Was doing a quick maintenance job on the J-Head today ... it needed a new belt and the spindle brake just wouldn't brake (I guess the previous owner had 'ridden' it), but I couldn't afford a long down-time waiting for (expensive) brake shoes to arrive.
I was doing what I do best (standing over it and pondering) when I came up with a really nifty way of getting a few more years out of those old brake shoes....
I made a 1/2" bushing, drilled to be a close fit on the brake pivot screw that is opposite of the brake shaft. It pushes the 'hinged' side of the brake shoes out far enough that the brake lever now only has about 25 degrees of movement before the brake engages, rather than just freely flopping around as it did before.
A 20-minute, 10 cent fix ... I like it...
Now, just a $9 belt from ebay and I'll be back in action!!
When I get all the crud cleaned off the top housing and get the brake shoes back in there for good, I'll post some pics.
I was doing what I do best (standing over it and pondering) when I came up with a really nifty way of getting a few more years out of those old brake shoes....
I made a 1/2" bushing, drilled to be a close fit on the brake pivot screw that is opposite of the brake shaft. It pushes the 'hinged' side of the brake shoes out far enough that the brake lever now only has about 25 degrees of movement before the brake engages, rather than just freely flopping around as it did before.
A 20-minute, 10 cent fix ... I like it...
Now, just a $9 belt from ebay and I'll be back in action!!
When I get all the crud cleaned off the top housing and get the brake shoes back in there for good, I'll post some pics.