opportunity to purchase AAMCO Safe arc brake shoe grinder and AMMCO Brake gage tool

[desoto1939]

OK:  I have a question for the members.

I have an opportunity to purchase an AMMCO Safe Arc cam brake shoe grinder, that I have seen and know the motor works and is complete along with the Ammco Brake 1750 brake gage tool.

 

The owner is local to me and has offered the tools at $500 for both as a set.  I currently have a 1750 ammco brake tool and also the factory Miller brake setting tool MT-19 and the miller  Tru-brake tool that uses the adapters parts so that you can also arc the shoes when the shoes are on each axle.

 

I also have the Ammco Micrometer 16 inch tool to take an exact measurement on the inside diameter of each drum and also the metal bar that is used to setup the tool so that the gage is set to tell you the correct diameter of a drum.

 

SO I know I can sell the extra ammco brake gage tool and this will lower my total cost.  I also have the instruction manual of the Ammco safe Arc tool.

 

Figure that i could also let owners with drum brakes know that i Have the arcing tool and then make some cash to help payoff the tool.

 

What would everyone think would be a fait price to charge for a complete axle set of four shoes? Also have to consider that the owner would have to pay shipping both ways to send/receive back the four shoes. I was figuring around $20 for a complete axle set???????

 

Need input on this entire idea.  It not like I have to have the tools but these tools are hard to find and I can get the tools locally and not have to deal with any shipping fees especailly on the safe arc tool which is very heavy.

 

All input and replies are welcome.

 

Rich hartung

desoto1939@aol.com

[Sam Buchanan]

So your customer would need to send you the drums ($$$$) along with the new shoes or you would need to ship the micrometer ($$$) to the customer who would then return it ($$$) along with the dimensions of the drums?

 

$20 per axle ain't gonna cover this but the offer is certainly appreciated.   

Edited November 19 by Sam Buchanan

[desoto1939]

1 hour ago, Sam Buchanan said:

So your customer would need to send you the drums ($$$$) along with the new shoes or you would need to ship the micrometer ($$$) to the customer who would then return it ($$$) along with the dimensions of the drums?

 

$20 per axle ain't gonna cover this but the offer is certainly appreciated.   

It would be the responsibility of the owner of the car to get each drum micro metered to know the exact diameter f the, Example 11.10  11 inchs and 10 thousandths over.

 

Then send me the respective shoes for each drum indicating where they are located on the car.

Example Right Rear  11.20 then label the right rear shoes with this information then do the same for the left rear according to the measurement of the left drum.

The owner ships the brake shoes to me at their cost.

I cut the linings according to the supplied information.

I then send the shoes back to them at their cost, maybe in a USPO if it fits it ships.

Then I charge them for the service $20 for all four shoes or $10 for one side.

 

There are not many places that even have the tool to cam-grind the shoes and very few people that even know how to do this work.

 

Rich Hartung

[Sam Buchanan]

1 hour ago, desoto1939 said:

 

 

There are not many places that even have the tool to cam-grind the shoes and very few people that even know how to do this work.

 

Rich Hartung

 

Rich, that is why I think your price is too low..........law of supply and demand.......    

 

On the other hand, there might not be very many owners who will want to go to the trouble to measure with precision the drums and have the shoes shipped and arced........but what do I know, I have disk brakes!    🤣

Edited November 19 by Sam Buchanan

[bacelaw]

I'm not trying to be negative, but don't new shoes arc to the drums automatically after some miles? When we got new shoes a couple years ago, we just drove the car, then re-adjusted the brakes after several hundred miles.  

[plymouthcranbrook]

Arcing the shoes to the drums makes them work better immediately by matching the entire shoe to its drum. Avoids the reduced braking until it works itself in. 

[FarmerJon]

17 hours ago, desoto1939 said:

It would be the responsibility of the owner of the car to get each drum micro metered to know the exact diameter f the, Example 11.10  11 inchs and 10 thousandths over.

Rich,

This is incorrect. 11.10 is 11 inches, one hundred thousandths. Thousandths are 3 places. 0.001" equals one thousandth. 0.010 equals ten thousandths. 

Not trying to be rude, but it is important to get the measurements right. 11.10 is a LOT different than 11.010.

If you persue this endevor, I would worry that this will be a reoccurring issue. You will be dependent on your customers to get the drum measurement, and more difficult, correctly convey it to you.

I think you would have better luck if you offer a complete service. IE customer sends you their old drums and shoes, and you clean, turn, measure, reline, and arc. Maybe offer paint and pressing in bearing races+seals at an extra cost.

But this is MUCH more shop set up, and sourcing friction material.

I am glad you are willing to invest in keeping this hobby, and these old cars, alive and well. 

 

Edited November 20 by FarmerJon

[desoto1939]

2 hours ago, FarmerJon said:

Rich,

This is incorrect. 11.10 is 11 inches, one hundred thousandths. Thousandths are 3 places. 0.001" equals one thousandth. 0.010 equals ten thousandths. 

Not trying to be rude, but it is important to get the measurements right. 11.10 is a LOT different than 11.010.

If you persue this endevor, I would worry that this will be a reoccurring issue. You will be dependent on your customers to get the drum measurement, and more difficult, correctly convey it to you.

I think you would have better luck if you offer a complete service. IE customer sends you their old drums and shoes, and you clean, turn, measure, reline, and arc. Maybe offer paint and pressing in bearing races+seals at an extra cost.

But this is MUCH more shop set up, and sourcing friction material.

I am glad you are willing to invest in keeping this hobby, and these old cars, alive and well. 

 

Farmer John: yes you are correct with your statement. I missed adding in the 0 for the example. so in my example the correct measurement is 11.010 or then thousandths over.

 

If I do go through with this idea I would create a form and instruction sheet along with an area for the mechanic to write in the appropriate information.

 

Rich Hartung

 

[DJ194950]

Rich,

 

I will not tell people on this forum if you were to also - late at night-  in a small dimly lite room that the grinding machine also works on early Ford brakes of the same Lockheed type , same tool etc.!

 

I imagine you know of some old ford owners and can use just word of mouth to get your info out with a promise to Not tell any older Mopar cars that they may know what you are doing! 🥸 🤐

 

DJ