ROYAL ENFIELD 350cc O.H.V. WORKSHOP MANUAL
Page 24
40. Rims.
Rims which are running slightly out of truth can
be trued up by tensioning the spokes, but if the rims
are badly buckled, twisted or dented they must either
be straightened or new ones fitted. Buckled rims
cannot be trued without tightening some of the spokes
excessively.
41. Spokes.
Examine the wheel for broken or loose spokes
and replace or tighten. Loose spokes are liable to
break owing to the load coming on them suddenly as
the wheel revolves. Loose or broken spokes throw an
undue strain on the other spokes in their vicinity.
42. Brakes.
The brake drums and linings require cleaning
from time to time to ensure that there is direct contact
between the lining and the drum. The presence of oil,
grease, moisture, mud or even dry dust will impair the
efficiency of the brake. To dismantle the brake,
remove the wheel from the machine, remove the left-
hand spindle nut completely and unscrew the distance
piece which fits on the spindle between the inside of
the fork end and the brake cover plate. The cover plate
can then be lifted off complete with the operating cam
and lever and shoes. Remove the two tension springs
between the brake shoes and lift the shoes away. If it
is required to remove the operating cam the nut which
secures the operating lever to the cam spindle must be
undone and the lever withdrawn from the splines on
the spindle.
The colour of the linings varies from deep yellow
to dark brown according to the severity with which
they have been used and the temperature at which they
have been running.
Their appearance should be
polished.
Do not " rough up " the linings with a file in
order to remove the normal polished surface. The
removal of this merely shortens the life of the lining.
The presence of grease or mud will probably be shown
by dull black streaks on the linings. The best way to
remove these is to scrape them off with a knife or
hacksaw blade, then to reassemble the brake and run
the machine for a short period in second or third gear
with each brake in turn hard on. This will burn out the
last traces of grease and will be found to restore the
efficiency of the brake once the linings have cooled
down. Alternatively grease can be burnt out of the
linings with the aid of a blow lamp. Washing the
linings with petrol usually results in washing the
grease into them and is not recommended.
If new linings are necessary, make sure that those
fitted are the correct size and type. The lining material
for both brakes is Ferodo B.Z. and the dimensions for
the rear wheel are 7 in. diameter by 1 in. wide, by 1/4
in. thick and for the front wheel 6 in. diameter by 1
in. wide, by 1/4 in. thick. When fitting new linings,
rivet up the rivets at the ends of the linings last, so as
to avoid buckling the lining.
If new linings are fitted it may be found that one
goes into operation before the other. This may give
either a very fierce brake or an ineffective one,
according to which lining operates first. The shoes
can be centralised by loosening the pins and nuts
which secure the cam bush to the brake torque plate,
then applying the brake and tightening the cam bush
securing pins.
The brake cam, cam bearing and the pivot pin
should be lightly smeared with grease before
reassembling the brake, if this has been dismantled for
cleaning or any other purpose.
43. Wheel Bearings.
The wheel bearings should be examined and
repacked with grease if necessary. The bearings are
non-adjustable and if showing an excessive amount of
play must be replaced. To remove the bearings,
unscrew all nuts from the spindle, then drive the
spindle out by hitting either end with a mallet. This
will bring out one bearing with the spindle. Remove
this bearing from the spindle and use the spindle to
drive the other bearing out of the hub. The drifts
shown in Figs. 37 and 38 will be found suitable for
refitting the new bearings to the hubs, two of each
type being required. The inner faces of the bearings
should bear against the shoulders on the spindle just
before the outer races bottom in the recesses in the
hub barrel. If this is not the case excessive strain will
be placed on the balls when the bearing retaining nut
and nut securing the brake cover plate are tightened
up. If the bearing shows signs of tightening when
these nuts are screwed home a thin shim should be
fitted on the spindle behind one of the bearings.
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