Wheel Cylinder Problem

You could have a broken or unhooked return spring, a seized wheel cylinder piston, an over-tight or seized adjuster, or even all of the above at the same time under that drum.



First thing is to back off both of the adjusters so you can be sure that the brake shoes are not tight against the drum or too close to the drum for the shoes to clear. There is a hole in the drum that you can push a big flat-bladed screwdriver into to rotate the adjuster star wheels. If they are seized up, spray some PB blaster or similar on them and use the screwdriver blade and a small hammer to try to tap the seized adjuster in either direction until they both turn freely. Work carefully and don't ruin it.

Then try to pull the drum off... you may have to tap on it around the center where the axle comes through it and use two screwdrivers to pry it away from the backer plate. Use some pb blaster on the shaft if it looks rusty there. Don't beat on it hard, don't miss where you aim your hammer or pry on it too hard, else you might ruin something.



If you still can't get the drum off, use some heat from a torch to expand the drum around the axle but again, be careful, and don't get it too hot. You can easily ruin stuff...

Alright, I messed with it tonight again. I dont want to put heat on it as I will destroy the seals and bearings. The adjusters are frozen. They won't budge. I am going to have to drop a puller on the wheel while its installed on the bike with the hub nut removed. Has anyone done this? I don't know if the wheel can handle it, but I have pretty much no other choice right now. I can't beat on the castle nut and hub any more, its not budging. Its soaked in penetrating lube and has been all day. I've tried gently beating around the drum, but even gentle taps have put small marks on the drum, so I can't hit on it really hard enough to make much difference. I know dents on the outside don't translate to the inside, but I don't want to REALLY hit on it. If this was my truck where I could run down to Oreilly, it would have been off already with a torch and 5lb sledge...guaranteed.

I tried loosely putting the rim on the bike with the drum nut removed, and then just slamming the wheel towards me to the lug nuts, but its not enough force to pull the drum off. I feel like if I can put a puller on the rim and drum and put a little pressure on it, not CRANK it down, just firm it up, and tap the center bolt, it would give. Maybe not. I got no other ideas.

Any other advice for putting a puller on it?

I fabed a puller for doing hubs and drums , it works two ways , slide hammer or push with a bolt , works great , one thing about that bike and a hub puller , if you make one for the front , then it won't fit the rear as it has two different wheel lug patterns on it -------------- are you close to New Orleans ? , I have pretty much all of 2 - 86 TRX200SX's , I got a good set of left and right , upper and lower front A- arms with knuckles and brakes that worked for $100 , but don't ship ------ the 200SX is a fun bike to ride , I have had a couple of them

Alright, I got the MF'er off. That's the good news. The not so good news is that the hub spindle is crushed a little. Yes, it took THAT MUCH force to pull it with a puller. I ended up partially threading nuts on the studs and pulling against that. I tried the wheel, but it looked like it wanted to bend, so I stopped. The spindle is just peened a little, so the cotter pin won't go back through. I was able to file off the edge so the nut goes on, and I think I can just drill out the hole a little and it'll be good to go.

The bad news is that bearings and seal were destroyed by my torch. I tried my best to apply just as much heat as needed, but it was not happening. I can see the bearings are rusted to the hub. It's apart now. Need to replace seals and bearings. The wheel cylinder on that side doesn't look like it works, but I don't have the pads off yet. We will see.

Hate damaging things, but I guess you do what you gotta do. It's not anything that ruined the integrity of the hub I don't think.