HF3000 Hand brake.

[lyndon]

Has anybody used the alfa rear calipers with the Beta handbrake lever that has the horseshoe type linkage, if so , what cable should I be useing and will it require modifying .
many thanks in anticipation of info,
Lyndon.
.

[chris.richard]

I'm at this at the moment - I have one caliper connected, but the other is proving tight. It would be easier if the cable was 1.5 cm longer! I think it'll fit, and if you can wait a week or so, I'll let you know.

[lyndon]

Thanks Chris,
a week or so wont matter, but I have just discovered that I do not have the horseshoe type linkage ; just a hole at the rear of the lever where this should be attached, I think it may have been misplaced when the lever went for chrome plating or . I never had it to start with! am I going mad, or is this normal when attempting to build a Stratos replica.
Lyndon.
p.s where can I get the missing part.

[strat6v]

if you can wait till tomorow then i'll look in me box of stuff, might even find chris j's brake mounting plate at the same time!. If i haven't got the horse shoe then i will have a wheel and clevis version, but this is slightly narrower.i'm sure it would do the trick though.

john.

[chris.richard]

am I going mad, or is this normal when attempting to build a Stratos replica.


Yes, it's normal! :rolleyes:

[catswhiskers]

Hi Lyndon,

I am using the Alfa 164 rear discs and calipers and handbrake lever (which I think is virtually identical to the beta) on my Corse. The handbrake lever has the single cable connected to the central pulley unit. I think I'm right in saying that the handbrake cable I've fitted is a Ford Scorpio and not only does it fit straight into the calipers without modification, but its also the right length to go around the pulley too.
If you like, I can post pictures to show you the details.

Cheers,
Mick

[lyndon]

thanks for the assurance that its normal Chris, I thought it was my age !
Mick, is it a wheel or a horseshoe as I dont know what John may have, but if you would be so kind as to post some pictures I am sure this will be of help
thanks Lyndon..

[catswhiskers]

Here you go Lyndon. Mine uses a wheel as you can see. The cable also latches straight onto the caliper as you can see from the underside view.
Hope this helps.

Mick.

[rutthenut]

Hope you will be fitting the rubber boots on the sliding pins of the brake calipers when the car is fully assembled

[catswhiskers]

Yes John,
I've just about finished test fitting everything before I 'go for it' proper.

Thanks for the pointer though.

Mick

[John]

Mick,
the cable is made to length to suit the Scorpio calipers. It's not an "off the shelf" Scorpio item.

[lyndon]

Thanks for the photos Mick, I will take the handbrake lever off the old 164 and see if the wheel can be used,but it may be further complicated by the fact that my chassis the Hawk ,
Lyndon.

[Sando]

Hi Lyndon
If you are still struggling you can always have a new 'inner' made to length with new ends crimped on to fit the Calipers you have.
I had an X1/9 one modified like this and works a treat. In fact thinking back I think the inner was just shortened If I remember right with new ends to suit.

It was hydraulic hose place that did it I think. I'll try and find out who it was. Hydrose rings a bell. North Notts somewhere near Mick W. I think. It was 4 years ago though!
Cheers
Rob :cool:

[catswhiskers]

The only guys near me that I know of who do that sort of thing are 'Phone a Hose'. Theyre based in Sutton in Ashfield. I use them for our hydraulic hoses and fittings for work. They do different kinds of cables though from small diameter right up to heavy duty, around 6mm diameter plus all the fittings. However, I think John mentioned a company called 'Speedy Cables' who seem to specialise in this kind of thing. Maybe if you read this John, you can fill in the blanks.
Cheers,
Mick

[strat6v]

Speedy cables are a good outfit, nothing too much bother. I have a LARGE bath but nobody made a pop up waste to fit. The problems were, the overflow pipe to the plug hole and the control cable for the pop up thingy, speedy cables made a special up for me and samco came to the rescue with the overflow pipe. One trick bath.(sorry, a little off topic) :D

[chris.richard]

Samco pipe on your bath overflow!? Not even Harrods do that!

[strat6v]

The original was a strange size of copper pipe. None of the merchants carried any fittings to suit the od. Needs must and all that!! :p

[rutthenut]

Yep, Speedy Cables will make up all sorts of custom cables.

http://www.speedycables.co.uk/

Company used to be in North London, but have moved out to Wales.
Dunno if they are listed in the 'suppliers' forum already, but should be in there.

They will also do conversions on rev-counters to go from 4-pot to 6-cyl spec
(mind you, 'CorseChris' can also do this - but not currently on a commercial basis)

Cheers,

[John]

Speedy Cables. Excellent product but in our experience the company name could get them into trouble with the trades description act.....

[chris.richard]

Got my Beta cable onto both Alfa rear calipers. Unfortunately now can't get horseshoe onto threaded rod! :mad:

Back to the original question - Has anybody done it successfully with alfa calipers and the original cable?

[lyndon]

Gerraint telephoned me the night before last and has succesfully fitted a standard cable purchased from Tank Barrets, which is possibly a Beta item so I just have to wait until Tank confirms this and I will let you know. Still need the horseshoe and adjuster plus the clevis pin off the Beta handbrake lever if anyone has a spare,
Lyndon..

[chris.richard]

Had to make new 3mm spacers for my rear calipers today, the 2mm "dogbone" one that came in the kit didn't centre the bracket on the disc and it rubbed. One more job nearer finish. Still haven't got the cable all connected up though!

[chris.richard]

Got it connected up today. Needed two screwdrivers to close the levers on calipers to give a bit more cable length, and I just got the nut onto the threaded rod through the horseshoe. Handbrake works fine, but there's still some air in the hydraulics somewhere. :)

[lyndon]

Nice one Chris,
I,ve been waiting 2 weeks for my cable and mechanism to arrive from BETAPARTS ,
. Lyndon.

[chris.richard]

More Bollox!
back to square 1 with the handbrake. It wasn't holding adequately, so I tried an extra heave on the lever, and stripped the thread on the adjuster that holds the horseshoe. And that means i'll have to remove the heater control, centre panel and the tunnel to get at the lever. Bollox! :mad:
I've got the clutch working better, but I'm not impressed with the inability of the rear brakes to resist the engine when in gear and the wheels off the ground. If they weren't new calipers, I'd wonder if they were seized. :(
Still, off to the paintshop on Saturday :) then withdrawal symptoms for a week I suppose :rolleyes:

[strat6v]

Hmmm, One week? That would allow time for prep,MAYBE two colours and lacquer. Now what could it be.....

[chris.richard]

Paintshop's doing 2 colours, leaving me to add 3 more....
Lacqer? Nah, not doing that - that's for showrooms! If Guy's looks as good as it does without it, it'll do for me! ;)

[strat6v]

Are yo going to make us wait till 'the birth' ,before you announce its a Pirelli or Aseptogyl?