1950's 60's Bicycle Brakes

[RMVette]

Ok, Don Rickles brought back memories of our bikes from the '50's and '60's. So can those old enough name these types of coaster brakes (should be easy)....

1)



2)

[Aerovette]

Bike brakes are something I never disassembled to see how they work. I'm still not sure.

[Bruze]

Yep, back pedal to engage. Worked great as long as the pedal crank was mostly horizontal.

[Don Rickles]

Here’s a cool set up dualies!

[Yadkin]

Those are both fascinating. I never thought about how they worked, just that they did. Clearly a "disposable" item, since the brake dust is in the same chamber as the ball bearings.

[Don Rickles]

We’d wear out those old coaster brakes til the bearings fell out!

[Aerovette]

I can remember drawing a line across part of the road and having skid contests.

Hit the brakes at the line and see who could leave the longest skid mark. I remember leaning over the front handle bars to get weight off the back wheel in order to skid further.

[RMVette]

Very simple explanation of each...

The top brake was the Bendix brake. Backwards force on the peddles pressed the pads (brake shoe as listed in the picture) against the outside hub to stop.

The bottom brake was the New Departure brake which I rebuilt many a time. Backwards force on the peddles compressed the disc inside the hub. The disc had tits that rotated with the hub. On the hub at the bottom you can see an oil cap that could be removed to add lubricate. I normally took mine apart and re-greased it.

[Don Rickles]

Originally Posted by RMVette

Very simple explanation of each...

The top brake was the Bendix brake. Backwards force on the peddles pressed the pads (brake shoe as listed in the picture) against the outside hub to stop.

The bottom brake was the New Departure brake which I rebuilt many a time. Backwards force on the peddles compressed the disc inside the hub. The disc had tits that rotated with the hub. On the hub at the bottom you can see an oil cap that could be removed to add lubricate. I normally took mine apart and re-greased it.

I remember!

[Yadkin]

Originally Posted by RMVette

Very simple explanation of each...

The top brake was the Bendix brake. Backwards force on the peddles pressed the pads (brake shoe as listed in the picture) against the outside hub to stop.

The bottom brake was the New Departure brake which I rebuilt many a time. Backwards force on the peddles compressed the disc inside the hub. The disc had tits that rotated with the hub. On the hub at the bottom you can see an oil cap that could be removed to add lubricate. I normally took mine apart and re-greased it.

So it was a wet clutch?

[Tikiman]

Originally Posted by Aerovette

I can remember drawing a line across part of the road and having skid contests.

Hit the brakes at the line and see who could leave the longest skid mark. I remember leaning over the front handle bars to get weight off the back wheel in order to skid further.

And racing up to your friends and, at the last minute, hit the brakes and slide sideways spraying them with gravel.

[RMVette]

Originally Posted by Yadkin

So it was a wet clutch?

Yes, with grease.

[Bruze]

Originally Posted by Tikiman

And racing up to your friends and, at the last minute, hit the brakes and slide sideways spraying them with gravel.

And getting the pedal in position for the maximum leverage, then standing up and slamming it down with your foot and all your weight behind it.

The good old days.