Overheated rear brake drum, Need advise - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

old new biker · 07-15-2007, 07:41 PM

BACKGROUND:

I went for a ride with a friend yesterday and put on about 80 miles. The weather was perfect, and we had a great ride from the Syracuse, NY area down to Skaneateles, NY and around Skaneateles lake.

Earlier I had adjusted the rear brake to get better braking out of it, but after the ride yesterday, I thought it could still be a bit more positive. I adjusted it a bit more last night, and while I was at it, I spaced out the 3 Air Intake cover screws so that there was between 1/64” and 1/32” gap all around the cover.

I went for another ride this afternoon for about an hour, to see how the opened up Air Intake might improve performance. When I walked the bike out of the garage, I had it in neutral, and there was no noticeable drag of any kind, so I climed on, put it in gear, and took off. During the ride, I found that the shift points were between 5 and 10 miles higher.

THE PROBLEM:

When I got close to home I stopped at a red light and noticed the smell of hot clutch or hot brake, but every other time I have smelled anything at a stop it has been some other vehicle, and when they pulled away the smell was gone. When I got home, however, and parked the bike, I smelled it big time. I looked down to find the rear drum smoking.

I quickly realized that the rear brake must have been adjusted just tight enough to drag a slight bit, and heat up during a ride, but not enough to feel when walking the cold bike out of the garage.

I immediately backed off the adjustment so that there is good movement on the brake lever, then got out the garden hose, and slowly cooled down the entire rear wheel assembly. I, then, proceeded to check the gear oil, with the bike almost straight up, and when I pulled off the cap, about a tablespoon of the oil dripped out, so I quickly put the cap back on.

I dipped my finger into the leaked out gear oil and looked at it, to find that it seem to still be clear, and when I smelled it, and it did not smell burned.

SITUATION:

Me car is in the shop, and my son needs his car tomorrow, so I really need to ride the bike to work, but I am concerned about the rear wheel assy.

QUESTION:

Is the bike OK to ride, given that the gear oil is full, and does not seem to be burned, and given the fact that the rear brake drum got as hot as it did?

All opinions welcome,
Thanks