Stiff brake lever
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,354
Likes: 766
From: north Carolina
Stiff brake lever
Hey guys 2014 FXDL here, bike has been sitting for a few weeks due to weather and I finally had the chance to do a short ride yesterday after my gauntlet fairing install.
When i left out everything felt fine but about 5 miles into my trip I noticed the front brake lever was very stiff to pull and had no play at all. as soon as you touched the lever you were braking. In fact i can always hear a whistling noise from my front brakes only when applying them and i could now hear it all the time so it seemed to be dragging the brakes lightly. After a few miles of this everything went back to normal, no noise and lever pull was back to how I'm used to feeling it.
I will say I have had issues with my brake lights staying illuminated recently and now this makes me think it might be time to rebuild the front master cylinder and bleed the brakes.
Any opinions?
When i left out everything felt fine but about 5 miles into my trip I noticed the front brake lever was very stiff to pull and had no play at all. as soon as you touched the lever you were braking. In fact i can always hear a whistling noise from my front brakes only when applying them and i could now hear it all the time so it seemed to be dragging the brakes lightly. After a few miles of this everything went back to normal, no noise and lever pull was back to how I'm used to feeling it.
I will say I have had issues with my brake lights staying illuminated recently and now this makes me think it might be time to rebuild the front master cylinder and bleed the brakes.
Any opinions?
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 4,384
Likes: 8,742
From: Texas
Random questions
Does it have ABS
Is the switch housing binding the brake lever -
Could there possibly be debris in the housing binding the lever movement
==========
It could be the MC sticking - but the bike ain't that old
Ghost
Does it have ABS
Is the switch housing binding the brake lever -
Could there possibly be debris in the housing binding the lever movement
==========
It could be the MC sticking - but the bike ain't that old
Ghost
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,537
Likes: 30,864
From: Pennsylvania
[QUOTE=Ghost_13;16988896]Random questions
Does it have ABS
Is the switch housing binding the brake lever -
Could there possibly be debris in the housing binding the lever movement
==========
To follow up with what Ghost said when was the last time your brake fluid was changed? Also what color is the fluid? I think it is recommended to have the fluid changed every 2 years.
Does it have ABS
Is the switch housing binding the brake lever -
Could there possibly be debris in the housing binding the lever movement
==========
To follow up with what Ghost said when was the last time your brake fluid was changed? Also what color is the fluid? I think it is recommended to have the fluid changed every 2 years.
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,354
Likes: 766
From: north Carolina
No ABS, I forgot to mention that. I didn't get time to check it over real well after the ride but I will check for debris caught anywhere. Figured I would start with rebuilding the master cylinder since the rebuild kit is so cheap and while I'm at it replace the brake fluid. The bike will be 4 years old in May
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 4,384
Likes: 8,742
From: Texas
While you're checking for debris..., remove the MC lid..., remove a little brake fluid - then SLOWLY cycle the brake lever
See if fluid is cycling in and out of the two pin holes - could be one.., or both - are plugged up
If in doubt you can stick a small wire into each to verify it clear
eta and also verify the MC plunger is cycling
Ghost
See if fluid is cycling in and out of the two pin holes - could be one.., or both - are plugged up
If in doubt you can stick a small wire into each to verify it clear
eta and also verify the MC plunger is cycling
Ghost
Last edited by Ghost_13; Jan 11, 2018 at 06:20 PM.
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