Alternative front wheel?

[iansoady]

I've been looking at the front brake on the Hawkstone. It's only a British Hub 6" affair, and past experience tells me that even at the best of times these brakes aren't brilliant. I fear it may struggle to cope with the mighty(!) Triumph 500.

I wonder if substituting a wheel from one of the Japanese trail bikes such as an XT500 / SP370 etc may be a wise move. Has anybody done this sort of thing? It should be reasonably easy to make a brake anchorage, and the trusty mini-lathe should cope with manufacturing a spindle or adaptors.

[John Wakefield]

Why not fit the later full with British Hub it also has the advantage of being full floating so suspension does not rise up on brake application, linings are 1/8" wider. This type of hub was used on later Greeves, the one on my East Coaster is superb, and I am sure good enough for a Tri-Greeves.

[iansoady]

That sounds like an excellent plan John. Now I wonder where I could find one.....

[John Wakefield]

Try Gary Bamford https://www.britishbikes1970.com/ put an advert in Leading Link and keep a look out on eBay Note these hubs were also fitted to Cotton and the AJS / Matchless 250cc & 350cc lightweights

[trialrider17]

You could use one of these in a full width British Hub

[iansoady]

What's that backplate off? I'll start looking around for hubs. It does look as though the best combination of Triumph bits I have is going to be a 350 so less scary than a full 500cc......

[trialrider17]

Hi ,it's a brake plate of a full width British Hub that John Wakefield suggested but converted to twin leading shoe but on the inside the brake plate ,this conversion was do but a mate of mine he has done a few and they work very well. This one is for a MDS scrambler fitted with a BSA B40 engine ,

[Phil Hyde]

Hi Simon

nice to see the pictures on the forum. Were any sketches or drawings made? Asking for a friend……..

phil

[trialrider17]

Hi Phil , not sure I will ask Bob when I see him ,he did this mod to a Bsa Victor he raced said it great going into bends stopped on a sixpence ,not really allowed in pre65 thats why inside the brake plate

[John Wakefield]

You could use one of these in a full width British Hub

Not good to use the original shoes from single leading shoe, the radiused ends do not fit well on the cam and are a weak point. Needs shoes with flat face both ends. or the ends welded and machined with flats. The RH shoe in the bottom pic already has a distorted end!

[iansoady]

A bit above my skill level I think....

[John Wakefield]

A bit above my skill level I think....

Ian for a standard road going bike even with a 350 Triumph engine the standard alloy British Hub will be fine.The one on my bike (fitted with Villiers Services brake shoes) is more than adequate in fact it can be a bit too sharp at times, only needs a light touch on brake lever

[iansoady]

Thanks John, mine are the tin type. I will keep a lookout for the alloy one - I did note that the ebay roadster you mentioned has one of these but I already have a garage full of bits!