Alan and/or Didge
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Alan and/or Didge
Look at the front brake on this click here
Bill (the boss)- Posts : 1773
Join date : 2010-10-24
Age : 63
Location : Somerset U.K.
Re: Alan and/or Didge
Could that be the front wheel from a GT750J?
Jem- Posts : 220
Join date : 2011-03-18
Re: Alan and/or Didge
No Jem, the Kettle J had a 4LS and not a 2LS, some of the early 550's had a drum too in 72, but went to discs in late 72, I think Al can confirm that.
Have a look see at this 72 750J....
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Suzuki-GT750-GT-750-J-1972-tax-exempt-winter-restoration-project-/220927011419?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item337046aa5b
Have a look see at this 72 750J....
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Suzuki-GT750-GT-750-J-1972-tax-exempt-winter-restoration-project-/220927011419?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item337046aa5b
dungbeetle- Posts : 281
Join date : 2010-10-25
Re: Alan and/or Didge
As fucking usual you are right, I will one day catch you out on a GT750 question though
Jem- Posts : 220
Join date : 2011-03-18
Re: Alan and/or Didge
The GT550J (1972) had the same twin sided twin leading shoe brake as the 1971 GT750.
Commonly known as a 4LS brake (not strictly true as this would actually have 4 full width shoes acting on a common linkeage on one side of the drum) it was a good brake on the 550, but not quite enough for the heavier 750. The K models (early '73) went to discs - single on the 550 (I fitted this kit to my J model and later swapped back as I believed then - and now - that the drum brake was superior, especially with Ferodo green linings), and double discs on the 750.
The T500 had a twin leading shoe brake, this eventually went to a single disc about the same time/ slightly later that it went on the GT550K. Late '72/73 IIRC.
Commonly known as a 4LS brake (not strictly true as this would actually have 4 full width shoes acting on a common linkeage on one side of the drum) it was a good brake on the 550, but not quite enough for the heavier 750. The K models (early '73) went to discs - single on the 550 (I fitted this kit to my J model and later swapped back as I believed then - and now - that the drum brake was superior, especially with Ferodo green linings), and double discs on the 750.
The T500 had a twin leading shoe brake, this eventually went to a single disc about the same time/ slightly later that it went on the GT550K. Late '72/73 IIRC.
Alan H- Posts : 1566
Join date : 2010-10-24
Age : 72
Location : Republic of South Yorkshire
Re: Alan and/or Didge
This is a double sided 4LS. A true 4LS brake has 4 shoes on the same brake plate.
- Attachments
Alan H- Posts : 1566
Join date : 2010-10-24
Age : 72
Location : Republic of South Yorkshire
Re: Alan and/or Didge
When I've got the lean-to roof finished down the side of the house, it will be GT550 time.
First job get the J frame up in the garage roof out thye way, sort all the J engine parts (all in boxes) and stash them under the benches.
THEN start the K resto. Then the K resto, then prolly flog one or the other and do the J which really is the one I want to do most.
I have to sort out the garage before resto work starts - flog the 4.6 V8, flog the Lister and the other engine in there. Get rid of the Winnower I was going to do up, then I'll have room in the garage to do a bike.
First job get the J frame up in the garage roof out thye way, sort all the J engine parts (all in boxes) and stash them under the benches.
THEN start the K resto. Then the K resto, then prolly flog one or the other and do the J which really is the one I want to do most.
I have to sort out the garage before resto work starts - flog the 4.6 V8, flog the Lister and the other engine in there. Get rid of the Winnower I was going to do up, then I'll have room in the garage to do a bike.
Alan H- Posts : 1566
Join date : 2010-10-24
Age : 72
Location : Republic of South Yorkshire
Re: Alan and/or Didge
I believe the first 380 had a drum too ? as did the 72 T250J, which evolved into the GT250 ram air of 73.
You'll know shit more about the Z1 than I ever will Jem, for the same reason I know a bit about the kettle. ;-)
You'll know shit more about the Z1 than I ever will Jem, for the same reason I know a bit about the kettle. ;-)
dungbeetle- Posts : 281
Join date : 2010-10-25
Re: Alan and/or Didge
The original GT380 had the same size drum front as the 'Super 6' series which was a twin leading shoe brake that was just about ok for a 250 but 'frigginell!!' for the 380. There were a lot of accidents at the time due to 'insufficient braking', so Suzukis' answer was to fit Ferodo green linings and remove any cooling blanks over the louvres on the hubs. My mates' 380 was the first one to have this done and it was done 'while we waited' - having a tour round the Ferodo factory at Chapel-en-le-Frith near Buxton (must have been late '71/early '72'). Fortunately the mods were very effective as we hit a tight bend a tad quick on the way home, but after a bit of arse nipping seat time, the new brakes did their stuff and we got home OK.
Bearing in mind that I got my first Suzy in 1968 and my first 550 in 1972, I'm not bad on them as well!
Rule at the time was, any engine tuning had to be matched with Ferodo greens on all drum braked Suzies!
Bearing in mind that I got my first Suzy in 1968 and my first 550 in 1972, I'm not bad on them as well!
Rule at the time was, any engine tuning had to be matched with Ferodo greens on all drum braked Suzies!
Alan H- Posts : 1566
Join date : 2010-10-24
Age : 72
Location : Republic of South Yorkshire
Re: Alan and/or Didge
Then they fitted discs (Cost cutting measures) then put stickers on the forks "These aint gonna work in the wet"
Bill (the boss)- Posts : 1773
Join date : 2010-10-24
Age : 63
Location : Somerset U.K.
Re: Alan and/or Didge
Yeah I remember the stickers on the forks of my GT250, they weren't joking either were they?
Had many a heart stopping moment in the wet
Had many a heart stopping moment in the wet
Jem- Posts : 220
Join date : 2011-03-18
Re: Alan and/or Didge
Oh, they worked:
Dry.
Squeeze, slow. Squeeze more, slow more. Squeeze like fuk, stop. Job done.
Wet.
Squeeze, nowt. Squeeze more , nowt. Squeeze like fuk (panic by now cos the car in front is VERY close). Tarmac rash.
All helped by bridgestone - sensitol lubricated. (Slippy when wet.)
That's why, after a couple of seat nippers, I refitted a drum brake instead of the kamikaze disc.
Disc OK in dry. Drum OK all time. Rain much in Yorkshire, Hmmm.
Dry.
Squeeze, slow. Squeeze more, slow more. Squeeze like fuk, stop. Job done.
Wet.
Squeeze, nowt. Squeeze more , nowt. Squeeze like fuk (panic by now cos the car in front is VERY close). Tarmac rash.
All helped by bridgestone - sensitol lubricated. (Slippy when wet.)
That's why, after a couple of seat nippers, I refitted a drum brake instead of the kamikaze disc.
Disc OK in dry. Drum OK all time. Rain much in Yorkshire, Hmmm.
Last edited by Alan H on Sun Jan 08, 2012 11:22 pm; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : cos I can.)
Alan H- Posts : 1566
Join date : 2010-10-24
Age : 72
Location : Republic of South Yorkshire
Re: Alan and/or Didge
In the end I used to keep a little pressure on the front brake lever to keep the water skimmed off the disc, that did seem to help quite a bit.
Jem- Posts : 220
Join date : 2011-03-18
Re: Alan and/or Didge
I've got the stickers on all of mine, they read " CAUTION, braking performance at beginning of the application may change with wet brake disc"
And the "wet brake disc" isn't a typo on my behalf meant to be disc brake, it's their mistake.
And the "wet brake disc" isn't a typo on my behalf meant to be disc brake, it's their mistake.
dungbeetle- Posts : 281
Join date : 2010-10-25
Re: Alan and/or Didge
Jem wrote:In the end I used to keep a little pressure on the front brake lever to keep the water skimmed off the disc, that did seem to help quite a bit.
I tried that method and it grabbed and nearly had me off. That was the final straw and I got a drum back on.
Alan H- Posts : 1566
Join date : 2010-10-24
Age : 72
Location : Republic of South Yorkshire
Re: Alan and/or Didge
Yeah it was quite a knack to stop it grabbing
Jem- Posts : 220
Join date : 2011-03-18
Re: Alan and/or Didge
You DO get used to it, honest, any one of my old Suzuki's aint any worse than my 2005 Harley !! infact the Harley discs warp real quick so it's easier on any of the old Suzuki's. !!
dungbeetle- Posts : 281
Join date : 2010-10-25
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