We have a 1989 HD factory sidecar with drum brake and considering upgrading to disc. Anyone have any experience in this area?
Originally written by hinrg09 on 2/18/2009 8:06 AM
We have a 1989 HD factory sidecar with drum brake and considering upgrading to disc. Anyone have any experience in this area?
I've seen it done but have no details oher than my knowledge of both types of frames. In any case, you would need a different wheel and axle. If I were to do it, I'd see if the late model (post 1998) axle and wheel would fit the frame. I'm not certain that the tapers are the same. You'd have to locate parts that you could borrow for such a test. The rest of the job would be finding a caliper that could work. The late-model HD caliper isn't going to fit and would be far too expensive in any case. I would think that there might be a Japanese caliper that you could get at a wrecking yard that could work. Frankly, after having ridden both styles over the years, I really do not see a great advantage to the disc brake. While I have the disc brake on my 2007 sidecar, it is no more effective than the drum brake.
I had two previous HD sidecars with drum brakes. Both of them worked quite well and I never had to replace the brake lining in either of them in many years of use.
I'm not trying to discourage you. I do think that you might be disappointed if you are expecting a big change.
if somebody came to my house today with a drum brake sidecar and wanted to swap frames for my disk brake one....
id be very tempted to do it. right in the front yard while they wait..... keep bodies, wire, fenders, brace - just swap the frame to get a quiet reliable drum brake.....
the disk brake sqeeals constantly once it gets warm - very irritating.
i know, i know the toe in adjustment sucks on the old frame - but once its adjusted right its done.
to
Originally written by timo482 on 2/18/2009 7:21 PM
if somebody came to my house today with a drum brake sidecar and wanted to swap frames for my disk brake one....
id be very tempted to do it. right in the front yard while they wait..... keep bodies, wire, fenders, brace - just swap the frame to get a quiet reliable drum brake.....
the disk brake sqeeals constantly once it gets warm - very irritating.
i know, i know the toe in adjustment sucks on the old frame - but once its adjusted right its done.
to
There's a certain logic to what you way. In the first place, I really don't want a lot of brake capability on my sidecar. A little bit is nice but if it were super efficient, it could pull you off the road. Apparently HD agrees on this since the disc brake was kept rather small - what is it 9" disc or something like that? It really doesn't work any better than the disc brake system.
The drum brakes were indeed quite reliable and trouble-free. I recall I used to take the wheel off now and then and look at the shoes. I'd just blow it out with an air hose and put it right back on. I never had any trouble with it and, as you say, the disc version tends to squeal a bit.
The adjustment capability with the double-threaded standoffs on the very late model HD sidfecars is quite nice, however. I'd have to think twice before getting rid of that, although as you say, once you set it, you really shouldn't have to do it again.
The disc brakes and late-model wheel styles look cool though, so everybody wants one. LOL
i think the 70's era juice brake looks way cooler than the disk does
im running steel rim wire wheels
now, if i could just find a black tin primary cover......... and a set of disk covers cheap enough to sand blast them and paint them black.... or that aluminum paint they used to use on the brake back plate....
to
I've used VHT silicone based aluminum paint in the past. From industrial coatings Mfg'r's. Works on exhaust systems and other high temp applications(Usually a 1 quart minimum sized can which will last for years).
Paughco and others have chrome plated tin inner and outer primary covers. Just add a brushoff blast and black paint.
Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars
ill check out the paint
but none of the tin primaries ive seen will fit on a 07....
conceptually i could take a cast primary cover - machine up the part that hold the outer end of the starter & then hand form a tin that covers the whole thing - but hand forming that will actually hold oil is another matter entirely.
but it sure would look cool
to
When you were talking earlier sidecars I thought you were riding something in the early pan/shovel era where dry primaries were common.
The kicker tins were really bitchin'.
Lonnie (old fart)
Originally written by timo482 on 2/21/2009 5:34 PM
ill check out the paint
but none of the tin primaries ive seen will fit on a 07....
conceptually i could take a cast primary cover - machine up the part that hold the outer end of the starter & then hand form a tin that covers the whole thing - but hand forming that will actually hold oil is another matter entirely.
but it sure would look cool
to
That sounds like a lot of work for little more than appearance. As you probably know, there were good reasons why the MOCO quit using tin for primaries. Whenever I parked either my Knucklehead or my Panhead, they would usually leave a nice spot of oil the size of a dinner plate. This is definitely not a good way to make friends. I got to where I would park on the dirt if visiting someone.
Also, since the oiling method (drip) was so poor, it was quite common for the primary chain to lock up and get stiff after about 10,0000 miles. The cast primary was a big step ahead for Harley-Davidson. My 2004 Ultra doesn't leak a single drop of oil from anywhere. You couldn't say that about earlier models.
