Unidentified drum brake needs, ummm, indentifying

I've just purchased an old Swedish m/42 army bicycle (militärcykel).
This rideable mass of solid pig iron works well, but I'm worried about
replacing the pads in the drum sometime in the future. Though I would
not be surprised if these drums were from a moped or small motorcycle,
it could just as well be some license-built Sturmey-Archer or what not.
Take a look:

http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/9030/pict00271nn.jpg

http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/7381/pict00281mf.jpg

I have no idea, but just want to congratulate you! You see quite a few
of these still being ridden about in Gothenburg. I'm extremely jealous.

I've still got family in Sweden, so if you run out of luck
domestically, email me, and I'll see if my uncle can source the pads
for you.

Hi G...
I'd really like to see a picture of the whole bike. No? Back in the
olden days (prior to disk brakes being installed on many cars) I
believe that there was a practice of bonding and / or riveting new
asbestos to old shoes. Of course Asbestos is long gone, but perhaps
another material could be used, if you can't find any new ones. If the
brakes are Wurmey-Archer (as I used to say back when I was a kid) they
are probably still being made. The Brits aren't big on change ; )
Although I may have heard that S-A has gone belly up.

Good luck, John

SA is alive and well, just not British owned anymore.
http://www.sturmey-archer.com

So those brake aren't like coaster brakes, where the "pads" are brass
coated with a crapload of hi-temp grease?

I'd just take them apart and have a look, my senses tell me that
they're probably good for another fifty years, as those military bikes
are extremely overbuilt.

Drum brakes usually last for the owner's life, time plus a bit! So with any
luck you shouldn't have to replace them. Assuming that they are in a
reasonable condition now.

SW


wrote in message
oups.com...
I've just purchased an old Swedish m/42 army bicycle (militärcykel).
This rideable mass of solid pig iron works well, but I'm worried about
replacing the pads in the drum sometime in the future. Though I would
not be surprised if these drums were from a moped or small motorcycle,
it could just as well be some license-built Sturmey-Archer or what not.
Take a look:

http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/9030/pict00271nn.jpg

http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/7381/pict00281mf.jpg

I'll definitely remember that.

As far as getting your own, go onto www.blocket.se and search for
"militärcykel." Most are sold out of Malmö, but there have been
plenty from Göteborg in the past, too. You can always just have them
pick it up and stow it away for a while. The bike can wait for you;
it's already made out of rust!

Don't worry, I'll be back with a whole photo shoot of this beast, later
this week. I need to brag to someone.

If I remember right, those are "Novo" which was a Husqvarna captive
brand, and use the same pads as the Husqvarna Novolette moped from the
50s. But I think you're "out cycling" if you really think you'll have
to change them. I'd think they'll continue to work as (not terribly)
well as they ever did for the forseeable future.

Oh and the pig iron is tubular, not solid. :-)

Fin hoj,
- Christian

(I'm the thread poster, BTW)

Thanks a bunch! Some Dutchman told me about Novo hubs which had a
habit of disintegrating, and I had thought he was talking about the
coaster brake rear hub.