Itinerant Air-Cooled

Heat? If so where?

Beat the snot out of it with a 2-3 lb hammer? If so where?

PB Blaster? If so where?

I got a bloddy knuckle, a bashed thumb, an aching back and Colin hasn't even gotten here yet.

Have you backed off the adjusters?
You don't want to get all crazy and crack the drum, but some well placed whacks can't hurt. Just be mindful of the bearings. Have never been there myself, good luck.

hambone wrote:Have you backed off the adjusters?
You don't want to get all crazy and crack the drum, but some well placed whacks can't hurt. Just be mindful of the bearings. Have never been there myself, good luck.

The star adjuster?

Mr Blotto wrote:
The star adjuster?

Correct. That will draw the pads in and, hopefully, allow you to pull the drum off. IIRC, I had a bit of lip on the inside of the drum, and that was a little tricky, but I bet you'll figure it out.

chitwnvw wrote:

Mr Blotto wrote:
The star adjuster?

Correct. That will draw the pads in and, hopefully, allow you to pull the drum off. IIRC, I had a bit of lip on the inside of the drum, and that was a little tricky, but I bet you'll figure it out.

I assume that I do that via the little access holes on the back of the backing plate?

Early bay has a hole in the drum itself but not sure of the %#%#)% cheapened out buses. What a world...

You are correct, Blotto. I found this which goes over the way you want to move the stars:

http://itinerant-air-cooled.com/viewtopic.php?t=7945

... Knowing my logic as a eastern European...

Whack it with a big hammer with a piece of wood to cushion it.

I have a small sharp chisel that fits in the brake adjustment holes and a few taps with a ball peen hammer will loosen the star wheels to allow the brake drum to come off.

If you spay some PB Blaster in there, use caution to prevent it from getting on the brake shoes or you will end up replacing them.

I like to polish up those star wheels on the wire brush wheel at the bench grinder to remove any rust and lube them up with a 50/50 mix of wheel bearing grease/anti-sneeze. I also like to clean up the brake drum with a wire brush and paint it with BBQ paint.

Can someone tell me which direction I would need to turn the stars to loosen the shoes?

Read the Chitown link lazybutt.

hambone wrote:Read the Chitown link lazybutt.

Mr Lazybutt here,

Looks like one of the stars is frozen...can only turn the left one...drum still will not budge.

I hate rust.

I will keep at it, but if I don't get it, hopefully Colin will have some ideas tomorrow.

Did I mention I hate rust?

Mr Blotto wrote: Mr Lazybutt here,

Looks like one of the stars is frozen...can only turn the left one...drum still will not budge.

have a small sharp chisel that fits in the brake adjustment holes and a few taps with a ball peen hammer will loosen the star wheels to allow the brake drum to come off.

Talk about lazy.

Mr Blotto wrote:Looks like one of the stars is frozen...can only turn the left one...drum still will not budge.

I hate rust.

I will keep at it, but if I don't get it, hopefully Colin will have some ideas tomorrow.

Did I mention I hate rust?

Hammer time! XD

Um... I know these are stupid questions, but I gotta ask.

You have the parking brake released, correct???

You've removed the small bolt that hold the drum to the hub, correct???