Looking for a decent front brake for my two speeder

[Deleted User]

Hi all,

After two weekends of serious riding my two speeder (about 500 miles) I have now definitly concluded that the front brake (5″) is rubbish compared to the bikes performance (and the riders weight ;o). Even after I made a completely new cast iron drum, relined the shoes and turned the whole assembly precisely to size.

So I would like to treat her to a decent front brake in the future. So if anyone has a 7″ Webb hub lying around gatering dust please let me know. Preferably as complete as possible: drum, backplate, brakehoes (condition of lining not important) and hub.

Please let me know if you have any that you would like to sell.

Cheers,
Erik

[dave bushell]

Careful, too good a brake will bend the forks!
Dave

[Deleted User]

I know, but the one I have now is more ornamental than of any real use…

[Deleted User]

Hi Erik
When racing with bikes that use 7″ webbs, we can easily fit two back to back.
I am not familiar with 2 speeder brakes bur suggest you look if you can fit another the opposite side. Failing that something that looks like it, say two BSA Bantam front brakes built into a wheel and keep the original for shows etc. Kind Regards
Roger

[lewis onions]

Hello Eric

My 1929 2 Speed Sports should originally have had an 8 inch (or was it 7 inch?) webb front wheel in the wider type forks.This brake was notorious for being too strong for the forks and indeed the 1930 bike had a reduced brake (down to 7 inch I think).

When I got the bike it came with two of the earlier 2 speed type 5 inch webb brakes laced back to back and since riding it I can say that these have proved to be quite adequate if not brilliant stoppers.

Sure enough, when I dismantled the forks I found that the mainstem had been broken and (thankfully) expertly repaired. I assume that this was done early in the bike’s life and the change of brake took place at the same time.

Anyhow, I would also suggest extreme caution in using a large brake especially in your lighter narrow-type forks (I think ?). I can recommend the use of two 5 inch brakes. You’re only problem might be finding another one to go with the one you already have. I saw one at an auto jumble once and baulked at paying £100. I have been kicking myself ever since as I have never seen another spare again.

[Deleted User]

@Lewis & Roger: My bike has indeed the narrow size forks. The stem has been replaced by Roger by a high strength version. That gives me a lot of confidence in taking on speedbumps ;o).

The idea of twin brakes does somehow appeal to me. This would spread the load over both sides of the fork thus not making it twist to one (RH) side. I spoke to Richard Tann about this at Abbotsholme last year. He brought a spare front wheel with him with such a conversion but he told me it still was not much good…

On the other had do I really like the look of a massive 7″ Webb in the old style forks. I think they make the bike look a bit more “grown up”. Like this one (borrowed from the Clubs page):

Also with the narrow forks.

By the way, looking at the Clubs page galleries you see a few bikes with the twin 5 ” brake conversion. So this is kind of “period”….

I’ll give the whole thing a good think. Those drums are not exactly easy to find anyhow…

By the way, the brakedrum I have on my Scott at the moment I made myself from a cast iron Vespa scooter drum. I could easily make another one but I would still have to find a suitable hub and of course a backplate and brakeshoes…

Cheers,
Erik

[Graham Parker]

Gents – I read this article and had a hunch I had something of this nature lying around in the shed.

I don’t have a drum (you could turm one easily enough), but I do have a front 2-Speeder (narrow type) front hub AND and Scott 2-Speeder brake plate.

Both appear in pretty good nick. I’d prefer to swap for Flyer clutch / gearbox / undertray / outrigger parts, but if you don’t have any such stuff and you would like these bits, then as its you guys….

Graham

[Deleted User]

@ Graham: I will certainly keep those parts in mind! Do you also have the brakeshoes? Turning a drum would indeed be no problem.

In all literature I read the 7 inch Webb was to powerfull for the forks. Seems reasonable but what was the exact problem? Was it twisting the fork due to the strong braking action on the RH side? Or was it bending the forks backwards due to the braking? Just curious…

Cheers,
Erik

[Deleted User]

Erik,

When I got my 1929 Sports, with 7″ front brake, the front brake anchor plate had at some time come adrift and been twisted. It had been straightened out.

I thought this was scary, so made a new achor plate, with a keyhole for location instead of the slot at the top. I think you are correct in thinking that the brake twists the forks under heavy application, and then the anchor pops out of its location and you are flying……

I have mine adjusted so that I can pull the lever right in to the handlebar, so that in an emergency I will not act quicker than I can think. I also consiously use the rear brake as the main stopper, and help it with the front. I have not yet had to test my ideas in an emergency…..

[Author]

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