SoCal Dave Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 The brake on my 50# LG is starting to come apart. The piece that came off looks like it has wire in it, like a steel belted radial tire. I need about 30" X 1 1/2 inches of new material to replace it, but don't know what to use or where to find it. I didn't find any previous posts about this. Any suggestions. It looks like it was riveted on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judson Yaggy Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Dave, I've always used thick (1/4" +) leather rivited on with copper flat head rivits for a wear surface. Cheap, easy to replace, and not prone to damage any original parts or surfaces. This is on aftermarket brakes I've added onto mechanicals, the hammers with factory brakes were probably asbestos soldered on with lead (wink grin) but they sure work good! Is your failing part the brake or the clutch? IIRC Little Giants didn't have factory brakes, but my experiance is mainly with other makes of old mechanicals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoCal Dave Posted January 29, 2014 Author Share Posted January 29, 2014 Judson: Definitely part of the brake. The brake was added on by the previous blacksmith. It worked well for me for many years but now needs attention. I was thinking leather as you describe it with the copper rivets. But, that is not what I found when it came apart. Some kind of pad with wire running through it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Dean Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 PM Phil Cox, aka 'peacock' here on IFI. He is THE GURU of LG's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve McCarthy Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 I'll second that! Phil's brakes are leather sewn to nylon web and work great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWooldridge Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 I have a Beaudry hammer, with factory integral brake, and have tried a lot of materials over the years (various woods, commercial brake pad liner, etc.) but the best thing I've found is plain old saddle leather. One advantage to leather is that it will soak up oil/grease and still work quite well; most other materials will eventually get slick and lose the ability to grab a moving crankshaft. I never saw a need for extra sewing or webbing but it probably won't hurt anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swedefiddle Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Good Morning, I have a friend who makes/repairs saddles and harness. When I am building a Brake, he makes the strap with leather. It works dandy. Before Grant Sarver passed, I was talking to him about the 40" friction plate on his big Fly-Press. He used leather for the friction contact surface. He found it gave him a consistent feeling for a few years before he had to renew it. Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason0012 Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 any old belting will work, and that is probably what was used on yours. Whatever was at hand on other words Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 I used an old belt I picked up for $0.50 at a yard sale a few years ago and glued it rough out to the brake band I made. Works pretty well and was cheap. Oh WAIT, "Thrifty!" Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOblacksmith0530 Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Talk to Phil (peacock). His bands are leather sewn to nylon. The nylon goes on the outside and acts as a spring so when the hammer it working it opens and has no drag. I can do single blows with my 50 using this brake system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoCal Dave Posted February 5, 2014 Author Share Posted February 5, 2014 Thanks guys for all the info and idea's. I have a saddle maker/repair guy who works with all kinds of leather and he repaired it. Replaced the tire tread looking material with leather and copper rivets. This should work fine, but if it doesn't last long, I will contact "Peacock". Again, thanks for the postings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peacock Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 It will be fine if the metal band fits good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iron quake Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 I got the belt for the brake I made on my 100lb LG from Peacock and it works very well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.