front end weirdness

[Frenchy]

1957 A7 swingarm.  My front brakes are super touchy.  It's been fine and smooth braking all summer.  Yesterday anytime I lightly squeeze the front brake it locks up the front wheel.  Any ideas?

[Rgs-Bill]

I had this happen to my 62 RGS, and the fork seal had leaked enough down into the  brake shoes and made it sticky from the heat cooking the oil,  then the shoes want to stick to the drum , plus the brake arm jammed in the stop position.

[muskrat]

G'day Frenchy, is it the alloy "Ariel" hub? It could also be the shoes have worn enough to allow the cam to reach full lift and over center a bit.
If it's the "Ariel" type you can wind in the adjuster (square bit opposite the lever) in a turn or so. I would at your earliest convenience check the wear of the shoes.
Cheers

[wilko]

Or a broken shoe spring.

[Greybeard]

Or loose rivets

[Topdad]

Hi Frency, tried twice yesterday to post a reply but each time work interviened! I wouldn't wait ,get the front wheel out and check everything re the loose rivets my thinking or I'm sure on my one and only ariel hubbed bike I had bonded linings if so they could be  coming away from the shoes either way or whatever thats a recipe for ,as Dutch would say , for an idiot over ! with pianful and costly damage, regards BobH.

[Frenchy]

It's the Ariel hub.  I've ridden my Bonneville since, just to be safe.  I'll get into it tonight.  The forks were leaking last year, but they've been fine since I fixed 'em.  I'll try some of your suggestions and report back. 

[duTch]

 Gee Bob, it's a bugger to be remembered for Endoein' a treadly, but could be worse.....

 Frenchy, sometimes my Gutzi rear(TLS) doesn't release, but it's only 'cos I haven't lubed the pivots for a while,but at least on the rear, lock-nuts (no pun intended) on the rod inboard of the lever allows me to slip a toe under the pedal, which doesn't work on front.
  Way back before I re-shod it, though was a bit due to as musky said ;-

worn enough to allow the cam to reach full lift and over center a bit.

Good luck with it, duTch