Why did the dealership squeeze my front brake lever overnight?
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,865
Likes: 168
From: Potsdam, NY
Hanging the caliper on a wall overnight with the brake reservoir below it and the brake handle squeezed, to prevent back flow is a trick used when you don't have the proper tools like a vacuum pump to bleed brakes.
If they are a dealer they should have a $30 vacuum pump on hand which is specifically designed to bleed brakes. Maybe they lost their vacuum pump?
Usually they only chrome rotors on show bikes and never normally on bikes that are to ridden. Same reason they do not paint rotors. The coating impairs the functioning of the brake rotor somewhat and will usually wear off in short order especially if you have higher quality, sintered (not organic or Kevlar) pads. The pads are abrasive. It can also cause rotor warping as the stainless rotor may expand more or less with braking heat than the chrome layer on top. Once the chrome layer wears off the rotor I would not replate it. If you are getting vibrations or pulsing at the lever, it means the rotor is warped and needs to be replaced. You may be able to take it to a brake shop and have them grind it true on a lathe.
If they are a dealer they should have a $30 vacuum pump on hand which is specifically designed to bleed brakes. Maybe they lost their vacuum pump?
Usually they only chrome rotors on show bikes and never normally on bikes that are to ridden. Same reason they do not paint rotors. The coating impairs the functioning of the brake rotor somewhat and will usually wear off in short order especially if you have higher quality, sintered (not organic or Kevlar) pads. The pads are abrasive. It can also cause rotor warping as the stainless rotor may expand more or less with braking heat than the chrome layer on top. Once the chrome layer wears off the rotor I would not replate it. If you are getting vibrations or pulsing at the lever, it means the rotor is warped and needs to be replaced. You may be able to take it to a brake shop and have them grind it true on a lathe.
Last edited by fat_tony; Sep 11, 2013 at 11:58 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 341
Likes: 0
From: Kendallville, IN
I find this thread interesting. (Yes, I am that bored.) I'll admit I thought tying the lever bled the brakes but the explanation about the seal repositioning sounds valid...makes sense to me. I suggest an experiment to find the truth. Someone with a less than perfect REAR brake should tie the pedal down. If it repositions the seals the pedal will stiffen, if it bleeds the line nothing will change because the rear caliper is higher than the master cylinder.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,865
Likes: 168
From: Potsdam, NY
You have to open the bleeder on the caliper to let the air out. Grime can build up around the seal which can cause the piston to not fully retract.
Last edited by fat_tony; Sep 12, 2013 at 11:55 AM.
It all sounds like having to sort out a problem that shouldn't happen in the first place.
If done correctly one can renew the brake fluid without getting air in the system in the first place.
As for all the gumf about keeping the system under pressure to force the air out overnight, there is absolutely no reason why that should work. If the bubbles are going to rise to the reservoir pressured or not will make no difference they will rise or not.
Leaving the reservoir top off overnight isn't the best idea either. Except DOT 5, brake fluid is hygroscopic, and you don't want moisture in your brake fluid. Apart from corrosion, when moisture gets hot it turns to steam which is a gas. Gas is compressable = spongy brakes. Under pressure the moisture will unfortunately turn to steam at a lower temp. Basically any gas in a brake like messes with 'Pascals Law'.
As for Harley dealers, I'm sure the are good and bad, but I'd rather not be the one who finds out which, so they don't get to work on my ride.
If done correctly one can renew the brake fluid without getting air in the system in the first place.
As for all the gumf about keeping the system under pressure to force the air out overnight, there is absolutely no reason why that should work. If the bubbles are going to rise to the reservoir pressured or not will make no difference they will rise or not.
Leaving the reservoir top off overnight isn't the best idea either. Except DOT 5, brake fluid is hygroscopic, and you don't want moisture in your brake fluid. Apart from corrosion, when moisture gets hot it turns to steam which is a gas. Gas is compressable = spongy brakes. Under pressure the moisture will unfortunately turn to steam at a lower temp. Basically any gas in a brake like messes with 'Pascals Law'.
As for Harley dealers, I'm sure the are good and bad, but I'd rather not be the one who finds out which, so they don't get to work on my ride.
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,597
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I'm taking the bike to my regular mechanic, he'll get it done right.
Hey it's almost that time again... I'll be riding for the Muscular Dystrophy Association October 13. Hopefully forum management will let me put in a plug for the cause.
Hey it's almost that time again... I'll be riding for the Muscular Dystrophy Association October 13. Hopefully forum management will let me put in a plug for the cause.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,597
Likes: 136
Stopped at my mechanic's yesterday. First I got reamed for bringing the bike to a dealership 
Next he said he wants to take the caliper off and properly bleed everything as should have been done in the first place.
Love this mechanic. Next time I'll just have to use the chrome cash for another leather jacket or something, no more dealership service!
Next he said he wants to take the caliper off and properly bleed everything as should have been done in the first place.
Love this mechanic. Next time I'll just have to use the chrome cash for another leather jacket or something, no more dealership service!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 17,548
Likes: 7,164
From: Oxford, Nc
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2010
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I had a photo shoot with my bike today and told the photographer about the front brake problem (he's a member of my club). The first thing he did was look at the reservior for the brake fluid. You couldn't see any - the bubble viewer is there so you can see the fluid level and you could see it was dry. I never thought to look at that. He and I went up to the dealer.
I told them what was going on. They squeezed the front brakes, said they would top the fluid off. They did but there's no change.
I did ask them what their purpose was in tying the brake lever overnight. He said my pads weren't sitting close enough so doing that overnight set them closer to the rotor. That must be true because now when I ride I hear a new whoosh whoosh whoosh coming from the front - he said it's the brakes pads' new position, just barely touching.
I'm still heading down to my mechanic on Tuesday. Gah the bike is even more of a money pit than my house...............
I told them what was going on. They squeezed the front brakes, said they would top the fluid off. They did but there's no change.
I did ask them what their purpose was in tying the brake lever overnight. He said my pads weren't sitting close enough so doing that overnight set them closer to the rotor. That must be true because now when I ride I hear a new whoosh whoosh whoosh coming from the front - he said it's the brakes pads' new position, just barely touching.
I'm still heading down to my mechanic on Tuesday. Gah the bike is even more of a money pit than my house...............
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 100,455
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From: Centennial, CO
Peg, keep your head up, even new bikes require maintenance and such. Older ones, even newer used ones require an owner to be a tinker to maintain them. They seem to need constant attention. It's all good. There are worse things to spend your $$$ on!