Coaster Brake discussion, fine tuning ect!!!

[Bettleguise]

I don't know what I did to it, but my coaster brake decided to work really good today. Too good, cuz it was raining, road slick, and I kinda laid the bike down. I skidding like a hipster at a fixie skid-a-thon, except I also fell. But I slide like a baseball player into home plate, cuz I'm a pro. Anyways.
So usually it's a case of the coaster brake not working good enough, but now it's too much and I'm a little afraid to use it. What gives?

 

[deorman]

Both of the symptoms you describe are usually attributable to complete lack of maintainance and/or excessive wear, but you might have just found an oil slick hidden by rain. What kind (brand, really old or modern) of hub is it, and have you ever opened it up?

 

[American Vintage Bicycle Supply]

Try opening it up.. I love opening up coaster break hubs, and then you can go from there.

 

[Bettleguise]

It's a Shimano hub. I've cleaned and greased it. I probably moved the wheel around adjusting the chain tension last night before ridding it today. Does the bearing adjustment, too tight too loose have any effect? Or positioning of the arm? It's really twitchy, I mean it stops so damn fast I don't get it.

 

[Wildcat]

Did all the parts get grease, or just the bearings? It all needs lubricated.

The first time I did one, back in 1968, I cleaned it all up but left the shoes and hubshell dry, making the brakes grab.

 

[deorman]

Did all the parts get grease, or just the bearings? It all needs lubricated.

The first time I did one, back in 1968, I cleaned it all up but left the shoes and hubshell dry, making the brakes grab.

This. It should be pretty much packed. And, loose bearings could have a negative effect, because the parts don't stay aligned and centered on the axle. Is there a retarding clip or return spring missing from the "clutch"? The clip type snaps onto one half of a 2-part assembly, and engages a slot on the other, the other type is shown here...
http://www.troubleshooters.com/bicycles ... erhaul.htm

 

[B607]

You are all blaming the hub. I'd say the problem was just as likely to be the tires. Some tires are made of a hard rubber that makes them dangerous on wet roads. I had a pair of Goodyear tires on a Schwinn American and took a dump on a rainy day just like you described. Tires made from softer rubber wear a lot quicker but are safer on wet roads. Go ride your bike in the same place and try it again only on a dry day. Gary

 

[Bettleguise]

Ok, I guess if a little water gets into the hub then it stops faster. I know what your talking about B607 with the rubber, but I'm not running those old hard tires. As far as taking the hub apart and repacking it, I've never seen a big improvement from doing that. The one thing that does help a wheel spin better in my opinion is to remove the bearing retainers and just repack it with loose bearings. That makes a big difference. But I don't know what effect that would have on stopping power. My coaster has 3 sets of bearings, two for the axle and one for the free wheel. Has anyone done all loose bearings? The free wheel bearings are a little bigger, right?