Is it possible to completely remove or disable coaster brake setup

R

Rusty_Nail

Active Member
Just thought I'd see if its possible to remove the whole coaster brake setup so I can be rid of that damn coaster brake. Was riding a bit on Sunday and and bracket holding coaster brake on snapped off and the coster brake rotated and loosened my rear hub. How can I be rid of the coaster brake setup or disable it? Or would it be easier to just get whole new wheels for my beach crusier that doesnt have that setup?
 
I would not remove, disable or compromise the coaster brake hub shoes. It's not worth learning and experimenting with. It might stiff you. I would try to figure out why the coaster brake arm snapped. Maybe it's a generic or clone coaster brake wheel. The Shimano coaster brake wheel with 12 ga. spokes with double walled or steel rim is a very good wheel for motorbicycling, or like you said, "...get whole new wheels...". like a mag wheel or a spoke wheel with disc brake hub.
 
The coaster brake hub has a frame bracket that attaches to the chain tube and costs $2. new; that's the only bracket used. If the brake actuating lever snapped off that is also an inexpensive bolt on item. Take the old arm off and install the new one. Neither of these fixes involve disassembly of the hub, just straight up removal externally. The flimsy factory frame bracket often breaks on coaster brakes. These are the only two breakable external parts involved on the side of the hub opposite from the pedal wheel sprocket. Easy and cheap to replace.

The photo shows a really strong brake connection setup I used on one build.

Now the question of disabling the coaster hub. This has really stirred up a lot of discussion over the years. The hard way is shown on Youtube by several people & the ones I watched will work. Not a quick job. The easy way is to remove the frame bracket and brake lever and reinstall the wheel, no brakes so you are then faced with installing disc brakes on the rear which can be a daunting experience first time around. If you want disc brake on the rear a new wheel, set up for a rotor, is a good option.

Rick C.

brake setup.jpg
 
To indian22: what kind of bracket is that that the other two pieces connect to? I like that setup and willing to try it on my cruzier. Thanks! I'll post a pic of how mine looks right now a bit later so you have a visual.
 
I just wanted to say thank you to all who helped me with building this bike from A to Z. Took the bike out earlier, got the coaster brake anchored to the frame and so far it seems to be holding up. Went out riding for a bit and was sooooo worth it! I will keep you guys updated if anything else goes on with the bike. Thanks again to everyone that helped me. :)
 
UPDATE... checked my plug again after running the bike for about 30 mins. Seems to be a bit more grey than black. Still too lean? I’ll post a pic tomorrow after work.
 
Rusty_Nail said:
I just wanted to say thank you to all who helped me with building this bike from A to Z. Took the bike out earlier, got the coaster brake anchored to the frame and so far it seems to be holding up. Went out riding for a bit and was sooooo worth it! I will keep you guys updated if anything else goes on with the bike. Thanks again to everyone that helped me. :)
Click to expand...

That's a slotted plate welded to the frame. It allows the chain to be tensioned and provides a secure spot to attach the brake lever arm. The connection can be as simple as a short piece of steel, drilled at each end, to attach the bracket. I used two small heim joints and all thread to attach , the lever to the bracket which works well and looks neat but really over kill.

Rick C.

combination tensioner and brake arm connection.jpg
 
There is a spotweld in the hub that allows the brake to activate.
To find it, google "Make a front brake from a coaster brake".
There is a lot of info about the internals in those articles and threads.
 
Rusty,
Back when I was motorizing my Huffy Davidson I made acquaintance of Lynnette of Custom Motored Bicycles.com.
I used to visit her at her point of business. One of her builds used a freewheeel single sprocket cassette.
I saw the good of straight away, being so used to back spinning my pedals at a stop to get a god power stroke on take off.
She sells freewheel assembly's with a hub drilled and tapped on the left side to mount a disk brake. She gave me a wheel a customer returned, having cross threaded and snapped a bolt in. I repaired it rethreading it 1/4-28.
Hangs on a nail center beam of my machine shop. I was going make V-Brake mounting blocks for the Huffy and the left side hub holes were to mount a drive sprocket system Lynnette purportedly sells. Never got there.
Lynnette showed a drop loop frame on her website. I bought it.
When I took possession it had a Sportsman Flyer head badge! So began another adventure and my lack of attention of my Huffy Davidson.
See Lynnette, Her new wonky website is Home - MBRebel.com
Tom
 
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