Brake drums won't go back on.......

[Winchweight]

Long thin end against the lever arm with the longer finger inboard (towards back plate), fat end on opposite end with the thinner chamfered finger inboard. That looks right from every picture I've seen.

[scaltura]

Here's one for you

When shoes and gubbins are fitted...

If you push the right shoe inwards does the left shoe outward a fair bit?

If so.. Clamp hose open nipped push both she's inwards which will drain the cylinder, fit drum and re bleed

[Winchweight]

Here's one for you

When shoes and gubbins are fitted...

If you push the right shoe inwards does the left shoe outward a fair bit?

If so.. Clamp hose open nipped push both she's inwards which will drain the cylinder, fit drum and re bleed

It does?.. ok, I'll, try that. Thanks.

[what2do]

It's nearly friday - wishing you luck!

[Winchweight]

It's nearly friday - wishing you luck!

I know.... I'm dreaming of brake drums. I'm obsessing about them. I've also got a handbrake cable to change, plus fuel tank filler breather and a filler / tank grommet.

Might bite the bullet and do the cylinders etc as I've got to bleed the brakes anyway. Then I can keep any good parts as serviceable spares.

i know how to live....

[Oldiebut goodie]

Here's one for you

When shoes and gubbins are fitted...

If you push the right shoe inwards does the left shoe outward a fair bit?

If so.. Clamp hose open nipped push both she's inwards which will drain the cylinder, fit drum and re bleed

Undo your bleed nipple so that you can push the brake cylinder pistons back in, they are most probably too far out. They are sitting where worn shoes sat!

[Winchweight]

I will reattack this later today and see what happens.

[scaltura]

How did you get on in your quest ?

[Winchweight]

The drum is on, but a bit tight. I had to swap one of the shoes for one I had taken off. It's hardly worn, but there is a noticeable difference in the position if the friction material. I swapped them and the drum slipped on easily...

It's only the one without a handbrake lever, but swapping it made all the difference. Will remove them again next weekend as the new handbrake cables have arrived......

Also filler neck breather and filler / tank grommet to do at the same time.

[scaltura]

Must be driving you mad

[what2do]

What was the outcome WW? Shoes and drums fitted successfully?

[Winchweight]

Thought I was done then found I'd dropped a spring. However I can now strip and rebuild in around 15 mins including refitting the drum - it's all technique.

So, all back together between downpours plus new handbrake cables. Just need to test drive everything as the drums were still pretty tight when refitted, even with the adjuster backed off, the bleed nipple cracked open and the handbrake cables detached from the balancer...

I'm hoping they will find their own position and all will be good. I'll let you know next weekend.

[what2do]

Bizarre how you've suffered so much with this, that would do my head in because it's not as if you're installing exotic custom parts. Good luck with the test drive.

[Winchweight]

Thanks chap.

[California Dreamin]

Bizarre why anyone would think slackening off the bleed nipples would do anything! There shouldn't be any pressure in the brake lines and as the ports are open in the master cylinder fluid can expand in to the reservoir if needed (that's why the pistons push back as the fluid is free to go back up the brake lines)
slackening the bleed nipples just gives you a further job of bleeding out air.
My guess is that you have some very poorly made brake shoes, that or your hand brake is on one or two notches lol. Actually, that is a possibility, not that your hand brake is on but someone in the past adjusted the hand brake solely on the cable and the hand brake levers are NOT fully returning to their stops when released.

Martin