Topic: '78 CB750K rear drum working "backward"?

[Buster68]

So I disassembled my rear brake drum to clean it up and polish the cover, but just noticed something very strange - it now seems that the brake is working in reverse; i.e. the brake is stuck on when it is just sitting, but comes off when I press the brake pedal.

Before I remove the wheel again, is there a logical explanation for this? Did I put something in backwards, or overtighten the rear brake rod?

I can honestly say this is a new one for me (of course, it is also my first bike with a rear drum)

[LesterPiglet]

Give us a picture of the brake assembly. You may have the brake arm installed upside down or something.

[flybox1]

spring between the shoes hold the pads OFF the drum faces when the brake is not in use.
the lobes of the brake cam #7, press the pads against the drum when the brake lever is depressed.

I think you have your brake set up so that this cam is engaged at rest.... and when you depress the brake lever, it rolls the cam out of the way allowing the pads to retract from the drum.

get your bike on the center stand.
remove the brake linkage rod (connects your brake pedal to the drum) at #10, but leave #10 to connected to #7
does your wheel spin freely now?

applying fore and aft pressure to #10, does your brake engage?

[Buster68]

flybox - thanks. I will go down tonight and give that a try.