Brake Fluid
Banned
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 802
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From:
RE: Brake Fluid
Depends how **** you are with your bike. I normally change out my fluid every winter when I break down my bikes and get them ready for the next season. I always take my brakes apart clean and inspect them and reassemble them with fresh DOT5 fluid put into the reservoir. Brake fluid is cheap so I dont mind. Most important thing to do is make sure your reservoir is topped off and your brakes are in proper working order with no leaks or damage to the brake lines and pads not worn.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,947
Likes: 5
From: Ontario, Canada
RE: Brake Fluid
Speaking of brake fluid, I'm in the process of changing my handlebar controls over to chrome.
First question, Is the brake fluid damaging to other materials like paint or plastic? I had heard that some types of brake fluid will eat paint. If you spill it what should you do to get it off the part of the bike you spilled it on.
Second question, How do you empty the front brake line and master cylinder? I've got my bleeder screw open and I'm squeezing the brake handle but it's not coming out. It comes out ,but it goes back when you release the handle.
First question, Is the brake fluid damaging to other materials like paint or plastic? I had heard that some types of brake fluid will eat paint. If you spill it what should you do to get it off the part of the bike you spilled it on.
Second question, How do you empty the front brake line and master cylinder? I've got my bleeder screw open and I'm squeezing the brake handle but it's not coming out. It comes out ,but it goes back when you release the handle.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,950
Likes: 2
From: Colorado Springs, CO
RE: Brake Fluid
DoT5 is synthetic. It is not hydrophyllic. Which means that it will not absorb water. That sounds like a good thing, but it's not. That means that water will pool in the system, sort of like mixing water and oil. Or oil and vinegar. If that water gets into the caliper, it will boil at a low temperature, and that's a bad thing in the mountains on a hot day.
Track cars and bikes (and Harleys) use synthetic DoT5 because of the very high boiling point. Another advantage is that it won't eat paint. But track drivers know you have to flush the fluid often. I did mine every year on the Harley; but I live in a very dry climate. If I lived in FL or NY, I'd probably do it twice a year. And I don't use DoT5 on my street/track car. Fortunatly, the new bikes don't use it, either.
DoT 5.1 is fairly new. It's a non-synthetic, hydrophyllic, with a boiling point to match synthetics. When it becomes easily available, I'll use it on both the street/track car and the Harley.
Track cars and bikes (and Harleys) use synthetic DoT5 because of the very high boiling point. Another advantage is that it won't eat paint. But track drivers know you have to flush the fluid often. I did mine every year on the Harley; but I live in a very dry climate. If I lived in FL or NY, I'd probably do it twice a year. And I don't use DoT5 on my street/track car. Fortunatly, the new bikes don't use it, either.
DoT 5.1 is fairly new. It's a non-synthetic, hydrophyllic, with a boiling point to match synthetics. When it becomes easily available, I'll use it on both the street/track car and the Harley.
Banned
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 14,496
Likes: 156
From:
RE: Brake Fluid
ORIGINAL: softail 99
How often should you change your brake fluid? I have dot 5 in my bike was told if there is no problem don't touch it. Anybody with any input on this.
Thank you......
How often should you change your brake fluid? I have dot 5 in my bike was told if there is no problem don't touch it. Anybody with any input on this.
Thank you......
Here's a few topics on brake fluid in the DIY section...
https://www.hdforums.com/m_68186/tm.htm
https://www.hdforums.com/m_88878/tm.htm
https://www.hdforums.com/m_68455/tm.htm
Remember you MUST use Dot 5 fluid.
Banned
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,341
Likes: 0
From: Dover, Oh
RE: Brake Fluid
ORIGINAL: TCSTD
Here's a few topics on brake fluid in the DIY section...
https://www.hdforums.com/m_68186/tm.htm
https://www.hdforums.com/m_88878/tm.htm
https://www.hdforums.com/m_68455/tm.htm
Not a safe statement to make. Check your master cylinder cap, it should tell you what is in the system, It varies from year to year and you don't want to mix them or they gel up and ruin the system.
ORIGINAL: softail 99
How often should you change your brake fluid? I have dot 5 in my bike was told if there is no problem don't touch it. Anybody with any input on this.
Thank you......
How often should you change your brake fluid? I have dot 5 in my bike was told if there is no problem don't touch it. Anybody with any input on this.
Thank you......
Here's a few topics on brake fluid in the DIY section...
https://www.hdforums.com/m_68186/tm.htm
https://www.hdforums.com/m_88878/tm.htm
https://www.hdforums.com/m_68455/tm.htm
Remember you MUST use Dot 5 fluid.
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Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2006
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From:
RE: Brake Fluid
Check your bikes owners manual!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DO NOT USE DOT 5 use what your bike needs
2005 Bikes with ABS are using Dot 4 and 2006 are also using Dot 4
Never Mix fuild types !!!!
Harley switched seeing a ABS system cannot compress dot 5 fluid properly and with thier plans of runnig abs systems in the future they switched over to 4
Chrome controls are nice but check what type of seals they use from what ive been told you cannot use older controls 2004 some 05 as the seals can break down over time with dot 4
this is what i was told i have not verified this yet but double check
DO NOT USE DOT 5 use what your bike needs
2005 Bikes with ABS are using Dot 4 and 2006 are also using Dot 4
Never Mix fuild types !!!!
Harley switched seeing a ABS system cannot compress dot 5 fluid properly and with thier plans of runnig abs systems in the future they switched over to 4
Chrome controls are nice but check what type of seals they use from what ive been told you cannot use older controls 2004 some 05 as the seals can break down over time with dot 4
this is what i was told i have not verified this yet but double check
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,882
Likes: 2
From: Glens Falls, NY
RE: Brake Fluid
Brake fluid is cheap so I dont mind.
ok - so I used like 1/4 bottle in changing the brake line which would mean I spent $2 and change and is is a HARLEY - I'll go shut up