shortening the handbrake

Post by **callyspoy** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 7:38 pm

hello good sirs, can anyone tell me teh best way to go about welding up a shortened handbrake? i have a '53 so it's the early style lever with the button on top rather than at the end. i assume a but weld would not be suitable as it's put under quite a bit of stress? your thoughts and pictures would be appreciated!
cheers!

Post by **Dean** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 8:06 pm

Clonks the gear lever does it?

Thu Mar 12, 2009 8:08 pm

do you need to do this?

The split screen 2 door saloon I have with the fiat engine does not appear to have been modified, it looks far to nice bearing in my mind my previous comments on this car you will now what i mean.

I can take a few pictures this weekend and let you have them if you want?

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 8:13 pm

If you shorten the handbrake lever - you will have less leverage on the shoes and may not be able to pull them on hard enough! Better to find another way - move the brake lever over and/or bend the gear lever away !

Post by **callyspoy** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 8:20 pm

my fiat box has the remote on it that brings the stick further back and gives a shorter "throw". so for this reason, does mean i will need to modify the lever.
i understand the leverage issue, but figured as it had been done quite a few times before that it wouldn't be "that" difficult. plus i'm 23 and regards myself as relatively strong for a wee man!

Post by **jonathon** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 8:34 pm

Shortening the handbrake lever is no problem for brake leverage. If you fit a Maestro or Mini handle cover it almost feels better.
I'm doing this mod tomorrow for a customer so if you need one done with a standard lever let me know and I'll do a couple.

Post by **MartinB** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 9:25 pm

When I first fitted the Fiat engine to my morris with the engine in the normal position, I had the Abarth remote on the gearbox, I used the standard Minor handbrake lever but moved it back, even managed to use the standard holes where the cables go through the tunnel. There is no need to change the handbrake lever.

Martin

Post by **Innovator** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:06 pm

Same as Martin, used to move the handbrake back.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:32 pm

How did you shorten the cables ?

Post by **MartinB** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 11:02 pm

If you are using a Ford Escort axle, you will need to make extensions for the cables rather than shortening them, even moving the handbrake lever back, assuming you stick to the two Minor cables working independently rather than the Ford jobbie which goes across the back of the axle. Extensions go at the drum/axle end of the cables

Martin

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 11:48 pm

Ahhh - that would explain!

Post by **jonathon** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 8:22 am

If running a 5 spd on std Minor running gear the shorter lever is far easier, only take 30 mins. a lot less work than cutting off and re welding brackets and cable extensions. Correct length h/b cables for Ford axles are available of the shelf