Brakes for Skyway Tuff IIs

[just_baron]

Hi Chaps,

I'm not a BMX expert by any means, but I do have an old skool BMX.

It currently has a set of white Skyway Tuff IIs wheels, a Dia Compe MX 901 caliper and some standard white brake blocks.

The problem I am having is calibrating the brakes to make them effective.

Everything I try (and also my local cycle shop), results in the caliper moving and/or the brakes being ineffective.

Am I missing something here, in that I'm using the wrong equipment, or where the brakes back in the day this bad?!

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Baron

[pickle]

Old caliper brakes and Tuffs are pretty rubbish to be honest, 901s though are pretty good as a brake so as long as you lube your cables and centre the caliper properly they should bite well.

What pads are you using?  try going for some new school clear brake pads.  They will squeel a bit but they're nice and sticky and should help 

[pickle]

try some of these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Translucent-Brake-Pads-Mountain-Bike-Clear-BMX-/171725829915?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item27fba8371b

[just_baron]

Cool, cheers for the reply.
I've tried something similar to those clear pads, I'm pretty sure they were Skyway Tuff Pads, but they didn't do the job well enough:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/111713950104?limghlpsr=true&hlpv=2&ops=true&viphx=1&hlpht=true&lpid=108&chn=ps&device=c&rlsatarget=&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0-L&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108&ff19=0
I'll give the clear ones a go.

[Monk_Wally_Honk]

I tried a set of those Skyway ones and thought they were hopeless too. Clear sticky new school ones worked best but none as good as I remembered them 30 years ago. Probably because I was about 8 stone then and nearer 14 stone now.

[oldschoolace]

Yeah those skyway pads are no better than a stick of chalk and last about as long. Clear pads all the way 

[Faze 3]

Your going to ride an old school bmx

shame on you

[just_baron]

Yeah, call me old fashioned...I prefer to ride a bike. Otherwise it's like keeping a bird in a cage!

[just_baron]

I tried a set of those Skyway ones and thought they were hopeless too. Clear sticky new school ones worked best but none as good as I remembered them 30 years ago. Probably because I was about 8 stone then and nearer 14 stone now.

out of interest.....what was the set up 30 years ago?
Obviously weight is a factor, ...but BMXs used to stop right?

[pickle]

i think weight is THE main factor to be honest, and i bet they still never really worked that well even back then 

[Faze 3]

I remember the only way to really stop was a coaster or hit into something