Rear brake cable

[Billybream]

Working on spring spruce up of my bike and one of the tasks is replacing rear brake shoes, sourced some from Feked but whilst  browsing there web shop discovered 3 options offered for rear brake cable for 58 to 63 full width hub bikes.
They have:-
Std
Underslung
Overslung.
So my bike needs underslung to replace current standard which has always been a touch long.
Could this also be one of the mysteries in getting our brakes to work efficiently.
Feked also have comprehensive chain guide
           

[Greybeard]

A thing I learnt from working on bicycles, (I did that professionally for a while) and motorbikes is that the length of the cable assembly is not very important. The length of the cable will affect friction, practicality and aesthetics. It's the amount of movement the inner has that is important. You need to see how much movement you need to operate the mechanism at the other end. The adjuster device should be set to a short size so cable stretch can be adjusted out later.

[chaterlea25]

Hi Billy,

Std
Underslung
Overslung

   

So Ariel hub would be part of 58
Overslung , first of the iron hubs with cable anchor cast onto the brake plate and arm upwards
underslung, the cable anchor is incorporated as part of the torque stay fastening to the bake plate
 
Most pattern shoes do not have thick enough linings,
I did not have any success with the floating shoe type

I have not seen a pattern cable that is the same lengths as an original from my 61 SR
I gave the original to the owner of the last customer A10 I rebuilt (61) and he got Johnson cables to replicate it
I must get it back from him

There was quite a discussion about the rear brakes a while ago, Search for it

Cheers
John

[JulianS]

There were 3 cables for the iron hub plus the Ariel type

First until about June 1958 when the brake plate levers were changed to give a more acute angle between cable and lever

Second after change of lever

Third for 1960 season with lever pointing down.

Photo below from BSA booklet "Assessories and special equipment" published 1961/62

[chaterlea25]

Thanks Julian 

[Billybream]

This is taken from Feked web page:-

BSA Rear Brake Cable - A7, A10, B31, B33 Models Circa 1958-63

To fit models with full width cast iron hubs - adjuster + shackle end + large ball.
Available in three options: Brake arm over the swing arm or under-slung.

Doherty over-slung dimenions:
Outer Cable: Including ferrules 12" (30.5cm)
Inner Cable: Shackle centre to ball end centre 21+1/4" (54cm)

Doherty under-slung dimensions:
Outer Cable: Including ferrules 13" (33cm)
Inner Cable: Shackle centre to ball end centre 19+11/16" (50cm)

Standard unbranded dimensions:
Outer Cable: Including ferrules 14" (35.5cm)
Inner Cable: Shackle centre to ball end centre 22" (56cm)

Genuine Doherty Product - Made in England

OEM: 42-7042, 42-7032

[Butch (cb)]

My rear cable has the right ratio of inner to outer but is overall too long. Never quite found the enthusiasm to shorten it, though I'm sure that would no doubt improve things at that end. 

[Billybream]

Fitted the new correct underslung brake cable and  shoes from Feked, the shoes were a challenge as  the actuator face was to wide, but easy fix by reducing width by 3/32".
Never been happy with the high brake lever, so set about trying to lower, used split clamp on footrest rubber with threaded large headed bolt as adjustable stop for brake lever, seems ok but yet to road test.
Now need to set up the brake switch and abuse the actuating lever