How Do I Upgrade From Coaster Brakes?

Thanks Outrunner. I checked out that ebay item. Looks good.

did you get the brake to fit the rear 5-7?

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Ride it like you stole it!

Huffy, sometimes the simplest cure is to buy a 21-speed bike that has better brakes and suspension fork.

A friend is selling a Raleigh Venture 3.0. This bike allows people with short legs to touch ground. If it's a 17" frame with suspension fork, I'll buy it.

I went down to the bike shop I'd bought the bike from and asked about cruiser rear brakes. Owner said the distance from rim to proposed brake attachment is too far.



I might temporarily rig a crossbar closer to the rim and bolt the front center pull brake onto the frame. If it works, that'd be great.

My son wants to ride a bike for exercise. If I buy the Venture, I'll just let him ride this cruiser bike with no engines.

This week should be busy for me. The Staton freewheel sprocket arrived, as well as a Staton output shaft. I'm gonna drill the Staton chain drive box to install the output shaft, which will provide a 5:1 gear reduction to run my 12volt/55watt mini-alternator.

The Mits engine/rear friction drive on "The Dragon Lady" fired up and drove the bike, but the pocket bike engine wouldn't start and the pull start mechanism jammed.

It will be a busy weekend.

Years ago, when I installed the girlie cruiser's suspension fork and vee brakes, I removed the bike's aftermarket front center-pull brake and set it aside. After some measuring and trial-fits, this center-pull brake almost lined up with the back rim wheni bolted UNDERNEATH and onto the Staton rear mount center hole. When I drilled the seat stay gusset and moved the Staton mount 1" forward....

the aftermarket front center-pull brake bolted onto the Staton center hole and aligned PERFECTLY with the back rim!!!

Woo Hoo!!!

All I have to do is buy the cable and lever and she should be good to go.

Total cost of rear brake install should be less than $15.

My new rear side-pull brake works great; I just needed to buy a new cable for $5. So I have front, rear and coaster brakes.

When I turn both engines off, the resistance drag from both friction drives also slows the bike down.

With brakes in order, "The Dragon Lady" was ready to install its 2.2hp Mitsubishi engines and Happy Time reserve tank and fuel lines.

Brakes and engines work great. Just need minor adjustments. The tuned pipe on the front engine will move to the rear engine cuz the exhaust blows in my face.

Just in time because I need to ride "The Dragon Lady" to work four times weekly, starting tomorrow.

Glad that everything got worked out for you. hanging the break from below works just fine still for me as well. cruisers tend to be the hardest to get a rear break to mount to.

Jeff

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Ride it like you stole it!

Jeff, the cable cost $5 and I was good to go. I have a fuel delivery problem from reserve tank to rear engine that needs fixing. Rear engine quit twice to/from work, but front engine faithfully carried me home in the rain, despite friction roller slippage.

I got home soaking wet, but rain couldn't wipe the smile off my face!

FYI, it's been over a month since I installed an extra rear brake. It works very well, along with front vee brake and coaster brake.

I would recommend anyone with coaster brake to keep it when installing rear side-pull brake. All three brakes work efficiently together. Nothing is gained by eliminating coasters.

Mine will never lock up again because I don't need to jam the coaster pedal anymore.
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Honey, it's just a bicycle. and i REALLY need it to excercise, and to ride it to work.(hehe)