Cleveland mechanical brake cable hookup question

[mslezak]

I just swapped the Goodyear wheels and Brakes for the Cleveland/VanSickle assembly. One question - the brake cables are attached at the wheel just after the pulley with a bolt, nut, and metal clamp assembly. I currently have the wire passing straight through, so the rectangular clamp sits high on the side where the cable passes under it, and low on the side with no cable. Can anyone tell me if this is the correct setup? The alternative would be to loop the excess wire back under the clamp on the low side... it seems the assembly would then sit flat instead. Just worried the tension on the assembly may snap the bolt since the pressure on it is not uniform.

On another note... I can't believe the Cleveland brakes work so well! Full throttle and the plane doesn't roll forward at all. Actually feels quite similar to hydraulic brakes.

Thanks! -Matt

[Nathan K. Hammond]

Go the "alternative" way. Loop it around the bolt so the cable makes a 180 and the plate presses down evenly on top and bottom.

If you you only pass it through one side, it could slip when you mash the brake and then no more brake... The assembly gets it strength from the mechanical advantage of the 180* turn.

And you're correct; properly setup, these brakes are very good!

nkh

[Paul Agaliotis]

Matt,
The biggest isue with these brakes is proper adjustment. Most are so far out that they just can't work and the urge to put hydraulic's on sets in. Make sure you have the return spring under the floorboard and lube with powdered graphite, no liquids.
Paul