adding front brakes to a 50's / 60's Murry bike

[Dr Finkster]

HI guys

due to the laws in the UK I have to fit front brakes to my Murry / J.C. Higgins project and wondered if anyone had some advice on what would work. I'll be running 26x 2.15 tires on the bike and the rear has a coaster brake already.

any advice would be really good.

Thanks guys .

 

[Kruez]

The local law requires retrofitting front brakes on a coaster brake bike? Interesting.

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[Dr Finkster]

yep you have to have two working brakes on any bicycle in the UK by law. There was an accident recently where a cyclist killed a pedestrian on a "Fixie" he was only running one brake on the bike and it's been in the news so the police are going to be hot on it for a while.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...outed-charlie-alliston-pedestrian-lay-wounded

http://www.cyclinguk.org/cyclists-library/regulations/construction-use

kinda sucks as I wanted to run clean handlebars but ho hum.

 

[Dr. Tankenstein]

Hey mate,
I'd look into Sturmey Archer front hubs. They come with and without dynos in 70mm and 90mm. They're made in England I believe and should be available at any bike shop.

Good luck and..
Cheers!
Dr. T


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[Dr Finkster]

Hi Dr T

I hadn't even thought of that as I'm still in the stripped down stage that's a good possibility . shouldn't look to bad either. I was considering a new Sturmey three speed coaster hub for the rear as well so shouldn't be outta place

 

[RustyGold]

Shocked by the mandatory two-brake law...but, a quick search brought up that California has a mandatory rear brake law. What do all the skate park bmx'rs do...stay home?

Jason

 

[AndyA]

Dr. Finkster:
I retrofitted a front caliper brake on my J.C. Higgins Spaceliner, which had only a coaster brake, because 1) when you really have to stop, you really need a front brake, and 2) in the unlikely event that you drop a chain, a coaster brake won't stop anything at all. Simply drill a hole in the fork crown and stick on a caliper brake, cable, and lever. Photo is attached.
Smooth riding, Andy

 

[Bicycle808]

I´d go with Sturmey drums front and rear, if you´re lacing wheels up anyway.

 

[scrumblero]

they are super smooth and look OK too..

 

[Bicycle808]

they are super smooth and look OK too..View attachment 60852

I think they look rad..... especially the fronts without the dynamo... (But get the dynamo version anyway.... they´re very useful.)

 

[Phil Fink]

For that "foreign bike" look, you may try to find some vintage bolt-on brakes that do not require drilling.

Also, a MTB fork with brazed-on mounts for cantilever U-brakes might be an easy option, (again depending on style & function).

 

[RustySprockets]

YIKES!

 

[Phil Fink]

Maybe O.P. could provide amplifying information (or even a picture) on the Murray Higgins Sears bike/parts that are considered for use - such as springer fork(?).

 

[Dr Finkster]

So quick update. The tired came back from being trued and didn't need anything doing to them, so I really don't want to do a 're spoke job just yet.

But worse of all was when putting the wheels back on it turns out the front forks are 24" not 26" so I now need a set of forks that work. .. Back to the breaks after finding a set.

 

[Dr Finkster]

 

[deorman]

If the fork you find is a solid blade that the crown can't be drilled on, you may be able to attach a 1 1/2" wide by 1" deep u-shaped metal strap by the fender mount hole underneath. Won't work with a fender. Hard to see in these pics, but the bike is stripped and parted so I can't take another.

Here's a couple more with the AndyA method.

 

[Muttley]

I recently hunted down and found one of these:

To use on this:

 

[deorman]

I recently hunted down and found one of these:

View attachment 61780

To use on this:

View attachment 61781

Great find!

 

[Phil Fink]

So, it looks like the fork has been drilled, for 6mm brake bolt.
I believe that there are some extra long reach BMX/cruiser caliper brakes # 1080 that may suit your needs; I believe they come in (6) colors - from Porkchop BMX, a sponsor of the RRB website.

Your bike looks like my 1963 Murray Missile.

 

[Indyjps]

I recently hunted down and found one of these:

View attachment 61780

Does that bolt onto a fender mount screw. A 1" star nut could be used if theres no fender attaching system.

A vice, hammer, plate and grinder, these could be made for any fork. This one kinda locks into the fork legs which adds a lot of stability.

Where the heck did you find it. Very cool part.