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Dumb brake question

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  #1  
Old 01-28-2019, 12:22 PM
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Default Dumb brake question

Yesterday I upgraded the fork springs to progressive springs on my 2015 Iron with ABS. To get to the fork caps I had to drop the handlebars out of the way. Installed springs etc fine bolted everything back together. When I went to take the bike off my pos jack, I had to lean the bike way over to get the jack out from under the bike. Took a little test ride forks were fine but the front brake was mushy like air was in the system. It was late so I parked it and will look at it when I get home tonight. Any ideas what might have happened? Could there have been air in the system that leaning the bike over somehow pushed it back in the lines or something like that?
 
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Old 01-28-2019, 12:34 PM
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When you dropped the handlebars out of the way did you flip them upside down?
 
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Old 01-28-2019, 12:40 PM
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Yes I probably did. I put mini apes on it before Christmas and when I loosened the bolts they dropped pretty quickly and caught me by surprise
 
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Old 01-28-2019, 01:11 PM
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Bleed the front brake...chances are you got an air bubble somewhere in the line.... with the handle bars back in stock position, check the master cylinder and make sure it is filled to proper level. Let it sit overnight then bleed brakes. I'll bet a couple squeezes and you'll have good pressure.
 
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Old 01-28-2019, 01:35 PM
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Thanks guys. That makes sense. I didn’t think about the bars flipping. I’ll check it when I get home. I’ll probably bleed them and take it by the dealer soon to check the ABS to make sure all is good.
 
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Old 01-28-2019, 04:09 PM
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Originally Posted by VAFish
When you dropped the handlebars out of the way did you flip them upside down?
Good diagnosis! I would have never thought about that being the cause.
 
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Old 02-03-2019, 07:04 PM
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Rode out to the dealership Saturday. Told the service tech what the deal was they took the bike back and put it on the machine bled the brakes and had it back to me before I finished my coffee. Went to pay and he said No Charge. Pretty cool. This is the dealership in Lynchburg Va.
 
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Old 02-03-2019, 07:08 PM
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Originally Posted by GalvTexGuy
Good diagnosis! I would have never thought about that being the cause.
To be old and wise, first you have to survive being young and stupid.

I've made that mistake before.
 
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