Hitchcocks Forum

Just wondering if anyone else has done this. I have a '52 350 Bullet which had an appalling 6" SLS brake. I tried the front wheel from a later Indian 350 with the 7" 2LS brake. Apart from the redundant speedometer drive it fits fine. I used the cable stop from the 6" brake bolted to the inside of the lower mudguard support. It even works out so the standard brake cable can be used. Braking is now much better and I feel a lot safer on the road. I've done a thousand miles or so since I did the modification but my concern is that if I have to use the brake in an emergency the lower mudguard support may not be strong enough and break off. Hence my question as to whether anyone else has tried the same thing or got a better idea which doesn't involve fitting the later Indian forks.

The other option would be the double-sided 6" SLS drum, as used on later 50's Bullets and twins. You may find the parts needed in the Used Parts & Bikes section, or check the on-line parts books for availability of new parts. My old '57 Bullet had this set-up and it worked pretty well, though the current owner has successfully converted it to 4 leading shoe, i.e. both 6" SLS brakes converted to twin leading shoe, and as far as I know he hasn't snapped the 50's fork leg castings yet.



A.

I am running an Indian 7" 2LS front wheel on my '52 Bullet, fits straight in. And the '52 forks have the advantage of steel axle caps...

Hi Adrian. I have considered the twin sided brake and there are a couple of front wheels for sale here but unfortunately it's not a cheap solution. That mod has the advantage that the cable stops are on the brake plate so brackets aren't needed on the fork leg.
Hi Tim. Thanks for your response. Have you also used the mudguard fitting to support the cable stop/adjuster?

"Have you also used the mudguard fitting to support the cable stop/adjuster?"


Yes, along with a reinforced mudguard stay to minimise any potential for flex and/or the stay fracturing.


The prospect of the steel Stop/Stay fork bracket failing under brake cable pressure is all but non-existent, but the potential for the stay fracturing due to fork (axle) flexiture is common with 2Ls brake and the Indian mudguard stays, the chrome plated central stay in particular.


If you are paranoid about the OEM stay fitting possibly snapping off, there is nothing stopping you from fighting a second strap around the fork and over the top of the original one?




The double-sided 6" brake is no where near as effective as the Indian 2Ls brake; unless you rig-up the brake cables with a Compensator beam, ala Vincent. A LOT of work for debatable advantage?

Thanks Tim. I'm not paranoid about the lug breaking off but I feel better knowing I'm not alone in doing this mod. I understand the usual way is to fit the double sided SLS but in my case it made sense to use bits I already had, especially as the 7" 2LS is a pretty good stopper. Sometimes practicality and usability need to take precedence over originality.