Stewart Kissel wrote:

What is it that these guys do to improve braking?
Assuming all ships could use help, are some (say a
Ventus) more improved then others? How much $. Thank
you.


This is one of those periodic topics. Here's what I did to greatly improve
the braking of my old Tost drum brake. This is an old post.

-Doug




The article is by Tillman Steckner. I performed the modification exactly as
he outlines, not difficult if you are somewhat handy with tools. It
worked/works great. I can lift the tail off the ground if I want. The feel
is progressive and has no tendency to 'grab'. If you botch the job, not
likely in my opinion, then you simply have to replace one brake shoe because
that is all that is modified.

This has all been discussed here before. Do a google search on the newsgroup
for "brake".

Regards,

-Doug

From: "John Shelton"
Organization: EarthLink Inc. -- http://www.EarthLink.net
Newsgroups: rec.aviation.soaring
Date: Thu, 27 Feb 2003 20:16:41 GMT
Subject: TOST brake mod?

Years ago, a modification appeared in Soaring for TOST drum brakes. The idea
was to get the braking shoe (the one engaged to stop when rolling forward)
to push the non-braking shoe (used to stop when rolling backwards) against
the drum thereby actually being able to stop.

One friend did it to his DG300 and it worked great and is still working
great. I have also heard that if done wrong, you end up on your nose.

Does anyone know where I can get accurate sketches and description of this
mod? Apparently, the sketch in Soaring was wrong. And, do I really want to
do this?