Anybody using V-Twin's Springer Dual Cam Front Brake Backing Plate?

[wallaman]

Interested in trying one on my '46 Knucklehead Bobber. V Twin part number is 49-0853. Anyone have experience with one of these dual cam backing plates? Do they actually give more stopping power than a stock front brake setup? Any insights appreciated.
Thanks.
Chuck S.

[panic]

I never learn

[wallaman]

Panic,
Not trying to make it stop like a disc, just looking for a little better stopping power. I looked at your link and, while I appreciate the write-up you did, I didn't see anything about specific actual use of the V-Twin backing plate. Have you actually used the V-Twin backing plate? Or are you saying that a generic dual cam backing plate will work better than a stock single came one? Just want to understand your comment.
Thanks.
Chuck S.

[wallaman]

Panic,
Not sure why you seemed to take offense at my reply to your post (now deleted). The write up on your site is informative, but it barely touched on V-Twin's product. I never know exactly what I'm going to get with V-twin stuff. Some is great, some not so much. Lots of their stuff looks good on paper and in their pics, but often the actual product leaves something to be desired. So, sorry if I offended you, but, same question, have you actually used their product, and, if so, was it worth the $300+ it costs? Pretty simple question...
Thanks.
Chuck S.

[Sarge]

Here is what I assume yor talkin about:


This is what it looks like, in my garage just now.

Been on maybe five years. It works a little betta than the stock single-leading-shoe brake on my '37, once it was adjusted and dialed-in. I wasn't looking to stop on a dime, but pulling a sidecar, it's a little improvement.
At first installation, just bolted-on out-of-the-box, I recall that it was worse than stock. 'Had to use the shorter lever position to get enough shorter-travel binding, mechanical advantage, on the front lining, and use a '41 hand lever for travel to have a long enuf "pull" w
ith the larger-diameter cable that uses and I had to "round" the shoes to more-closely follow the drum contours, but after a little adjustment, it provides a noticeable improvement. I'm keeping it.

[panic]

I'll try not to waste everyone's time

[Sarge]

I tried the longer lever. It more than doubles the cable-travel, which is completely impossible with a short-throw 1928 lever. It's also too long for the 1941 lever. The '41's larger diameter cable also is a mechanical improvement. By the time the linings are mashed against the drum with this set up, whether the levers are exactly the same mechanical advantage is moot. There's plenty of mechanical advantage like this, slight diff in lever length. The "exactly same length levers" is less important than radiusing the brake shoes. That's experience, counter-intuitive, perhaps, but it works fine.
What I got by trial-and-error after discarding the written b.s. suits me fine. This ain't my first rodeo.

[Chris Haynes]

Gerry, Is yours the V-Twin or the American made unit?

[Sarge]

No idea of national origin. Bought off the internet, but I didn't buy it from v-twin; directly, anyway.

[Charles.L.Pitts]

I wasn't aware that there is an American made unit.