coaster brake question?!?!?!?!??!
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 6,682
Likes: 4
From: Above ground, Walnut Creek, Ca
Bikes: 8 ss bikes, 1 5-speed touring bike
the turning of the cog until engagement involves a cone (like that on the hub bearing) threading onto a vERY coarse thread moving it toward a race on the inside of the hub (think of a rear cup and cone bearing without the ballbearings). when they engage, they lock up and away you go. the distance, and therefore the amount of rotation of the cranks until engagement, is determined by a combination of how coarse the thread is and the distance separating them when fully disengaged and is a intentional byproduct of the design, which for most of them is at least a century old...
BTW, the engagement mechanism is sometimes called a clutch, i think.
BTW, the engagement mechanism is sometimes called a clutch, i think.
Last edited by hueyhoolihan; 11-05-11 at 02:17 AM.
#6
coasterbrakelockup
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 824
Likes: 0
From: parts unknown
Bikes: surly steamroller w/coaster brake, electra single speed cruiser, specialized rockhopper commuter, no-name single speed folder, 700c ultimate wheel, 24" unicycle, specialized bmx lsd, single seat single speed huffy tandem, pink upsidedown parade bike
How far do you have to turn the crank to engage the hub?
It isn't difficult to adjust the amount of play in a coaster hub. And you don't have to take the whole thing apart. Play between drive and braking is adjusted by the tightness of the cone nut. It can take some trial and error to fine tune exactly the right amount of play, and is much easier with the right size cone wrench. Almost any coaster hub can be adjusted to have less than 1/4 rotation of play in the cranks.
It isn't difficult to adjust the amount of play in a coaster hub. And you don't have to take the whole thing apart. Play between drive and braking is adjusted by the tightness of the cone nut. It can take some trial and error to fine tune exactly the right amount of play, and is much easier with the right size cone wrench. Almost any coaster hub can be adjusted to have less than 1/4 rotation of play in the cranks.
#7
We win all charity rides
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,369
Likes: 0
From: Central Michigan University/ GR, MI
Bikes: BMX, fixed gear
#8
Lower gearing will decrease cranking distance to engage the brake while also increasing mechanical advantage, letting you brake harder for the same pedal effort.
If you've got an old American cruiser, the gearing is probably very high (85 gear inches is fairly common,) so you aren't losing much speed by swapping cogs. Most modern cruisers are somewhere around 65 gear inches.
If you've got an old American cruiser, the gearing is probably very high (85 gear inches is fairly common,) so you aren't losing much speed by swapping cogs. Most modern cruisers are somewhere around 65 gear inches.
#10
Hogosha Sekai

Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 6,674
Likes: 26
From: STS
Bikes: Leader 725, Centurion Turbo, Scwhinn Peloton, Schwinn Premis, GT Tequesta, Bridgestone CB-2,72' Centurion Lemans, 72 Raleigh Competition
I know we had someone post a while back where they said they dissassembled one and got it working again, he seemed to know a lot about the inner workings and dealing with the pawls and adjusting the braking.. so it definitely can be done even with the modern stuff.
#11
Oscillation overthruster
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 1
From: Duncan, BC
Bikes: Cinelli Mash / CAAD9 5
NIB parts are hard to find, but I recommend a suntour coaster brake with shimano coming a close second. Their engagement is the fastest. The engagement is determined by the worm gear ratio.
As a coaster ages, the cone and shoes wear and you can find the engagement not working. You spin a bit then it catches. It sucks. So having new parts in there tightens it up. Also, welding the cog to the driver and welding the cone to the arm will reduce any play. Using a splined front sprocket (bmx style) or a sprocket that has direct mating to the crank (like most road cranks) is the way to go.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
JLTinsley
Bicycle Mechanics
7
09-30-11 07:28 PM








