LCGB Forums

The rear brake on my 1964 Li150 is binding (grabbing). I would say it's once a revolution of the back wheel. I've cleaned the inside of the hub with emery cloth a couple of times but the problem keeps coming back. The shoes look fine.
Could the hub have gone out of round (slightly oval) somehow?
Otherwise, what's the likely cause.
TIA Chris

Nobody got any opinions on this?
(Maybe should have said that it grabs when I apply the brake)

If it's the original hub I would replace along with a new set of shoes .
The brake hubs are a service item .
Having said that it all depends if you have a lathe or access to one as It sounds oval to
Me.

Guys have been recently recommending "Uni" hubs so that's what I'll be buying soon .
They seem sensible money.
It all depends what your looking to spend as Tino hubs are over £100 .

( just my opinion )

If your hub has gone oval, you should be able to see sections of the track that are not in contact with the shoes.

There's more to the brake than just shoes and hub. Consider the whole mechanism right from the pedal.

Thanks guys

Sorry that I never responded earlier & I'm not sure this helps...

Take it as a view, rather than a cure....

Ovalised hubs are very common & I'd be lying if I said skimming was a permanent cure. Distortion will return after machining.

So, over the years, on the few occasions that I've been in that situation, I've took the view that the back brake doesn't do a high percentage of the braking, but is useful for control in steadying the bike, say, entering a corner very fast. The fact that it 'modulates' because of it's out-of-round means that the rider can feel it working, almost like a poor man's anti-lock.

As long as it is not excessive, I've always coped with that thought in my mind....

Yes, I agree.
Unfortunately my MOT man doesn't agree

Sometimes chocolate biscuits help especially if you book an MOT around elevensies.

Seriously though if it was my scooter like has been previously mentioned I would be looking at the whole ensemble from the pedal pivot right along checking for wear in all pivots, cable etc replacing, cleaning greasing as needed.

If its the hub thats become oval it doesn't matter what you do with the rest of the brake mechanism,the hub will either have to be replaced or it can be skimmed,but the latter will have mixed results.

I think that was mentioned a few days ago.

Sorry..I didn't read all the posts,I just read the question and gave the answer I thought would fit By the way I've just fitted a new UNI rear hub,and that feels to be slightly oval.