Mechanical brake pedal return spring

Forum rules
Please do not start new topics here, but here: New Panhead and Flathead topics
Post Reply
FL54
Member
Posts: 464
Joined: Wed Mar 19, 2014 3:00 pm
Bikes: 1948 FL
1963 BMW R50/2
1966 BMW R60/2
1944 BSA WM20
1967 FLH
1968 FLH
1969 FLH
1972 FLH
2009 FLTRSE3
Location: Central Oregon
Has thanked: 165 times
Been thanked: 166 times

Mechanical brake pedal return spring

#1

Post by FL54 »

My rigid frame panhead with mechanical brakes never had a return spring on the foot pedal. The spring to the stoplight switch lightly pulls the pedal back rearward. Although I'm used to riding it this way, it doesn't seem right.
In the spare parts catalog for 1941-1954 it shows a small rod 72019-39 that connects the spring on the stoplight switch to the small bracket on the rod.
In the same catalog under '61, 74" and 80" rear brake parts it shows a spring 42427-26 that attaches to the same bracket on the rod 422080-35.
Could some of the experts let me know how the spring attaches to keep the pedal in a more forward position? A picture would be very helpful.
Thanks in advance.
1950Panhead
Senior Member
Posts: 2403
Joined: Wed Jul 07, 2010 4:28 am
Bikes: 1950Panhead
Location: USA
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 366 times

Re: Mechanical brake pedal return spring

#2

Post by 1950Panhead »

There is a hefty spring between the brake pedal and rear floorboard stud.
http://www.jpcycles.com/search/search?N ... 33&Ntk=All
Bigincher
Former member
Senior Member
Posts: 2784
Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2007 2:10 pm
Bikes: 1941/59 EL
1952 FL
1977 FLH
1994 Fatboy
Has thanked: 22 times
Been thanked: 110 times

Re: Mechanical brake pedal return spring

#3

Post by Bigincher »

Here's a blowup of the rear brake pedal taken from an old factory photo.
If you look closely, you can see the spring; one end is hooked in the bottom hole on the pedal, the other is hooked in a hole in the footboard stud.

Image
FL54
Member
Posts: 464
Joined: Wed Mar 19, 2014 3:00 pm
Bikes: 1948 FL
1963 BMW R50/2
1966 BMW R60/2
1944 BSA WM20
1967 FLH
1968 FLH
1969 FLH
1972 FLH
2009 FLTRSE3
Location: Central Oregon
Has thanked: 165 times
Been thanked: 166 times

Re: Mechanical brake pedal return spring

#4

Post by FL54 »

Thanks Bigincher and Panhead. It's not visible in the picture but I'm guessing that the pull wire 720019-39 connects to the spring on the stoplight switch to lengthen the pull when the spring is attached to the pedal and pulls it forward.
FL54
Member
Posts: 464
Joined: Wed Mar 19, 2014 3:00 pm
Bikes: 1948 FL
1963 BMW R50/2
1966 BMW R60/2
1944 BSA WM20
1967 FLH
1968 FLH
1969 FLH
1972 FLH
2009 FLTRSE3
Location: Central Oregon
Has thanked: 165 times
Been thanked: 166 times

Re: Mechanical brake pedal return spring

#5

Post by FL54 »

My foot board stud does not have a hole in it. The way the spring is mounted it would tend to pull the pedal rearwards.
What keeps the pedal in a somewhat vertical position when the brake isn't being used?
1950Panhead
Senior Member
Posts: 2403
Joined: Wed Jul 07, 2010 4:28 am
Bikes: 1950Panhead
Location: USA
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 366 times

Re: Mechanical brake pedal return spring

#6

Post by 1950Panhead »

You can drill a hole in the rear floorboard stud or get another stud with the hole.
The brake rod adjustment (between pedal and cross over) controls where the pedal stops.
FL54
Member
Posts: 464
Joined: Wed Mar 19, 2014 3:00 pm
Bikes: 1948 FL
1963 BMW R50/2
1966 BMW R60/2
1944 BSA WM20
1967 FLH
1968 FLH
1969 FLH
1972 FLH
2009 FLTRSE3
Location: Central Oregon
Has thanked: 165 times
Been thanked: 166 times

Re: Mechanical brake pedal return spring

#7

Post by FL54 »

Thanks Panhead. Now it makes sense. The PO shortened the adjustment rod almost to the max so he could attach a short spring between the stoplight switch and the bracket on the adjusting rod. He eliminated the pull wire and the return spring. So what I need to do is adjust the rod to the correct length, fashion a pull wire from the spring on the stoplight switch to the bracket on the rod, and attach a return spring.
RUBONE
Moderator
Senior Member
Posts: 8368
Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2008 4:09 am
Bikes: Multiple H-D, Ducati, BMW, Triumph, BSA,...
Has thanked: 471 times
Been thanked: 2931 times

Re: Mechanical brake pedal return spring

#8

Post by RUBONE »

The pull wire does not connect to the pedal. It goes to a bracket on the rod that doubles as a pedal lock for tire changes. If your stud has no hole it is most likely off of a Duo-Glide rather than a rigid and is shaped differently than the proper one.
FL54
Member
Posts: 464
Joined: Wed Mar 19, 2014 3:00 pm
Bikes: 1948 FL
1963 BMW R50/2
1966 BMW R60/2
1944 BSA WM20
1967 FLH
1968 FLH
1969 FLH
1972 FLH
2009 FLTRSE3
Location: Central Oregon
Has thanked: 165 times
Been thanked: 166 times

Re: Mechanical brake pedal return spring

#9

Post by FL54 »

Roger that Robbie. Bike was assembled from a lot of parts so the foot board stud could be the wrong one. I understand that the pull wire goes to the bracket on the rod. How does the bracket double as a pedal lock as mine was installed improperly?
cdndewey
Member
Posts: 399
Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2008 9:07 am
Bikes: 42 WLC, 47 EL, 53 FLE, 62 FL, 78 FLH
Location: British Columbia
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 20 times

Re: Mechanical brake pedal return spring

#10

Post by cdndewey »

FL54 wrote:Roger that Robbie. Bike was assembled from a lot of parts so the foot board stud could be the wrong one. I understand that the pull wire goes to the bracket on the rod. How does the bracket double as a pedal lock as mine was installed improperly?

Looks to me like you'd loosen it off and slide it back to remove the brake light spring. Apply brake and slide it so the tab is against the footboard stud and tighten. Should keep the brake applied.
RUBONE
Moderator
Senior Member
Posts: 8368
Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2008 4:09 am
Bikes: Multiple H-D, Ducati, BMW, Triumph, BSA,...
Has thanked: 471 times
Been thanked: 2931 times

Re: Mechanical brake pedal return spring

#11

Post by RUBONE »

The end with the wingnut points forward. When the brake is going to be locked, the wingnut is loosened, the pedal pushed forward to lock the brake, and the bracket slid on the rod to contact the rear footboard stud and then tightened. The brake is now locked on until the bracket is loosened and moved back to its original position. Of course the brake switch pull needs to be re-attached and adjusted.
FL54
Member
Posts: 464
Joined: Wed Mar 19, 2014 3:00 pm
Bikes: 1948 FL
1963 BMW R50/2
1966 BMW R60/2
1944 BSA WM20
1967 FLH
1968 FLH
1969 FLH
1972 FLH
2009 FLTRSE3
Location: Central Oregon
Has thanked: 165 times
Been thanked: 166 times

Re: Mechanical brake pedal return spring

#12

Post by FL54 »

Thanks guys. That is all good information to know. Hopefully , I won't ever need to use the brake lock but it's good to know how it works.
Thanks again.
Post Reply

Return to “Brakes”