What's everybody have in the works for winter projects?
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,264
Likes: 690
From: WESTERN CHICAGO AREA
I have to agree with that. The more friction the faster stops. Unless you only put your bike in shows.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 768
Likes: 55
From: chico
"I have to agree with that. The more friction the faster stops."
Yes indeed, If you think about the grooving, either in a drum or disk, it amounts to a large increase in friction area, while the mechanical advantage of the hydraulics (or cables) stays the same. That the groves may be numerous and very small simply makes this effect so much more. But it also means that when you change out the friction material the effect will disappear (and the brakes will be worse than OE) until the pair "machine in place".
There are engineers who specialize in friction materials and the related systems - and I was able to attend some symposia on this field - way back in the 70's - where these and other matters, as they related to fleet operations, were discussed in a professional setting. Good donuts...
Yes indeed, If you think about the grooving, either in a drum or disk, it amounts to a large increase in friction area, while the mechanical advantage of the hydraulics (or cables) stays the same. That the groves may be numerous and very small simply makes this effect so much more. But it also means that when you change out the friction material the effect will disappear (and the brakes will be worse than OE) until the pair "machine in place".
There are engineers who specialize in friction materials and the related systems - and I was able to attend some symposia on this field - way back in the 70's - where these and other matters, as they related to fleet operations, were discussed in a professional setting. Good donuts...
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
I've ridden bikes since before the disc brake was first used on them. While the wonderful drum brake was dropped by manufacturers in fast order, in favour of the new kid on the block, those early discs were a nightmare, especially in the wet! The Italians used auto brake materials, in other words iron, which went rusty as soon as they left the showroom, and Triumph FFS chrome-plated some of theirs, which were as useful as a chocolate teapot. H-D were the first to fit them front and rear, which made their bikes utterly terrifying in some riding conditions, hence my comment above.
Fortunately these days all that is behind us, but it took the industry far too long to get the wretched things working well. We had to ride through the dark ages for a decade or so before they achieved a serious improvement.
Fortunately these days all that is behind us, but it took the industry far too long to get the wretched things working well. We had to ride through the dark ages for a decade or so before they achieved a serious improvement.
Last edited by grbrown; Dec 26, 2016 at 06:46 AM.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 304
Likes: 38
From: SE Michigan
I screwed up the radio antenna cable connector ever since I added a quick-disconnect trunk kit to my bike. Taking the trunk on an off all the time I cross threaded and stripped the nut on the connector. Since I cant find just the radio antenna connector to replace I guess I will need to replace the the antenna cable from the radio all the way back to the trunk on my bike this winter. Ugh Since I will have the fairing all apart, I might decide to replace the radio while I am at it. Still rocking the original 97' HD cassette player radio 
G.B.
G.B.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 768
Likes: 55
From: chico
GoneBlue - try a thread file? Might work...
about the disks, above discussed...
They were just then formulating the new friction materials when I studied the stuff with a fleet. The engineer I used to work with owned a company that, among other things, designed special braking systems - and we had some explode in service...iron disks they were, we had them made at a local foundry. It was a new art. Yes, the disks now are great, though I would be quite happy with drums. Disks are, at manufacturing level, cheap and simple. Drums, conversely, are expensive and complicated they do have more limited heat dissipation. They also tend to require a weaker hub design... I have had cast hubs evolve circumferential cracks that resulted in the spoke-ring of the rear hub separating from the web. That was in, however, a severe example - rear wheel on a hack.
My 2cents...
about the disks, above discussed...
They were just then formulating the new friction materials when I studied the stuff with a fleet. The engineer I used to work with owned a company that, among other things, designed special braking systems - and we had some explode in service...iron disks they were, we had them made at a local foundry. It was a new art. Yes, the disks now are great, though I would be quite happy with drums. Disks are, at manufacturing level, cheap and simple. Drums, conversely, are expensive and complicated they do have more limited heat dissipation. They also tend to require a weaker hub design... I have had cast hubs evolve circumferential cracks that resulted in the spoke-ring of the rear hub separating from the web. That was in, however, a severe example - rear wheel on a hack.
My 2cents...
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,065
Likes: 4,561
From: Haslet Texas
Damn they make an app for everything now!!!!!!!!!!!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,590
Likes: 444
From: Ohio
I've ridden bikes since before the disc brake was first used on them.
Fortunately these days all that is behind us, but it took the industry far too long to get the wretched things working well. We had to ride through the dark ages for a decade or so before they achieved a serious improvement.
Fortunately these days all that is behind us, but it took the industry far too long to get the wretched things working well. We had to ride through the dark ages for a decade or so before they achieved a serious improvement.
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 304
Likes: 38
From: SE Michigan
Thanks Pie but the threads that are stripped are the internal ones in the ring collar nut show on the cable connector in the pictures attached. Thanks, G.B.
1st Gear
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Marana, Az
84' flt
I've had my bike since 1984. I've put 208,000 miles on her. It was time for draining the forks again, so I got right to it since I'm a school bus driver and I have two weeks off. I also needed to tighten up the front fork bearing so I got that done today, as well. I'm doing that service more often now as the conditions of the roads have deteriorated around here like everywhere else. I guess one could call these items winter projects but around here I ride year-round so it's just routine maintenance. Hope all goes well with your projects. Best of luck!