R65 and R65LS Rear Drive Interchangability

[DBCooper]

I know the R65 and the LS have different brake shoe sizes, is there any difference in the rear drives themselves?  I put a reman R65 rear drive into an LS bike and changed the R65 shoes to LS shoes, but still can't adjust enough to engage the shoes in the drum.  No noise, rides great, just no rear brake.  I've even disassembled, changed the shoes back to the used ones that worked in the old drive, but still no joy.  

I understand the rear drives are interchangeable, so is there something else I've missed that's needed to fit?  Next step is to disassemble again and compare/measure new and old, just wanted to ask first to be sure I have whatever's needed to fix the problem.

[Bob_Roller]

The reason for different brake shoes between the standard R65 and LS model, is that the LS wheel has a larger diameter brake drum than a 'snowflake' wheel .

[nhmaf]

can you post pics of your shoes?
The LS shoes are a bit larger and are shaped a little bit differently where they contact the brake cam at the back.   Possibly you've got the shoes swapped top/bottom?

[DBCooper]

can you post pics of your shoes?
The LS shoes are a bit larger and are shaped a little bit differently where they contact the brake cam at the back.   Possibly you've got the shoes swapped top/bottom?

I'll take a picture when I disassemble it.  Didn't want to do that until I knew better what might be wrong.  Is it even possible to swap them top/bottom?  It's not possible to put them in wrong side out, and if they're both the correct side out they have to be right top/bottom or they won't fit on the cam.  Right?

As long as I know the drives are the same, LS and non-LS, then my problem is with the shoes, either buying the wrong ones (they said they were LS) or assembling them incorrectly.  When it's apart again I'll compare the shoes I bought with the old ones.  Probably me, that's usually the problem.

Thanks gentlemen.

[Bob_Roller]

The arm that the brake rod attaches t on the final drive, is supposed to be installed so the small dot on the brake cam, looks like a centerpunch mark, is centered in the gap between the two ears that the bolt clamps down on .

[DBCooper]

Yeah, that's not it.  I can manipulate the brake lever by hand even past the threaded section of the rod and it still doesn't engage.   There's something else wrong, I just need to take it apart again and see what.

[Milo_357]

I know I interchanged a rear tire between a 83 R65LS and a 83 R65 without any problem.   But I haven't run the bike with it on yet, so I don't know there would be a problem.

They sure look exactly the same though.  I'd be interested to hear the differences too...

[nhmaf]

They take the same tire sizes - it is the center part of the rear wheel where the brake lining is on the LS wheel that is larger in diameter than the center part of the snowflake wheel where the brake lining is.   The LS shoes are a bit taller and have a slightly larger radius to mate with the larger diameter brake lining part of the wheel.

[Milo_357]

Well, I do know they have different center rods.  I accidently put the LS rod through the standard snowflake wheel.  I looked at it and realized that the space was about 3/4 inch LESS on the LS rod, and if I had left it on, the wheel could have fallen off the drive shaft to the left!

Ack!!!!!  

So, is the final assumption that if you transfer the final drive off an LS to a standard R65 you have to transfer the rear tire also?  What about the transmission?

I'd really like to know, because if you CAN'T transfer it I've got an LS final drive I may be looking to get rid off...