalcycles.com/products/334 ... ebars.aspx or http://practicalcycles.com/products/233 ... evers.aspx

EDIT: Sturmey also do a parking brake version: http://practicalcycles.com/products/107 ... lever.aspx


Thank you for this info and the links.

Not sure if the current levers are adjustable, the bike is with one of my daughters who lives a fair way away. Those SA levers are pretty cheap so may just be best to get those. The rear brake will remain a V for now, though in time it would be great to migrate to a hub gear and drum brake too, will cut down on maintenance and keep things cleaner for her. Though this was a £60 bike, the value is increasing a lot with a few additions which defeats the original aim somewhat.

Did the same myself when my daughter went to university, we bought a scruffy ladies Raleigh 3 speed, overhauled the hub and put alloy rims on it, then later replaced the hub with a SRAM P5with drum brake and replaced the front hub with a Sturmey dyno hub with 70mm drum brake and suitable lights. She no longer asks me how to fix her bike, it now just keeps working, so worth the £200 or more spent when she is about 275 miles away. It being still quite scruffy apart from the wheels helps keep it safe from the local bike thieves.
Des49
Posts: 799
Joined: 2 Dec 2014, 11:45am

Re: SA front drum brake conversion

Post by Des49 »

niggle wrote:Did the same myself when my daughter went to university, we bought a scruffy ladies Raleigh 3 speed, overhauled the hub and put alloy rims on it, then later replaced the hub with a SRAM P5with drum brake and replaced the front hub with a Sturmey dyno hub with 70mm drum brake and suitable lights. She no longer asks me how to fix her bike, it now just keeps working, so worth the £200 or more spent when she is about 275 miles away. It being still quite scruffy apart from the wheels helps keep it safe from the local bike thieves.


Exactly the same situation here. She brought it herself when she went to uni, I did want her to look for a hub geared bike but she ended up with an Apollo geared bike which had awful plastic cantis, unsuitable knobbly tyres and no mudguards. So to correct this cost more than the bike to start.
Now she is working with a 3 mile commute and it still serves the purpose well. I would be happier if she had a dynamo too for full time lights hence the planned updates, plus with hub brakes it will stay cleaner and cut the need for her to change brake blocks.
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SimonCelsa
Posts: 1230
Joined: 6 Apr 2011, 10:19pm

Re: SA front drum brake conversion

Post by SimonCelsa »

I got the commuter bike built up over the last week and recently gave it a good spin out.

I can confirm through practical experience that the Tektro RL520 levers are not really suitable for use with SA drum brakes. They will retard you somewhat, but should an errant sheep amble across your path then either it, or more probably you, will be toast.

My reason for fitting them initially was that I had a cheap set available and the SJS website product Q&A for the SA 70mm drum brake front hub does read:

Which Lever To Suit A Mountain Bike Handlebar ?
By James
15 Apr 2015

SJS Customer Service:
Hi,

Any brake lever that uses the same cable pull as a V-brake will be compatible with this front drum brake.

Thanks.


Anyhow, after retrofitting the Tektro RL340 levers the front brake performance is now significantly better and leads me to fear buckling the forks should I grab the lever too hard!

I have since fitted SKS silver mudguards & a tortec ultralight rear rack so all is good to go. The cheap aero rims I acquired from eBay built up into pretty good wheels although they are a bit narrower than anticipated and hence I'm loathe to go fit tyres much above 25mm. I am seriously contemplating a set of Tannus 'airless' tyres to finish it off; the commute is only 5 miles per day.

RRA1.jpg


RRA2.jpg


Cheers, Simon
Brucey
Posts: 44455
Joined: 4 Jan 2012, 6:25pm

Re: SA front drum brake conversion

Post by Brucey »

Bad advice from SJS there.

cheers
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Brucey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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