Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, 850 California Police Brakes
Table of contents
Brake actuation rod (for the rear brake)
Updated: 2012 Jul 04
In early February of 2009, Joe Cox contacted me asking about the brake actuation rod. I sent him some measurements and photos of my original, and then he crafted one.
Gregory Bender’s notes
The brake actuation rod connects the brake pivot to the brake actuation arm on the brake plate. It is made of 6 mm rod, bent at 90 at one end (to fit through the brake pivot) and threaded at the other end ( 6 mm × 1 mm ) to accept the adjustment nut.
I’d use 6 mm Stainless Steel rod. A bit more difficult to bend and thread, but it can be polished and will never rust. McMaster-Carr sells it; search for item number 1274T15.
If you don’t have the nut, this one from McMaster-Carr would work: 90368A300. Just bevel the bottom and have it push up against a short length of cross drilled rod of larger diameter.
Key measurements:
Length from inside corner of the bend to the end of the threads: 455 mm (for V700 rear brakes the length is 400 mm )
Length of bent end from the inside corner of the bend: 10 mm
Approximate Length of threads: 50 mm – 60 mm (for V700 rear brakes I measured the length at 62 mm )
The short little cross-rod that the knurled nut runs up against is made of 12 mm diameter rod. Instead of buying a entire length of rod, I’d just buy a 12 mm bolt that wasn’t fully threaded and make it out of that. The hole through the cross-rod is 6.6 mm in diameter.
I’d drill a hole for the cotter pin, stick 10 mm in the vice and bend it 90. Measure 455 mm to the end and cut it off. Thread the end to 50 mm (or so) and call it good.
A couple of notes:
Use a washer between the cotter pin and the pivot arm to prevent wear and breakage of the cotter pin.
If you look at the photos carefully, you’ll notice the original design had corresponding V notches cut/filed into the knurled adjustment nut and the corresponding very short cross rod. This V notch is nothing more than a locking mechanism to prevent the nut from coming loose, etc. Be sure to add one of your own.
Brake actuation rod for the Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police motorcycles.
90 bend at the forward end of the rod (I’m in the middle of experimenting to get more feel with my Moto Guzzi 850 T brake drum).
Photo courtesy of Gregory Bender.
Brake actuation rod for the Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police motorcycles.
90 bend at the forward end of the rod (I’m in the middle of experimenting to get more feel with my Moto Guzzi 850 T brake drum).
Photo courtesy of Gregory Bender.
Brake actuation rod for the Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police motorcycles.
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