[Andy Weyman]

Does anyone know what kind of brake / hub was fitted to late model petrol tube sidecars? My sidecar has a brake fitted - that works well enough - but is clearly inappropriate, or at least the backplate definately is - as its post war BSA.

If anyone has a photograph of a correct backplate and hub this would be very much appreciated - as at least I will know what I am looking for. Moreover, if anyone has a backplate (asuming my hub is correct) or a backplate and hub that they would be happy to part with for a suitable sum please contact via e.mail as per membership listing, or via this forum.

Thanks for taking the time to read this

Andy

[bobss80]

Andy,

Did they have brakes? Mine has a suitable "lump" where a brake anchor would be likely to pick up on, but an attachment hole was never drilled. I guess a brake wouldn't be a bad idea in practice, though.

Other than that, I don't know!

Cheers

Bob Withers

[Ray Cook]

No indication of braking on my chassis either - I understood they were not braked and generally they weren't. Never ridden a braked sidecar but would expect unless well weighted (passenger etc) I'd expect it to be ineffective. Rather rely on knowing braking is poor and riding accordingly.

Ray
_________________
Ray

[bobss80]

Mmm. Thinking about Ray's comment. I suppose if the sidecar was light (no passenger, for instance), then I imagine the sidecar wheel could easily lock, thus rendering it ineffective.
Back in the "good old days" i.e the 1970's, I covered a lot of miles with a petrol tube chair, no body, and a kerbstone giving it a bit of weight(!!). I never thought about sidecar wheel brakes, and now I think there wouldn't have been any point anyway!
Bob Withers

[Paul Wilson]

Having recently purchased my 1936 Brough combo, I am exploring day by day and have been wondering about the brake set up for the sidecar ( I too have a Petrol Tube Chassis with a Cruiser Body ).

Mine is currently fitted with a brake which is not connected ( brake arm in place on the third wheel hub and with corresponding lugs on the bike rear brake lever itself, but I haven't yet stripped the hub to explore further ).

My outfit was in the same family for 60 years, for much of which it was unused. What is present, is pretty much original, so when I explore further, I will let you know what I find...... you are also welcome to pop by if you are near or passing and have a look for yourself.

Regards,
Paul Wilson...... and expect a lot more sidecar posts from me, as I have a big job in front of me.

[Guest]

Thanks Paul -

Am I corect in assuming from the description you gave that you bought the 80 combination that was sold on e.bay a few weeks back?

It would be good to know what you find when you strip the hub - at which point maybe we should compare notes.

Ralph Brough can date you sidecar from the chassis number, by the way (this is stamped on one of the two spring mounting plates).

My chair was manufactured in '38 - so it should be quite similar to yours.

I have had a good look at the chair on the 11.50 at the National Motorcycle Museum - this is very similar to mine - with one or two small detail differences.

Thanks for the invite I will give you a call if I am in your area - likewise if you are visiting, or passing through North Derbyshire ,you are more than welcome to call by.

Also I would add that the brake set up I have has worked very well (so long as you set it up so that the chair brake is less efficient than the rear on the bike - so that it offers a modest degree of retardation). I have covered around 1500 miles with this set up without any probems. Without it I think its asking a lot of the standard brake set up which is barely adequate for a solo - even with soft linings that have been mounted on the backplate and skimmed in a lathe etc..

Regards

Andy

[Paul Wilson]

Sorry for delay in responding, been away.

My outfit WAS the one on eBay a few months ago ( in Yorkshire ), so it is probably the one you saw....... Once I got it home, I rode it around the Ashdown forest in Sussex for a few weeks before I had to lay it up and found the existing brakes are v. poor so the sidecar brake will be rigged up come what may.

I have had a look at the chair fitted to the 1150 at Beaulieu and it is very similar even down to the coconut matting on the floor ..... they kindly allowed me to crawl all over it and take detailed measurements, photos and audio film.

Since my last post I have been a long way from my garage so have done zip as regards the bike other than pick up parts left right and centre, but will be starting with a vengeance very soon....... when I begin, I will be filming all parts of the the strip down and rebuild via a digital camcorder as it saves me making notes and I can consider my next move via the comfort of playback in my living room.

I will be restricting each part to about an hour as that is the length of the pre edited tapes, and I can transfer the tapes onto Video Tape, CD or DVD RW discs, so you are welcome to any relevant bits you want to view and I will send them through the post.

Regards,
Paul Wilson ophian13@supanet.com

[Guest]

Paul

Many thanks for resopnding. In addition to any gen you can supply re the brake I have for some time been intending to fit a swan neck forward mouting - as I currently have a loop tube - which I am pretty sure is incorrect - or at least I have not seen another Brough with this arrangement. So dimensions for the swan neck bar if you have one fitted would be really useful so that I can make one up. I have a few photos of my chair - which you are welcome to copies of if you think they will be of any use to you.

As I am in the midst of moving house I may be a little slow in responding - but will do my best to keep in touch. Good luck with your restoration

Regards

Andy

[Paul Wilson]

You may want to contact Mike Smith ( Brough MX parts supremo ).... when I last visited him, he had just bought a quantity of Brough sidecar mounts and brackets..... If he has sold them, then I will supply you with details of mine ..... Regards, Paul Wilson

[Paul Wilson]

I have at last fully stripped the bike and various parts and will over the next few days publish links to the pictures of them .... I have seen the sidecar wheel brake as an option in the 1935 catalogue, but not in others .... it may be buried in the text somewhere of the other years. It cost £2. 10 shillings or thereabouts !!

Essentially there is a threaded lug which looks pretty original on the left hand footrest immediately behind the extended BS foot brake lever, so the cable run is quite straightforward. There is apparently no securing lug under the sidecar and a single sided brake arm on the sidecar wheel along with another securing lug.

Hopefully the pictures will clear everything up,

Paul

[Guest]

[Ichabod]

In 1966 was thinking af fitting a brake to our sidecar and this was some advice given me by Fred Richardson.

Fred Richardson May 1966

Re chair brake and pillionists. Judged on a couple of runs riding behind Ken Watts SS80 outfit- even Olives slight weight riding pillion made it necessary to use extreme caution on left handers. Despite Ken’s ‘robust’ style together with the heavier Brough chair compared to my Jet 80 there was always the danger of my over running him on bends- under these circumstances a separate chair brake would be a menace- your best bet is coupled brakes, chair brake to come on slightly after rear brake.

Bowdenex from chair through frame, say over gearbox, with cable stop mounted on engine plate and wire end could be fitted with a yoke wide enough to fit over existing yoke, connecting brake pedal and rear brake rod, secured by a pin long enough to go through both yokes.