Re: (ET) Bye bye brakes

["Christopher Zach" <czach computer org>]

That helps an incredible amount. My rotor didn't seem to float on the axle,
which made me guess it was a deformation type. However those require 
careful
setting of the pad clearance (and a screw device to maintain the clearance
as the pad wears) so I was confused. Is there a blow-out of the parts that
make up the brake system anywhere on the internet? If my puck is gone I 
want
to make sure there isn't something else I need that goes between the
activation dowel and the brake puck itself.

If the rotor is unable to float on the shaft though; you won't get great
braking action, and you might wind up bending the rotor. Interesting....

I'll pull the wheel and start working on this next weekend. Two quick
questions:

1) Where is a good place to jack the Elec-Trak on the back? Do I have to
haul out the batteries before jacking?
2) Can one put a jackstand under the axle? (I never work on anything 
without
tires or jackstands)

Thanks!
Chris

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim (fiskfarm)" <fiskfarm mediaone net>
To: "Christopher Zach" <czach computer org>
Cc: "Elec-trak" <elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu>
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2002 9:43 AM
Subject: Re: (ET) Bye bye brakes


> Hey Chris,
>
> The rotor is NOT supposed to "deform" but rather float free on it's keyed
> shaft. I use a combo of air chisel, Breakaway and sometimes heat to free
up the
> rotor and then remove it , clean up both shaft and sleeve, retighten the
rivets
> by hammer and anvil (or replacement) and reinstall all with a gentle
coating
> (you don't want any on the rotor and pads) of Never Seize. Here, unlike a
car,
> the caliper doesn't float, but the rotor does. Also you will want to sand
the
> rotor smooth with either a power sander or rotate the rotor in place with
the
> motor while sanding by holding the paper against it. Not for the faint of
heart
> but probably the fastest for the more experienced. DO NOT "grab" the 
> rotor
with
> the paper , but rather sand one side at a time. New pads (if they are
shot) go
> without saying. Stainless steel rotors would avoid about 99% of the
problems
> with these breaks. That and Never Seize.
>
> Hope this helps you along,
>
> Jim
>
> Christopher Zach wrote:
>
> > Well, I figured out why I have no brakes....
> >
> > No brake pad :-)
> >
> > Seriously, the outboard pad is gone. It appears that the brake lever
engages
> > a cam which pushes on a metal dowel which pushes on a pad which pushes
the
> > disc into another static pad on the other side. Interesting design, are
> > there any specs for pad clearance on the static pad (if it wears down,
the
> > disc will have to deform more and more for the brake to engage, thus
> > reducing brake effectiveness)
> >
> > Ah well, it looks like the pad disintegrated or something. I'll call 
> > Mr.
> > Gunn and see if he has a new puck.
> >
> > Chris
>
>