After changing the front brake cable when putting on apes, installing a Russell speed bleeder, and bleeding the brakes, the front wheel doesn't turn freely. It appears that the brakes are not fully releasing. I came home after the kids had gone to bed last night so I turned off the motor to glide quietly into the garage (don't wake the baby!) and it was like I had hit the brakes.

Do I need to bleed the brakes a bit to release the hydraulic pressure or is there something else that I need to do to fix this problem?

It's an '03 Softail Standard if that matters.

 

Make sure the brake line is as smooth as possible and there aren't any tough turns that might allow for a restricted flow.
U might want to check for any dirt that has gotten into the line and might be clogging the piston in the caliper or the master
All this of course assuming that the caliper and rotor are compatible or haven't been changed...

 

Thanks. I'll have to mess with the brake line and see if any changes make it better. I didn't change anything with the caliper or rotor. It's stock.

 

there u go, if u only changed the brake line thatn that probably is the problem.. restricted flow...
u should get that fixed as soon as possible... it will eat out ur pads and mess with ur mileage

good luck

 

I'll see how it goes riding to work today.

 

You may have over filled the MC. Your pistons may also be stuck, not fully retracting into caliper. Clean pistons, clean and lube pad pins. I would not ride it til its resolved. You could heat up the rotor and warp or worse...

 

When’s the last time you changed your fluid?
Coyote

 

Kind of hard to change the brake cable without changing the fluid unless I put the old stuff back in.

I rode it a bit and it seems better. I'll have to put it on a jack to see if it's spinning freely.

 

The front tire should have almost no resistance on it and rotate as free with the caliper mounted on the bike or off the bike. Check and make sure the front brake lever is not keeping the master cylinder engaged somewhat.
Jack the front tire off the ground, if the front tire does not turn freely take the front master cylinder bolts out and then let the cylinder hang by the hose (do not take the hose off). Does it turn freely now or is it the same? I bet the levers or the way something is mounted (machined different or off)) now and keeping the master cylinder pushed in a little causing the problem. I have seen cheap levers cause this, and cheap after market chrome housings cause this.

 

sounds like the rotor isn't centered.