Topic: CB450 front drum & newer style forks

[cb550fcafe]

As my CB450 project progresses, I am on to the fork rebuild. I am running a front drum brake. I have both early & late forks. The early forks bolt right up to the drum wheel. The later forks do not bolt right up to the wheel, obvious spacer issues.

So is there any disadvantage to running the older external spring forks? Other than costing 2 times more than newer internal spring forks to rebuild.

Has anyone used a front drum with later internal spring forks? Any problems?

[tbpmusic]

From the rider's standpoint, early forks are even worse than the later ones, if that's even possible. None of the stock 450 forks work very well, real clunkers (literally).

As far as mounting - well, first of all, the disk brake CB450 all had 19" front wheels, while the drum brake CB had 18" front wheels. So fenders will also be a problem, they mount differently.
You've already discovered that the different wheels use different spacers.

If you're willing to make the spacers so that the wheel is centered, it should be workable.
The drum brake "stay bar" can mount to just about any of the holes in the newer forks (where the caliper stuff mounted up). Just make sure the cable(s) are not at an awkward angle. Bend/drill, do what you need to do with that.

On the other hand, mounting disk brake wheel to drum brake forks would be really hard, a lot of work. Even then the fender would interfere and need to be replaced with a 19" somehow.

[bill440cars]

     Ever look at a CL450? They use the drum front brake, with the later model forks. Maybe you could come up with CL450 parts? Just throwing THAT out there for thought.

[tbpmusic]

Now CL450 had a 19" wheel.......

[bucky katt]

i'm working on the same kind of project, the stock drum brake front wheel from my Suzuki Titan and a set of kz-750 forks (the triple tree stem is the same size as on the original titan forks) the problem i'm having getting it to work is the completely different axle diameter

[lordmoonpie]

I threw my 450 forks away and replaced the whole front end with an early CB750 k2 setup - looks nice!

[Tim.]

i'm working on the same kind of project, the stock drum brake front wheel from my Suzuki Titan and a set of kz-750 forks (the triple tree stem is the same size as on the original titan forks) the problem i'm having getting it to work is the completely different axle diameter

Find different bearings.  If you take the original wheel bearings into a bearing shop and tell them you need the same bearing OD with a different ID to match the new axle, they should find you the right setup.

You still need to sort the axle holders on the forks out though.  Is the new axle bigger or smaller?

------------

I converted 'newer' XS650 forks to run a drum brake.  I ground off all the caliper mounts and welded on a tab to mate with the brake plate.  I got lucky and a couple thick washers on either side of the wheel centered it perfectly.





Raising the fender to accomodate the larger front wheel shouldn't be a problem - you might even find there's enough clearance already, and that it just runs tighter to the tire.  Maybe run a slightly shorter front tire too if you like the look of a close fit on the front fender.  Or just elongate the fender mounting holes and lift it up.  I'd bet you can gain the 1/4-1/2" you'll need that way.