Installation video for Knott brakes

Fitting Knott brake shoes, step by step. The film below shows the whole job; the steps are written out here.

Step 1: Preparation

1. Release the handbrake lever so the brakes are not under tension.
2. Take off the wheels.
3. Slacken the turnbuckle on the brake rod that connects to the brake cables.

Step 2: Remove the brake drum

1. Remove the hub cap.
2. Remove the split pin (if one is fitted) and unscrew the castle nut.
3. Work the brake drum loose. If it is stuck, use a rubber mallet to free it.

Step 3: Remove the brake shoes

AL-KO brakes

1. Press in the pressure spring and release the locking plate on the back of the brake anchor plate.
2. Remove the pressure spring and unhook both brake shoes at the same time.

Knott brakes

1. Press in the pressure spring on the secondary shoe (the one without the rail).
2. Unhook the secondary shoe first, to stop the rail coming away from the primary shoe.

Peitz, Hahn and BPW brakes

1. Press in the locking plate.
2. Unhook both brake shoes at the same time.

Step 4: Clean and adjust

1. Clean the expander and the adjuster before fitting.
2. Wind in the brake adjuster. Depending on the model it sits either on the adjuster itself or on the back of the brake anchor plate.

Step 5: Fit the brake drum and tighten the castle nut

Taper roller bearings

1. Use Valeryd quality grease (part no. 4999001) for the wheel bearing.
2. Tighten the castle nut until the drum can only just be turned by hand.
3. Fit the wheel and check that it runs freely and without play.
4. Note: check the tightness again after a week or so.

Compact bearings

1. Do not grease the bearing.
2. Tighten the castle nut with a torque wrench to 280–300 Nm.

Step 6: Adjust the brake linings

1. Adjust the linings until the wheels lock.
2. Then back off until you hear a light scraping sound from the linings against the drum.

Step 7: Fit the brake cables and fine-adjust

1. Fit the cables.
2. Finally, adjust at the threaded rod on the compensator or at the turnbuckle.