On May 29, 2:22*pm, (Doug Hoffman) wrote:
Makes one wonder how/why Tost built such poor brakes for so many
years.

Maybe because glider manufacturers kept buying them? Maybe because a
good brake is not much use on wet grass?

Anyway they were not a bad as some people make out. I serviced mine
(ASW-19b) at every annual inspection and it was good for a season
unless called upon to do a max energy stop. Each year I dismantled
the brake, cleaned the drum and gave it a light wipe with 600 grit,
cleaned the shoes and busted any glaze with 600 grit, cleaned and
greased the cam faces and shaft and the pivot point. Its important
that the brake is applied as the wheel spindle nut is tightened to
ensure the brake plate is properly aligned. It's also important that
the cable and cam arm make an angle of about 85 deg to each other when
the brake is full on to get maximum mechanical advantage.

None of this was strange to me as I had years of experience dealing
with British motorcycle drum brakes before I got into gliding.

Andy