brake pedal free play

[czakal]

Hello,
My YBR250 owner's manual says the brake pedal free play should be checked every time the chain is adjusted and should be between 15-20 mm. I didn't learn about having to adjust this item before. If it's not a dumb question, why is it important to keep the rear brake pedal free play in the manufacturer's limits?

Seb

[WD Forte]

To put it crudely, imagine removing the chain and pulling the wheel back and back.
With rod operated brakes you'd soon be operating the cam lever on the drum.
less crudely:
Every time you tension the chain as it wears/stretches, you move the wheel back a wee bit and bit of the free play on the pedal gets lost.
Over time the initial free play would be lost unless you compensate for this by adjusting the pedal movement.
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[czakal]

Thanks for the tip, I don't remember seeing it in my previous bike's manual so I just wanted to make sure.

[Vincent]

With rod-operated rear drum brakes, its probably best to wind the rear brake adjuster off before adjusting the chain.....then re-set it after you've finished. It's a good idea to keep the sdjuster nut on the brake rod lubricated with some copper grease or similar too....they get covered in grime and can seize very easily
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