need help with brakes

[shaneballance]

can you use a master cylinder on the handle bars of a bike as the brake for the vw trike.i really don't want to use the vw master cylinder.so can i use the one on the motorcycle handle bars?

 

[stockhatch]

For my dads trike, he used the handle bar master to control the front brake, and a dune buggy style pedal with master to control the rears. We wired it so that either or both would activate the brake lights.

 

[Loner]

The handlebar master cylinders do not offer the mechanical leverage needed to operate the rear brakes, as well as not enough volume. The only solution to allow use of only the handlebar braking system is if it were assisted by some type of power steering device in line with the brakes. Rear VW brakes need minimum of a 6 to 1 leverage ratio and ideally more like an 8 to 1 ratio - and that's if using your foot to operate. Handlebar levers only offer about 3 to 1 leverage at best - good for operating a single front brake caliper, but not enough for rear brakes.

 

[champsman97045]

I have a rewaco which uses suspended pedals and the master cylinder is mounted in the top frame under the fake tank and switches. this might be a possability for you

 

[controlu]

The handlebar master cylinders do not offer the mechanical leverage needed to operate the rear brakes, as well as not enough volume. The only solution to allow use of only the handlebar braking system is if it were assisted by some type of power steering device in line with the brakes. Rear VW brakes need minimum of a 6 to 1 leverage ratio and ideally more like an 8 to 1 ratio - and that's if using your foot to operate. Handlebar levers only offer about 3 to 1 leverage at best - good for operating a single front brake caliper, but not enough for rear brakes.

How does one ascertain leverage ratio? I have a VW system on the rear of my trike and I'm not happy with the stopping power.

 

[Jack Klarich]

How does one ascertain leverage ratio? I have a VW system on the rear of my trike and I'm not happy with the stopping power.

Read here https://www.onallcylinders.com/2016/03/28/monday-mailbag-calculate-adjust-brake-pedal-ratio/

 

[DeathBySnuSnu]

Good article above.

What brakes do you have?

Drum?

Disc?

What master cylinder size?

And I usually say 7 to 1 on the pedal itself.

6 to 1 would be shorter throw but harder to push.

And 8 to 1 would travel further but be easier to push.

https://www.triketalk.com/forum/threads/35579-Tech-Tech-Tech-or-So-you-want-to-build-a-trike/page15

 

[kerryb]

How does one ascertain leverage ratio? I have a VW system on the rear of my trike and I'm not happy with the stopping power.

I was unhappy with my lack of stopping power too. That is now cured with my drums being replaced with discs from the front of a karman ghia (no emergency brake now) . Hand lever controls front brake (not always useful) rear master cylinder on the frame rail, suspended pedal, ratio greater than 7:1 braking is now great!

If you want to know more, see the odessy of Wilma https://www.triketalk.com/forum/threads/49635-The-Odessey-of-Wilma