Routine Care and Maintenance, continued
FRONT AND REAR BRAKE ADJUSTMENT
•Test the brake lever free play. Apply light pressure each brake lever until you feel the brake engage. There should be very little free play between the “at rest” position of the brake lever and the applied position of the brake lever. Acceptable free play is between 3/8" and 3/4" (Fig. 1). Keep the brake cable adjusted to maintain acceptable free play.
•Use a wrench to adjust the brake adjustment nut on the rear wheel (Fig. 2). Tighten as necessary until the correct freeplay is established.
NOTE: If you tighten the nut too much, the wheel will “drag”, even if the brake is not applied.
1
Between
3/8" and 3/4"
2
2a Pivot Pin
Brake
Adjustmentj
Nut
•Make sure the brake adjustment nut is in the correct position after adjusting. The curved side of the nut must rest snugly against the pivot pin (Fig 2a). Check brake operation.
CHECK FRONT AND REAR DRUM BRAKE SHOE WEAR
•As the drum brake shoe linings wear, freeplay in the brake lever will increase. Each time the brake adjustment nut is tightened to decrease freeplay in the brake lever, the brake wear indicator will move to a position closer to the minus
•The indicator should never reach the minus sign. Brake shoes should be inspected and replaced by a QUALIFIED MECHANIC before the indicator reaches the minus sign. The brake shoe must be replaced before the lining reaches the minimum allowed thickness of 0.06" (1.5 mm). The brake drum must never measure larger than 3.892" (99.0 mm) in diameter.
WARNING
•Never allow the front or rear drum brake pad indicator to reach the minus sign.
•Even if working properly, the brakes should be inspected by your dealer at the intervals listed in the Professional Maintenance Schedule on page 17.
3
4
FRONT DRUM BRAKE
Time to replace
brake shoe
Brake
Adjustmentj
Nut
REAR DRUM BRAKE
Time to replace
brake shoe
12
