Rear Brake Adjuster - Manual Unclear?

[Andrew1]

Hi Team:

After replacing rear brake shoes, I finished by adjusting the shoes on a BJ8 with the square headed brake adjuster.

The manual says to tighten, until there is slight resistance stopping the wheel from rotating, then back off two clicks.

However, what is not clear to me is that during each partial quarter turn, before the click, there seems some restistance offered by the brake shoes to the drums until the next "click" or detent is reached.... at which time the wheel is released and rotates freely.

So following the original instructions to a tee, it is not clear, if I am supposed to keep tighening the adjuster until there is some slight resistence offered when the succesive detent is reached (then back off two clicks)?

Or, is it rather, turn the adjuster until any resistance is felt any time while tightening, then back off two clicks? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif

Help

- Andrew -

 

[Keoke]

Hi Andrew, Try this. Tighten the adjuster until the wheel is locked up tight then back off until it is free or you feel slight resistance.---Fwiw--Keoke

 

[bighly]

Keoke is correct. Use common sense in terms of what makes it operate peoperly.

Also keep in mind that you may need to "bed" the new shoes in for a few dozen brakings then try again. This would explain the few spots that provide resistance.

 

[GregW]

Hi Andrew,
[ QUOTE ]
So following the original instructions to a tee, it is not clear, if I am supposed to keep tighening the adjuster until there is some slight resistence offered when the succesive detent is reached (then back off two clicks)?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, the business end of the adjuster looks like a pyramid. So as you rotate it, the four corners push the brake shoes out as they rotate past and settle on the flat sides. If you don’t use a flat side(detent) to set the brake tension, eventually the adjuster will rotate itself to a flat side and you won’t have much rear braking power.