[Khecari]

I'm a new owner, got an 07 bullet 500 a week ago. The front brake is sticking. I can manually get it to release by pushing up the lever arm on the wheel but it sticks again next time I use it. Thoughts?

[mrunderhill1975a]

Lubrication on the pivots, brake cable and controls would solve this problem.  Start with a light oil (30w) on the pivots that extent into the brake cover, then get a spray can of cable lube down the cable or, get a plastic bag, remove the cable, sheath and ferrule from the  control, cut a small hole in the lower corner of the plastic bag, insert the cable and sheath through the hole, secure the bag to the sheath using a rubber band, then add a 20 ml of light oil to the bag, suspend the bag so the oil slowly migrates down the cable, leave it to drip overnight, in the morning, everything should work nicely.  In the event that does not work, you will need to open up the brake drum and see if one of the springs is broken or the pivot corroded.

[barenekd]

The brake cam that spreads the shoes is probably hanging up. You need to take the brake apart and lightly grease the moving bits. Keep it off the linings!
bare

[Khecari]

Oiling the pivots did the trick.  Thanks.

[mrunderhill1975a]

Good job.

[GreenForce82]

I have this same problem and I lubed the parts on the outside but until I figure out my tire swap situation I made a temporary fix that most of you will call crazy like a fool, but it works.

I hooked a spring to the outside of the lever and took off one of the acorn nuts for the fender braces and rigged it to that. It works great and I really don't want to take apart the wheel and drum brake until I have to. besides if it is the internal spring that broke I would think I would hear it rattling as I slowly rotate the front wheel, but I am nearly certain it is just sticky levers and whatnnot.

but since in other posts I have mentioned the removal and replacement of the front tire, when I do that I am going to take a look at the front brakes because I would be foolish not to while the wheel is off. I still have good stopping power especially after my most recent adjustment, but just to be safe I want to know that they are wearing evenly. I have NOT done the Hitchcocks mod to the brake adjuster, so I believe if I am adjusting them correctly and the levers are parallel, the brakes should be wearing evenly for the most part.

AANNnnnnnd... now another question, what would the general consensus be on the wear time of properly adjusted and NOT hard ridden front brakes.

All this goes back to my attempting to get more confidence in my bikes ability to be ridden long distances, not ridden hard, but for the foreseeable future it is my only means of transport.

[Ice]

 Based on previous experience with other drum brake equipped bikes my guess is 40,000+ miles.

 Mud tears up shoes and drums so avoid that and your fine.

[REpozer]

http://www.realclassic.co.uk/techfiles/tech05040400.html

 

[GreenForce82]

Hey thanks for the link, I was looking for that!