Flathead Ted - How floating is floating ?

[eystein]

I am installing one of Ted's brake floater kits, and I am potentially having trouble with restricted movement of the brake adjusting shafts. Although I have done the best I can, grinding away a little bit on the fork-end head to make the free length of the shafts a little longer, and then smoothing the shafts, they still stick. I can move the floating adjusting wedge and the other shoe if I use a heavy screwdriver on one shoe and put my weight on it. However, it is difficult to move the wedge when grabbing the shoe by hand.

I realise that the energising action when the brakes are applied are very much stronger than me, but what about the "nudge back" action ?

How freely must the shoes float ?

The original adjusting shafts were never designed to move, but does anyone know if the repo adjusting shafts sold by Snyders or Brattons are more suited (smoother and straighter) than the originals, and will suit the floater kits better ?

[roccaas]

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I didn't run into this particular problem 3 years ago when I installed mine, but with the time difference, you can end your day, drop an email to Ted, and when you wake up tomorrow, he will probably have answered your questions.

My shoes float "fully", and the return to Noon and Six when I let off the brake.

Do you have the big washers on the correct side? As I remember, the original instructions were difficult to follow on this, but "Model A Times" article was very clear on how much to grind, etc.