CB360 Front Drum Conversion

el barto

Been Around the Block
Afternoon all,

The PO of my CB360 has made a complete mess of (everything it seems) the handlebar switches. Don't know what he's done, cut chunks out of the wiring and also added some dodgy soldering and some other shit. Anyway, it's going to get overhauled and while I'm at it I'm considering swapping the front disc to a drum.

I'm assuming this has been done before; can anyone share their thoughts please? How easy it was, things to look out for etc.

Safe 8)
 
You need the front hub and axle, right front controls (for the cable brake line), the brake cable, all the little parts for the front brake stay. You can either respoke your existing wheel to the drum hub, or get a whole wheel and hub....A bit of work.
You also should know how to set uop the drum correctly. The drum works great when properly set up, but can be terrible if not set up well.

So it can be done, but the disk, with a modern pad and stainless steel braided lines works as well....and you already have most of the hardware. My front disk works much better now than it did in the 70's. Good lines and better pads made a huge difference. In 1979, I would of told you the drums work better, but after upgrading my brakes, I like the disk on these.

Electrical work won't be harder or easier with a drum versus disk. You still need a brake light switch, either mechanical (drum) or hydraulic (disk).
 
I have a complete wheel for sale from my CB350K4(which has the exact same triple clamps w/ spacing as all the CB/CJ360 models & are interchangeable) w/ 800 orig. miles(no mis-print on that)including the axle,brakes,etc. w/ everything needed to make a direct swap from your disc to drum.I even have a front brake cable in great cond. w/ a built-in brake light switch.I have powdercoated all the parts and it's Excellent. PM me if interested.
 
Mydlyfkryzis said:
You need the front hub and axle, right front controls (for the cable brake line), the brake cable, all the little parts for the front brake stay. You can either respoke your existing wheel to the drum hub, or get a whole wheel and hub....A bit of work.
You also should know how to set uop the drum correctly. The drum works great when properly set up, but can be terrible if not set up well.

So it can be done, but the disk, with a modern pad and stainless steel braided lines works as well....and you already have most of the hardware. My front disk works much better now than it did in the 70's. Good lines and better pads made a huge difference. In 1979, I would of told you the drums work better, but after upgrading my brakes, I like the disk on these.

Electrical work won't be harder or easier with a drum versus disk. You still need a brake light switch, either mechanical (drum) or hydraulic (disk).

It's more of a cosmetic thing really, just something I've been thinking about so wanted to get some idea of the process and pros and cons. Thanks for the info... again!
 
Did the early front drums have a brake light switch or were they only on the rears? I don't remember a switch on the front on any of my old bikes.
Your only advantage, to you anyway, will be cosmetic.
 
Up to 69 the 350 had a switch built into the cable, 70 on had the switch on the lever mount.

The cb360 always had the switch on the lever mount for drums, hydraulic switch for the disc.
 
el barto said:
It's more of a cosmetic thing really, just something I've been thinking about so wanted to get some idea of the process and pros and cons. Thanks for the info... again!
Also, you need to check the axle. The 350 had a narrower fork on the early ones. The early axle is too short for a cb360 fork.....
 
Drum swap on disc fork is dead easy so any late model one will fit.
It isn't difficult to get a CB360 drum front wheel (I picked one up complete with axle )
CB350 drum IS slightly different to a CB360 drum, I have both here to 'play' with
 
I have a complete front drum setup removed from a '74 cb360. It's complete wheel with drum and axle all still mounted to forks. No triple trees but the forks and trees are indentical to disc models. I don't have the levers/perches but I can remove the forks and tire and sell you the complete wheel and drum with all the arms and cables for $100 plus shipping.
 
crazypj said:
Drum swap on disc fork is dead easy so any late model one will fit.
It isn't difficult to get a CB360 drum front wheel (I picked one up complete with axle )
CB350 drum IS slightly different to a CB360 drum, I have both here to 'play' with

pj,
What is different on a CB360 drum front compared to a CB350K4 front drum ?
 
The flange on the brake plate IS different (some people have said they are the same but they are not.)
I forget if the 350 plate will fit 360 drum or vice versa.
I would have to take them apart and get some pics to show the change. (I have both types here)
It's better to get matched set as everything else is the same (axle diameter, torque arm bolt, width, etc)
I'm not getting into a sales war but around $70.00 + shipping is more usual price
It still works out around $110~$120.00 ish as a wheel is quite heavy and bulky plus somewhat of a PITA to mail
 
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