Drum brake keeps sticking

75446446464 said:

When I pull the lever to my rear drum brake, it sticks and doesn't flip back. The problem is with the drum brake - when I took it appart and pulled the braking arm, you see the cam move and stick when it reaches its most fully rotated position. Does it need lubrication? Should I be concerned that lubricant could affect the efficacy of my brakes?

Put ONE drop of HOUSEHOLD (e.g., 3-in-1) oil on the moving part(s) that seems to be sticking.

As you suspect, you should avoid getting too much lube/anything on the brake that may bleed onto the drum brake's contact surfaces ... NO SPRAY LUBES.

However, BEFORE lubing the drum brake, be certain that the problem isn't your cable/housing.

alfeng said:

Put ONE drop of HOUSEHOLD (e.g., 3-in-1) oil on the moving part(s) that seems to be sticking.

As you suspect, you should avoid getting too much lube/anything on the brake that may bleed onto the drum brake's contact surfaces ... NO SPRAY LUBES.

However, BEFORE lubing the drum brake, be certain that the problem isn't your cable/housing.

I'm sure it's not the cable/housing since this sticking occurs when the drum brake is completely taken off the bike. I've never encountered household oil - are you saying that chain oil wouldn't work?

75446446464 said:

I'm sure it's not the cable/housing since this sticking occurs when the drum brake is completely taken off the bike. I've never encountered household oil - are you saying that chain oil wouldn't work?

You've never heard of 3-in-1/"household" oil, before?!?

I reckon it is about 1w (?) -- "thicker" than sewing maching oil ... which is thicker than penetrating oil -- about the viscosity of warm-to-hot cooking oil (to give you what may be a/another meaningless reference point).

You can buy household oil almost anywhere -- drug stores, hardware stores, superstores (e.g., WalMart), home-depot type stores, department stores that sell tools (e.g., SEARS), 7-11 type stores, truck stops ... anywhere but an LBS, that is.

If you want to use your chain oil, then do so sparingly -- that is, one drop on the exposed moving part(s).

alfeng said:

You've never heard of 3-in-1/"household" oil, before?!?

I reckon it is about 1w (?) -- "thicker" than sewing maching oil ... which is thicker than penetrating oil -- about the viscosity of warm-to-hot cooking oil (to give you what may be a/another meaningless reference point).

You can buy household oil almost anywhere -- drug stores, hardware stores, superstores (e.g., WalMart), home-depot type stores, department stores that sell tools (e.g., SEARS), 7-11 type stores, truck stops ... anywhere but an LBS, that is.

If you want to use your chain oil, then do so sparingly -- that is, one drop on the exposed moving part(s).

Okay, thanks for the advice. 🙂