Problem with front brakes. Help!!
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 108
Likes: 6
From: Unityville PA
Problem with front brakes. Help!!
I ended up changing front wheel from a 19 to a 21 inch. In the process I thought I would change my front brake pads. Well stupid me pulled both bolts out of the calipers and I ended up pulling the caliper apart releasing brake fluid. I hurried and put it back together. Well my front brakes won't start grabbing until the lever is damn near at the hand grip. I got all the air out of the system I'm almost certain I did. Even got myself one of those brake bleeder kits. What else could I have done wrong? They worked perfectly before I separated the caliper. I'm stumped!!!
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 3,790
Likes: 3,770
From: Monticello, Florida
Yep. Motorcycle brakes can sometimes be a bitch to bleed. Keep bleeding, they will come around. It really helps if you have a way to keep the bike upright and level as possible, air will go to the highest point. If the bike is leaned over on the jiffy stand, you could have bubble in a corner on the master or caliper and it is hard to get them out.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,447
Likes: 463
From: USA
After another attempt to get a firm brake lever pull and no results you may have damaged a o-ring that seats and seals the two caliper halves together. To repair this yourself like mentioned, come up with a service manual first.
good luck.
good luck.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 108
Likes: 6
From: Unityville PA
I also thought if I damaged an o-ring. But then again if I did and just by what I seen wouldn't it then leak? I thought about taking the caliper apart to see if I did something but would like to avoid that if I can. Maybe I'll try to stand the bike upright and hire some help.... spring time is here I want my wheels back!
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,447
Likes: 463
From: USA
QC is right on. Try a rebuild kit in it. Bleed out the system again. You may not see a external leak right away the way it is now.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 35,795
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From: Post Falls, ID
Put a piece of wood the thickness of the rotor between the pads and bleed the caliper off the fork. This allows you to move the caliper around as you bleed it to get all the air bubbles out. The bleeder screw should be pointing up when you do this.
Last edited by upflying; Apr 16, 2017 at 05:54 PM.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
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From: TEXAS
heres how i got my hard to bleed brakes right on my ironhead
bike on kickstand and handelbars positioned so that the Master cylinder is level as posible.
take the cap off, fill it up almost to the top but not to where it could spill, tie the lever back with tape or zip tie or anything, leave it like that for an hr, then lightly tap on all the connections and MC and lines with the handle off a screw driver, release the lever and very slowly pull lever all the way while you are taping on the lines and stuff, do this a bunch of times
then tie the lever back and wait another hr and repeat a couple times
or you could leave it like that overnight
the bubbles will make thier way to the top because thats where they want to go
but slowly pull in the lever and giggle it around and the bubbles will come out the top
then bleed as regular
pump up lever several times, hold down lever, crack bleeder, close bleeder, release lever, repeat till it feels right
top off fluid and ride it
if you blew a seal in the caliper it would be leaking out
bike on kickstand and handelbars positioned so that the Master cylinder is level as posible.
take the cap off, fill it up almost to the top but not to where it could spill, tie the lever back with tape or zip tie or anything, leave it like that for an hr, then lightly tap on all the connections and MC and lines with the handle off a screw driver, release the lever and very slowly pull lever all the way while you are taping on the lines and stuff, do this a bunch of times
then tie the lever back and wait another hr and repeat a couple times
or you could leave it like that overnight
the bubbles will make thier way to the top because thats where they want to go
but slowly pull in the lever and giggle it around and the bubbles will come out the top
then bleed as regular
pump up lever several times, hold down lever, crack bleeder, close bleeder, release lever, repeat till it feels right
top off fluid and ride it
if you blew a seal in the caliper it would be leaking out