Topic: Front drum 77 cb750k

[SugaFreeReese]

Hey guys, new to the forum and I have a possibly silly question.

 Has anyone swapped a front wheel out to one with a drum on a 1977 cb750k?

I have a bike, put together with hope, dreams, and sweat, and I'm wondering if you can swap a front drum wheel from another bike straight to the forks. I'm not really interested in re-lacing a drum into the wheel I have (unless there is no other option.)

I have the worlds screechiest front brake on now and I'm ready to ditch the calipers!

Help me gain my sanity if it's possible.

Thanks,
 Devin

[flybox1]

Swapping to a drum to alleviate disc brake squealing is not the solution.
Fix the squeal.  Its not difficult.

[SugaFreeReese]

Well it's not that I only want to have a drum on the front because of the squealing. I like the look of the drum on the front.


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[strynboen]

your rear breake  are weared aut..

.fix that first...thek the wear indikator are lokated on thereaktion arm..there are marks for maximum wear..can see on the photo,,,that it are far aut of adjusting

[70CB750]

Well it's not that I only want to have a drum on the front because of the squealing. I like the look of the drum on the front.

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Well that is as valid reason as any I ever heard, but I would not do it.  There will be time you will need to stop fast and the drum front will just not deliver.  Your life, your choice.

[SugaFreeReese]

They're tuned, the adjuster is off, I just replaced the rear shoes and cleaned the whole thing. Stops as fast with the rear as the front.


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[70CB750]

They're tuned, the adjuster is off, I just replaced the rear shoes and cleaned the whole thing. Stops as fast with the rear as the front.

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If that's the case, your front needs some serious attention.

[SugaFreeReese]

Well it's not that I only want to have a drum on the front because of the squealing. I like the look of the drum on the front.

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Well that is as valid reason as any I ever heard, but I would not do it.  There will be time you will need to stop fast and the drum front will just not deliver.  Your life, your choice.

Yeah, I trust you there. I was just wondering.

Do you know if the front caliper is supposed to be in front of the fork or behind the fork? I've seen it both ways and I just wonder if there's a specific (correct) way they go on.


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[70CB750]

In front of the leg from the factory, from what I know from old timers, it was common to swap the lowers to have the brake behind the fork.

[SugaFreeReese]

In front of the leg from the factory, from what I know from old timers, it was common to swap the lowers to have the brake behind the fork.

Do you know, off hand, if it changes the effectiveness?


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[SugaFreeReese]

In front of the leg from the factory, from what I know from old timers, it was common to swap the lowers to have the brake behind the fork.

Also, my brakes work beautifully, I can stop on a dime, front and rear are tuned. Fronts just squealing.


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[Roach Carver]

Okay, to address your question. Yes you can put a drum on the front. There is a member here who did it. I forget his name. He used a cb450 front drum. As far as what was involved I am not sure but I do know it can and has been done.

[Roach Carver]

[Roach Carver]

[70CB750]

In front of the leg from the factory, from what I know from old timers, it was common to swap the lowers to have the brake behind the fork.

Do you know, off hand, if it changes the effectiveness?

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I can't imagine it would make big difference, the working surface - aka brake pads on disc  - stays the same. People go to dual discs to get better breaks.

[greenjeans]

Short answer - yes.

A CL77 or a 69 CB450 front drum will work.  Both can use the CB750 axle, but you will need spacers to make up the difference.  Be accurate with that.
The forks are narrower on those bikes.   You would also need a lever and the cable.   Now, I will also add that the stock disc does work much better than
either of these options.  MUCH BETTER.   I'd advise that if you are dead-set on it, look for a 4LS brake of some sort and spend the money to set it up correctly.   This can/will become very pricey.   

However, I ran a brake from a CB450 on my bike or a year or more before switching it out for the 4LS that is now on it.  Night and day.
Still - no match for a modern disc brake, but very comparable to the stock disc.  With the CL77 / CB450 brake I found that in a panic stop, I would tend to lock the back brake up before the bike really slowed.   

Another thing to consider - if you re-lace the wheel (I know you don't want to) you'll have to get a rim that is drilled for a drum.  The spoke holes are angled differently than disc hubs - the spokes have more angle to them.

I too am enamored by the look of a mechanical drum on the front of a CB750.  Doesn't make the most sense but it does look good.

Is that your bike in the photo ?    Was it at the hand-built show in Austin recently ?

[SugaFreeReese]

Short answer - yes.

A CL77 or a 69 CB450 front drum will work.  Both can use the CB750 axle, but you will need spacers to make up the difference.  Be accurate with that.
The forks are narrower on those bikes.   You would also need a lever and the cable.   Now, I will also add that the stock disc does work much better than
either of these options.  MUCH BETTER.   I'd advise that if you are dead-set on it, look for a 4LS brake of some sort and spend the money to set it up correctly.   This can/will become very pricey.   

However, I ran a brake from a CB450 on my bike or a year or more before switching it out for the 4LS that is now on it.  Night and day.
Still - no match for a modern disc brake, but very comparable to the stock disc.  With the CL77 / CB450 brake I found that in a panic stop, I would tend to lock the back brake up before the bike really slowed.   

Another thing to consider - if you re-lace the wheel (I know you don't want to) you'll have to get a rim that is drilled for a drum.  The spoke holes are angled differently than disc hubs - the spokes have more angle to them.

I too am enamored by the look of a mechanical drum on the front of a CB750.  Doesn't make the most sense but it does look good.

Is that your bike in the photo ?    Was it at the hand-built show in Austin recently ?

This was very helpful! Thank you for the info!

I'm also really into the look, but if it's going to remove most of my stopping power I'll save it for a smaller bike.

I will look into it though because at some point I won't be able to refuse my want for it any longer. I just wanna do it "right".


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[SugaFreeReese]

Short answer - yes.

A CL77 or a 69 CB450 front drum will work.  Both can use the CB750 axle, but you will need spacers to make up the difference.  Be accurate with that.
The forks are narrower on those bikes.   You would also need a lever and the cable.   Now, I will also add that the stock disc does work much better than
either of these options.  MUCH BETTER.   I'd advise that if you are dead-set on it, look for a 4LS brake of some sort and spend the money to set it up correctly.   This can/will become very pricey.   

However, I ran a brake from a CB450 on my bike or a year or more before switching it out for the 4LS that is now on it.  Night and day.
Still - no match for a modern disc brake, but very comparable to the stock disc.  With the CL77 / CB450 brake I found that in a panic stop, I would tend to lock the back brake up before the bike really slowed.   

Another thing to consider - if you re-lace the wheel (I know you don't want to) you'll have to get a rim that is drilled for a drum.  The spoke holes are angled differently than disc hubs - the spokes have more angle to them.

I too am enamored by the look of a mechanical drum on the front of a CB750.  Doesn't make the most sense but it does look good.

Is that your bike in the photo ?    Was it at the hand-built show in Austin recently ?

Also, no it wasn't, I'm in Columbus ohio and I've built this bike out of rice paddy (motorcycle junk yard for the most part) using mostly reclaimed parts!

She runs like a dream for what she looks like and I couldn't be happier with her performance. Rode 500 miles two weeks ago to Louisville for a bike meet (ramble tamble) and had not one issue. My goal is to build a well running bike for as cheap as possible (not cheap and unsafe, of corse) so far I've spent roughly a grand on the whole project and I've had my hand on every single piece.

I might also say, this is my first ever motorcycle!


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[SugaFreeReese]

Gorgeous!


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[lrutt]

Short answer - yes.

A CL77 or a 69 CB450 front drum will work.  Both can use the CB750 axle, but you will need spacers to make up the difference.  Be accurate with that.
The forks are narrower on those bikes.   You would also need a lever and the cable.   Now, I will also add that the stock disc does work much better than
either of these options.  MUCH BETTER.   I'd advise that if you are dead-set on it, look for a 4LS brake of some sort and spend the money to set it up correctly.   This can/will become very pricey.   

However, I ran a brake from a CB450 on my bike or a year or more before switching it out for the 4LS that is now on it.  Night and day.
Still - no match for a modern disc brake, but very comparable to the stock disc.  With the CL77 / CB450 brake I found that in a panic stop, I would tend to lock the back brake up before the bike really slowed.   

Another thing to consider - if you re-lace the wheel (I know you don't want to) you'll have to get a rim that is drilled for a drum.  The spoke holes are angled differently than disc hubs - the spokes have more angle to them.

I too am enamored by the look of a mechanical drum on the front of a CB750.  Doesn't make the most sense but it does look good.

Is that your bike in the photo ?    Was it at the hand-built show in Austin recently ?

This was very helpful! Thank you for the info!

I'm also really into the look, but if it's going to remove most of my stopping power I'll save it for a smaller bike.

I will look into it though because at some point I won't be able to refuse my want for it any longer. I just wanna do it "right".


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Get a 4LS brake off an old Suzuki GT750, Guzzi Eldo, or if you have $$$, a Fontana. Those brakes can be made to work as good as your single disk. That 450 brake or any other Honda one is only a 2LS. So double that for a 4LS and you got some serious stopping power. But setup and shoe material is key.

I love the look as well. The 2LS brakes on my old Triumph are very good but they've been adjusted properly.

In a panic stop situation you will have no issues. But...if you track it or do mountains you could get some brake fade. Drums don't like a LOT of heavy repeated usage.

[Lostboy Steve]

What exactly is that drum from? I dig that look big time!

Gorgeous!


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[dave500]

a dab of silicone behind the pads will stop the squealing.

[Retro Rocket]

. Stops as fast with the rear as the front.


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If thats the case then you either need to learn to ride properly or fix your front brake, your front break should do 75% or more of your braking and should easily over power the rear.... Your brakes are not "tuned" and i really sounds like you have no idea of what you are talking about, sorry but not much you've said here makes any sense.... I wouldn't make any alterations to your bike based on anything you've said here, you need to understand how motorcycle brakes function and act accordingly.....

[SugaFreeReese]

. Stops as fast with the rear as the front.


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If thats the case then you either need to learn to ride properly or fix your front brake, your front break should do 75% or more of your braking and should easily over power the rear.... Your brakes are not "tuned" and i really sounds like you have no idea of what you are talking about, sorry but not much you've said here makes any sense.... I wouldn't make any alterations to your bike based on anything you've said here, you need to understand how motorcycle brakes function and act accordingly.....

I was over exasperating a little. My front isn't 100% and does actually brake better than my rear. I appreciate your concern and I understand that I'm a little back and forth. But I understand my brakes and as I've already said, my bike stops fine other than a squeak. I don't know if you think I'm some sort of punk who's in this because I looked through tumbler and saw a motorcycle I liked and went to town with a wrench, a rubber mallet, and a worn out flat head... But I'm not and my bike, although a little rough on every edge, is running (and stopping) because I made it work myself (with the help of a few old timers and a Haynes manual when I needed)

Talking down on me because I'm not the best at typing isn't doing me any good.

So thank you for the advice, but the belittling I could do without.


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[SugaFreeReese]

Exaggerating* 


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