Problem with CHP rear brake arm

[NathanT]

This is just a heads up to anyone who buys an aftermarket chrome plated rear brake arm from CHP that it may require modification for it to work correctly. Last year when I was doing some restoration on my 1971 CT70 K0, one of the many parts I replaced was the rusted chrome rear brake arm. I got an aftermarket one from CHP. It looks great but after I installed it I was unable to adjust the rear brake properly. Depending on how I adjusted the rear brake, either the brake pedal had way to much travel or the rear brake rubbed. This month I took the bike to the shop to have a few things done (mainly diagnose and repair an ignition problem). I also had the mechanic take look at the rear brake problem. He determined that the rear brake arm that I got from CHP was not quite right. He fixed it by welding a small tab to the underside of the brake arm where it contacts the brake pedal. That fixed the problem. I am lucky to have a shop near me that specializes in vintage Japanese bikes (Cycle Center in Culpeper VA) and a mechanic that is very familiar with the CT70.

 

[scooter]

Before raising the red flag on the CHP part. Sounds like the tab on your brake pedal was possibly worn??

Pic of original parts for reference

 

[NathanT]

There was no problem with the original brake arm. The problem didn't occur until I installed the CHP brake arm. I would have reinstalled the old rusty brake arm for comparison but by that time I had already trashed it.