Brake plate failure

[john.mitchell]

This is one of the three examples of this that I have seen happen. Two on front brakes, one rear, and fortunately all of them at slow speed. This was Frank Berry's HS which I photographed In Spain on the Moto Piston Rally. We had just set off in the morning when at the end of a short drive he braked gently to turn onto the Main road with the result you see.

[p tuxworth]

ive seen this before and is far to common , and to think bsa also fitted this poor hub , i would never trust a bike with this rubbish brake

[Vincent.vanGinneke]

Brings another meaning to the term 'vented brakes'.....
I have invested into a "Lester Grant" 2LS, but not yet tried in , Oh well, there are other things to keep me awake .

Vincent

[adrie.degraaff]

I don't think much can happen, old aluminium is getting brittle.
My beaded edge fronttire came off, me landing on both hands, that's why I am grateful Ariel used wires as standard in all years, no beaded edge for me anymore.

[nevhunter]

This DOES seem to be a recurring problem with this backing plate. Old metal does get brittle. Since this part is common to a few models, I would suggest that new ones be made of an improved design where the weakness has been seen to ocurr.( Extra thickness or web). It has to be a safety issue as the wheel may jamb. Nev

[brenton.roy]

Seems a bit more threatening than a rod exiting a square four motor!
John, do you know if there has been any discussion about having these plates made? I'm sure they'd sell.
I would have thought it would be more economic to have them CNC milled than cast.
Brenton

[Vincent.vanGinneke]

Better FWH brakeplates have been made, the last batch was around 2010.
These where the 2LS type, it's no use making a 1LS brakeplate for a brake that already has a bad (BSA ha!) reputation.
It would be a fruitless excersice, no one would buy one.

And it could well be that the brakeplates blow up because of the very much advanced friction materials available nowadays, and owners sqeezing the best out of them by carefull trimming and adjusting.
Vincent

[brenton.roy]

Hi Vincent. I obviously don't move in the right circles...
Are they still available?

[Vincent.vanGinneke]

A few Chevals ago there was one up for sale.
I know of anotherone lingering somewhere (not mine) if you really want one I'll ask.
I expect the price to be not less then what it costed from Lester.
How much that was ?
a amount that I must have deleted from my mind....
Vincent

[john.mitchell]

To answer Brenton's query, I don't know of any moves within the Club executive to address this problem. It is about 6 years since I last heard or saw this failure so I suppose it has been seen to be reduced in priority. Of course as has been mentioned Lester has had the TLS version produced and Lew Wallwork produced some even better hydraulic ones using a set of Mini brake shoes to give a TLS brake both fitting within the BSA type full width hub. I have just checked with Lester and he has no plans to produce more - he tells me 7 went to Oz. Nor has Lew (I can say this in the comfort of knowing that three of my bikes already have these truly excellent brakes). I know that Chris Read, a local branch member, has made a couple of the hydraulic type for his own use - but I don't know if he has any other plans.