I'm looking at the caliper off my '84 FXST. It wasn't connected when I got the bike, so I don't know if the brake line fitting is correct. Everything threads together correctly - the line to the fitting, and the fitting to the caliper. But, there doesn't seem to be a seal between the fitting and the caliper. I'm wondering if this is correct, or it will leak since the seal is just chrome on chrome.

The fitting has a tapered end, like it should seat into the caliper and seal that way, but it's not not long enough to bottom out inside the caliper. Should there be some type of seal on here, or am I over thinking this?

 

Hard to see what your describing...is that a banjo fitting? Look here (hope it helps):

http://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche....=26&c=0&d=1984 FXST SOFTAIL® (BH) BRAKE - REAR BRAKE CALIPER ASSEMBLY

YD

 

That is not the original caliper for an 84. It is a 4 piston caliper off of a much newer bike but regardless it should have a Banjo washer between the fitting and caliper like this.

 

Looks to me that that fitting requires a double flare, hard line connection with flare nut. Like on the older cars...

 

As mentioned above that is a TC brake caliper.
The top fitting is the brake line fitting and the bottom one (in your picture) is the bleeder valve.

 

OK, my thought was the washers also, but since it's a twinkie caliper does it still use 10 mm washers??

 

Are you the top one with the rubber cover isn't the bleeder? The bottom is a direct line in to eliminate the banjo bolt that would normally be used. If you need more line then could probably use a banjo with required bolt(12mm on twin cam calipers I'm pretty sure but I'll double check in an 09 service manual).

 

Its a is a revised part number from my 1997 FLHTCUI with single piston calls for part number 41731-88a and the newer 01 up 4 piston caliper (which is what he has) calls for part number 41731‑01. I have switched both front and rear over to the 4 piston calipers and used the new number so I really don't know if the sizes are the same or not but it does use the same type banjo washer.

 

I'm not sure I'm getting this... I did think that this was a newer caliper since it didn't match the parts book.

So are my fittings reversed?? Should the bleeder be moved to the bottom hole and the brake line to the top hole? That doesn't seem to make sense.

Also, I don't have a banjo fitting - it's much smaller than that. I can try to measure it with a caliper, but I'd estimate it's about 5mm.

Does anyone know what year the caliper is off of? I can look up a parts diagram that way I suppose.

 

That one should be your bleeder.