DB32 Norbsa

[RGS Chris]

I hope this post is in the correct place, if not apologies to all.

Just recently became custodian of this DB32 Norbsa.
Had to do a bit of electrical and carburation work to get it running. Its now fitted with an Amal Concentric carby that still needs fine tuning. At the present moment it's too rich on the pilot jet and throttle slide. If anybody has advice on correct jets etc I'd be pleased to hear.

[Joolstacho]

Wow that's pretty cool. Those front brakes don't have a good reputation, -how is yours?

[Triton Thrasher]

That tea strainer over the intake looks like it has a fine mesh.  Watch out for richness at full throttle with high rpm.

I’d try to make sure it’s impossible at any stage of fork compression, for the front brake cable to be picked up by the tyre tread and dragged forward under the mudguard.

[RGS Chris]

Wow that's pretty cool. Those front brakes don't have a good reputation, -how is yours?

Thanks Joolstacho,
The front brake is living up to it's reputation.
I've got a set of long actuating levers to fit in the next day or two, hopefully we'll see some improvement then.

[RGS Chris]

That tea strainer over the intake looks like it has a fine mesh.  Watch out for richness at full throttle with high rpm.

I’d try to make sure it’s impossible at any stage of fork compression, for the front brake cable to be picked up by the tyre tread and dragged forward under the mudguard.

Must agree with your comment, when I get into the front brake mods I'll fit a cable guide to the front mudguard.

[Joolstacho]

Good one Chris. 'Improve the breed' -The way to go. I remember the one I had, had a good heavy cable, but it had an 'in-cable' brake light switch which included a return spring, which meant that the initial pull amount just closed up the spring to operate the switch, then the brake operated.
Not a very clever piece of engineering. I ended up fitting the earlier TLS brake, which was very much better.
I have heard that those later TLS brakes can be improved though - with work, which is what you are doing. Lovely looking bike mate.

[Rex]

The conical brakes are much-maligned, but set up properly and with decent linings and a heavy cable they're fine.
Not as attractive to look at as the earlier TLS though.

[Joolstacho]

One of the issues with that brake is that the brake hub assy casting was alloy, but the shoes were pressed steel like a bleedin' Vauxhaull Viva, so there was a different expansion rate. When hot the shoes distorted resulting in less than perfect alignment.
And delete that dopey mid-cable brakelight switch which resulted in useless lost motion.

[Rex]

No idea about Vauxhall Viva brake shoes but conical hub shoes were cast alloy.
https://tinyurl.com/3b4rkn23

[JulianS]

Conical 8 inch twin leading shoe front with steel shoes shown below. (no springs shown in photo)

[Joolstacho]

Interesting... Obviously there were two versions. I guarantee you mine were just pressed steel brake shoes.

[JulianS]

Cast shoes used in the 7 inch rear and 6 inch front single leading shoe conicals.