The Honda PCX / Forza / ADV150 / SH Forums

Today was one of those days when I was glad that Honda decided to include a Parking Brake on my PCX.

It's been really gusty and windy all day and just didn't feel confident leaving it parked on the center or side stand only.

Riding was a bit of a challenge. Actually used "English" so-to-speak with my helmet to cut through the side winds with less adverse effect on the overall line of travel. Wish I had a "Go Pro". It would have made an interesting vid.

That being said it was a day like this in my area.

I haven't used my emergency brake for quite some time. I almost did today though. We decided to take the bikes out for a short run before putting them in the basement for the winter. Of course, if we get some nice days during winter then we can easily take them back out.
However, if today is any indication of what is coming, those bikes are not going anywhere. It is 50° F, with a 15 mph wind, gusting to 20 mph. I've been down South too long, I guess. We put our Tourmaster coats on, insulated underwear, and the usual gloves and boots, and my 3/4 helmet. My hands were cold! I should have worn my winter gloves. My neck was cold. My chin was cold. Brrrr!! How do you winter riders do it?!

When we returned home I put my bike on its side stand while I pulled off my helmet, gloves, etc. A gust of wind started moving the bike backwards! I thought about that emergency brake, but then I worried that it might get pushed over. I rolled it into a protected area and put it on the center stand. Much safer that way. I had to put my wife's bike in the same place so it would be safe while we unlocked the gate and opened the basement door. That wind is rough on a little scooter, but the ride was great! Just a little more warmth and I could have ridden longer....and my wife loved it too! Maybe she won't ask me to sell them for a little longer now. :-)

If the Admiral had a reasonably nice ride in the cold, there is hope that she will be back into it for next season. Good luck!

Hey Mel, glad she's out riding!

Squirrel and I went out Sunday for 1/2 hour in 30F & 12MPH winds. SHE was fine, - - > I <-- should have dressed warmer.

We started making adjustments when it started to get cold, and as things can be improved upon we do so, and before you know it you're riding in temps 12 degrees colder and enjoying it more due to comfort.

By the way PCX150Rider, that's a BEAUTIFUL picture!!!

I forgot to mention, the rear brake is a drum brake, and unlike the front is NOT self-adjusting, which means someone, preferably the owner, manually adjusts it once or twice a month (depending on how much use it gets.)

Squirrel's new PCX (bought with 0 miles) was adjusted by the dealer, and I checked it the other day. With her having under 200 miles on the machine it should not have needed adjustment, and according to the owner's manual it was adjusted properly given the amount of free-play at the handle, HOWEVER, the parking brake would not keep the PCX stationary.

Maybe I read the manual wrong, and I'm not always the sharpest axe in the shed, but it seemed wiser to adjust freeplay at the drum end, checking the leaver-arm travel. I believe I set it to 3/8" from fully retracted to "just engaged," which was by pushing the arm manually right at the end of the arm and feeling when the brake shoes inside touched the drum (it stops moving easily and starts resisting). I rotated the wheel and tried this a few more times and the amount of freeplay was consistent (important), and the arm did have about 3/8" freeplay so the brake pads inside could fully release from the drum and cool off when the brakes weren't being used.

I then double-checked the brake leaver, and it felt much more like the front lever, not so "sloppy" but more predictable with less slack, but yet with some freeplay

I then checked the parking brake again, and it grabbed "a little," but not much, so I turned the adjusting nut one turn and it grabbed a bit more, but not enough to reliably hold the machine. One more turn and the brake held reasonably well (the machine could still be moved with a_lot_ of force, but not under normal conditions), there was still freeplay in the leaver arm, and the break leaver felt good.

Releasing the parking brake was now a different procedure: Push the button, let the knob in, squeeze the brake handle firmly until a very noticeable "click" is heard (which it the parking mechanism releasing), release the left brake handle. Checked the wheel rotation and it rotates freely, the arm still has freeplay.

I certainly don't want to reinvent Honda's maintainance procedures. I would suggest double-checking the end result of any adjustments that should be made to ensure things are working as they're supposed to, which is the point of making the adjustments, and all this is quite simple and quick.

Do note there is a wear indicator on the drum that indicates when the lining on the brake shoes inside the drum is used up and the shoes need to be replaced. Don't ignore this, ever! If the indicator shows new shoes are needed, new shoes are needed. If they shouldn't have worn out so fast something might be binding or otherwise not working properly--whatever the case, it needs to be looked at and not put off. These systems are relatively simplistic and a little bit of service now will save a lot of expense later, plus is way safer for you.