Lockheed AP Racing caliper arrived in the post from Pom Bombs, at a cost of NZ$504 incl. freight. It is heaps lighter than the cast-iron stock item, so will drastically reduce the un-sprung weight of the front end. That’s if one even cares about such trifles on what is, after all, an obsolete motorcycle.
This caliper is not, however, a direct bolt-on proposition. Its wider piston bore means that the main casting does not clear the fork leg’s caliper mounting lug. About ¼ in. needs to be ground away in an arc between the two bolt holes in the lug.
Apart from that, installation is straightforward.
As straightforward as bodgy Meriden Co-op design updates will allow, that is, because of course the front wheel has to come out for the caliper to be gotten on or off (brake disc has to come away for caliper to slide off its stud sideways), and removing the front wheel involves undoing ten (count ‘em, ten!) nuts and bolts. Compare this with a pre-unit Triumph where, for front wheel removal, you undo one (1) wheel spindle nut, slide out the spindle and, badda-boom-badda-bing! One removed wheel! Sometimes the old ways really are best.
My new rear brake master cylinder has today arrived from Onion Jack in Melbourne, along with a new speedo cable (inner cable tip had snapped off on the old one) and a new front engine-frame bolt and nut (to keep on standby) at a total cost of AU$304.
I need to reclaim the pushrod assembly from the old knackerooed master cylinder before I can fit the new one. I had to apply a lot of heat in a gas ring before clamping cylinder body firmly in the vice and heaving on a stout screwdriver inserted through the end-cover bolt holes. At least this time I don’t need to worry about destroying it!
I got it apart, and immediately half of Bondi Beach fell out, complete with topless sunbathers! The cylinder inside was literally as dry as a nun’s bum, and seized up solid with dirt. Its rubber-condom cover had disintegrated, allowing road dirt to get in past the pushrod. On re-assembly with all new parts, I noticed that this condom-cover has a tendency to be “pumped” off by the pushrod’s reciprocating action. No double-entendre intended. It may need a hose clamp put on to keep it in place.
