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drilled drums

Discussion in 'Flat Fender Tech' started by brandon533b, May 23, 2009.

  1. May 23, 2009
    brandon533b

    brandon533b Member since 2007

    Yakima,WA
    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2007
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    220
    hey guys first off great to see the sites back up and running.
    i would like to drill my drums on my 3b.
    they have been upgraded to the 11".
    i remember seeing an artical on doing such a thing, but it seems blocked right now. any info would be great thanx.
     
  2. May 23, 2009
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
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    Sep 20, 2002
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    9,221
    PM me with an e-mail address.
    Posted via Mobile Device
     
  3. May 23, 2009
    brandon533b

    brandon533b Member since 2007

    Yakima,WA
    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2007
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    220
    it seems you have a block on your pm.
    mabey im not doing it right.
     
  4. May 23, 2009
    Lifesgoodhere

    Lifesgoodhere Like 6 Jeeps isn't enough

    Staunton, Virginia
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    Feb 14, 2009
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    errr sent me that too, umm my username @ northriver.coop
     
  5. May 24, 2009
    brandon533b

    brandon533b Member since 2007

    Yakima,WA
    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2007
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    220
    hey, mabey im retarded but i have no idea what to do with that.
    i guess i could make it easy and give my e-mail on here, just not sure if that safe or cool. thanx for all the help, i now you guys still got sorting out to do, dont worry to much about it.
     
  6. May 24, 2009
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
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    Sep 20, 2002
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    9,221
    Ooops, sorry, I need to reenable those. My fault.
    Posted via Mobile Device
     
  7. Jun 2, 2009
    1960willyscj5

    1960willyscj5 Well-Known Member

    Mesa, Arizona
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    Nov 27, 2006
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    2,793
    Hang in there Adam.
    You are doing GREAT!:tea::patriot::tea:
     
  8. Jun 3, 2009
    Rondog

    Rondog just hangin' out

    Parker, CO
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    Last edited: Jun 3, 2009
  9. Jun 3, 2009
    lynn

    lynn Time machine / Early CJ5 HR Rep Staff Member

    Huntingdon PA
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    Topping is where I got the idea to drill the drums in the '71. I figured for the price for drilling 4 drums, plus shipping 4 drums east coast to west coast and back, I could buy a drill press and do it myself.
    I had a template made by a CAD guy at work, and bought a drill press. I made 3 rows of (18 ) 1/8" holes in each drum, 54 holes per drum as equally spaced as I could make them. Then I touched the inside of each hole with a dremmel and stone, to remove any burr.

    They worked superbly.
    Better stopping power when dry, as good as disc. Way better stopping power when wet! The holes vent the water and mud, and wet braking is excellent!
    And no brake fade on long descents. The holes vent the gasses that build between the shoe and the drum that cause fade.

    I had a chance to look at the brake shoes on the '71 a couple weeks ago at Tioga. Since I sold the rig in '07, Don hasn't put new shoes on it. When we pulled the drums for an unrelated problem, we noticed that it needs new brake shoes in the back... no big deal. What was significant was that there was no unusual wear pattern on the shoe from the holes in the drum. The shoes wore evenly.

    Using 1/8" holes and running in mud, they do tend to plug up, so after trail maintenance is appropriate to clear the mud from the venting holes.

    Billy set up a dividing head on a Bridgeport machine to drill his drums, while I did mine manually on a home-made jig (2x10 boards and 2 sections of 1" pipe, drums bolted back-to-back)

    No matter how you get it done, I know you'll appreciate the results!!

    Pic of my set up:

    [​IMG]

    Pics of the drums after some use:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jun 3, 2009
  10. Jun 3, 2009
    blevisay

    blevisay Oh Noooooooooooooooo! Staff Member

    Portland Tn.
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    Billy set up a dividing head on a Bridgeport machine to drill his drums,

    Yup........works great!
     
  11. Jun 3, 2009
    Lifesgoodhere

    Lifesgoodhere Like 6 Jeeps isn't enough

    Staunton, Virginia
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    I am going to do this on my drums. What is the best size to drill the holes. Those in the pics 1/8" looks pretty small, almost too small to help any.
     
  12. Jun 3, 2009
    cj6/442

    cj6/442 Sponsor

    Fallbrook, Calif
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    my 11" drums don't have that flat spot ,but they are NOT finned just a bigger bump kind of in the middle can this type be drilled also?I need this mod.....
     
  13. Jun 4, 2009
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Maybe Mike (resident machining guru) will check this out, but I'd think you could mill a small flat spot where each hole will go, and drill from there. There may be a centering tool that will start yhe holes on an inclined surface, but a regular drill wouldn't work - it would walk down the incline before starting.

    Another option is to get some other drums. New drums are about $30 each as I recall, and if you can use the plain drums from a '72 CJ, they will be mostly flat like what Lynn shows.
     
  14. Jun 4, 2009
    lynn

    lynn Time machine / Early CJ5 HR Rep Staff Member

    Huntingdon PA
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    The drums above are from a mid 70s postal.

    !/8" looks small, but is very effective. As said, the only issue is with mud plugging on occasion. Maintenance after a run cures that. You can easily clean them by hand when plugged by using your fingers and a drill bit.
    You could go one size bigger, but I wouldn't go much bigger.
     
  15. Jun 4, 2009
    blevisay

    blevisay Oh Noooooooooooooooo! Staff Member

    Portland Tn.
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    I would stay with 1/8....I had a small rock get in once at Tellico.

    I would also forgo making flats as it may throw off the balance of the drum.
     
  16. Jun 4, 2009
    $ sink

    $ sink Gazillians of posts

    Virginia Bch
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    on the drill press use a spot drill or center drill (short and ridgid) and you should be able to get the holes where you want them without wander.
     
  17. Jun 4, 2009
    Ggg

    Ggg Member

    NW. IL
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    $ sink that is exactly what I was going to say, use a center drill. I doubt they can be found at a hardware store, a tool and die or machinist supply store will have lots of them. Buy more that one, the tips break easily. Your drill press chuck must be true as well, otherwise use a center punch and a regular HSS drill.
     
    Last edited: Jun 4, 2009
  18. Jun 4, 2009
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
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    also a small sharp center punch to make a dimple helps tremendously. Gotta be a light tap though so you don't crack or distort the drum. Automatic center punches are great for this.
     
  19. Jun 4, 2009
    blevisay

    blevisay Oh Noooooooooooooooo! Staff Member

    Portland Tn.
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  20. Jun 4, 2009
    lynn

    lynn Time machine / Early CJ5 HR Rep Staff Member

    Huntingdon PA
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    Drums are soft. They centerpunch easily, and drill easily.
    Or do what Billy did. :D
     
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