Front brake issues
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 174
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From: Kingman Arizona
Front brake issues
I have a problem that can't seem to be fixed and is rather un-nerving. I was exiting the freeway right after I got my bike and the front brake was like it wasn't there. After I recovered from that it seemed that I had air in my lines. With no obvious leaks I re-built the master with a Harley kit and bled it. The dealer suggested pumping it up to get the lever firm and "rubber band" it on for the night. In the morning I removed the rubber band and yes it felt like all the air was gone. It was right there and firm. I went for a ride and now have just got used to pumping it up but if I ever need to stop fast it is not cool! I have no leaks and have a 2002 road king with dual caliper's. It stops great once pumped but am worried if I ever need it fast it won't be there. Even if I pump it up and not ride it out of it's parking spot it goes soft again. Any help would be appreciated. Happy riding.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 386
Likes: 6
From: Huntsville, AL
You might get better results if you also put this in the Brake specific Tech forum. I noticed a poll they have there regarding soft brakes:
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/frame...reak-pull.html
Don't know if it's related to your problem or not but might be helpful....
Good luck for sure.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/frame...reak-pull.html
Don't know if it's related to your problem or not but might be helpful....
Good luck for sure.
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
From: Kingman Arizona
You might get better results if you also put this in the Brake specific Tech forum. I noticed a poll they have there regarding soft brakes:
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/frame...reak-pull.html
Don't know if it's related to your problem or not but might be helpful....
Good luck for sure.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/frame...reak-pull.html
Don't know if it's related to your problem or not but might be helpful....
Good luck for sure.
thanks for the redirection. I am new to here and didn't realize there was a brake section. Read through them and am going to try the piston cleaning trick. thanks again and happy riding.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,642
Likes: 6
From: Forest Lake, Mn
You still have air in there, somewhere. Did you bench bleed the master cylinder after you rebuilt it?
That's where I usually run into trouble, more often than not. I usually fill the front backwards. In other words, pump the fluid in via the bleeder, using a Mity Vac to accomplish this. But that is no guarantee that the master cylinder will be 'air free' when done. Sometimes I will have to remove the brake line, and 'bench bleed' the master cyl on the scoot. Then refill from bottom to ensure the system is full.
But if you can 'pump it up', and it will hold firm as long as you pull on the handle, IMFUO, you still have air. IF it were STILL your master, it would slowly 'bled by' and your lever will eventually 'bottom out'.
NOW, why did it work when you did the rubberband trick? When you 'pumped it up', you were applying 1000's of # of pressure to the fluid. Then put a rb on their to 'hold' that pressure. It literally forced the air 'back into solution' (fluid). You started riding, the air started coming back out of solution when the pressure was released. Jus' my guess, tho.
That's where I usually run into trouble, more often than not. I usually fill the front backwards. In other words, pump the fluid in via the bleeder, using a Mity Vac to accomplish this. But that is no guarantee that the master cylinder will be 'air free' when done. Sometimes I will have to remove the brake line, and 'bench bleed' the master cyl on the scoot. Then refill from bottom to ensure the system is full.
But if you can 'pump it up', and it will hold firm as long as you pull on the handle, IMFUO, you still have air. IF it were STILL your master, it would slowly 'bled by' and your lever will eventually 'bottom out'.
NOW, why did it work when you did the rubberband trick? When you 'pumped it up', you were applying 1000's of # of pressure to the fluid. Then put a rb on their to 'hold' that pressure. It literally forced the air 'back into solution' (fluid). You started riding, the air started coming back out of solution when the pressure was released. Jus' my guess, tho.
3rd Gear
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
I have a problem that can't seem to be fixed and is rather un-nerving. I was exiting the freeway right after I got my bike and the front brake was like it wasn't there. After I recovered from that it seemed that I had air in my lines. With no obvious leaks I re-built the master with a Harley kit and bled it. The dealer suggested pumping it up to get the lever firm and "rubber band" it on for the night. In the morning I removed the rubber band and yes it felt like all the air was gone. It was right there and firm. I went for a ride and now have just got used to pumping it up but if I ever need to stop fast it is not cool! I have no leaks and have a 2002 road king with dual caliper's. It stops great once pumped but am worried if I ever need it fast it won't be there. Even if I pump it up and not ride it out of it's parking spot it goes soft again. Any help would be appreciated. Happy riding.
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Supporter
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 15,788
Likes: 5,622
From: along the shore of Mishigami
Dual brakes have a certain bleed procedure and it's not in the service manual. I remember in cars it's the brake furtherest from cyl gets bled first. Are you using the correct brake fluid, my 02 uses DOT 5.
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Road Captain
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 616
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I have a problem that can't seem to be fixed and is rather un-nerving. I was exiting the freeway right after I got my bike and the front brake was like it wasn't there. After I recovered from that it seemed that I had air in my lines. With no obvious leaks I re-built the master with a Harley kit and bled it. The dealer suggested pumping it up to get the lever firm and "rubber band" it on for the night. In the morning I removed the rubber band and yes it felt like all the air was gone. It was right there and firm. I went for a ride and now have just got used to pumping it up but if I ever need to stop fast it is not cool! I have no leaks and have a 2002 road king with dual caliper's. It stops great once pumped but am worried if I ever need it fast it won't be there. Even if I pump it up and not ride it out of it's parking spot it goes soft again. Any help would be appreciated. Happy riding.
My bike is an 02 RK also and I have the same problem. tried the caliper cleaning trick and got great results the first time. am about to leave for sturgis next week and thought I'd do it again because my lever feels a bit soft. didn't get the same results this time. don't know what else to do, I've bled the crap out of my brakes and if there's air in there, I don't know where the hell it is. I'm at the point where I'm thinking about getting new calipers.
let me know if you find a solution.
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