Brakes with a mind of its own !!
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 15
Likes: 4
From: Hopewell Jct
Brakes with a mind of its own !!
I was riding my 2006 FLHXI the other day just a few miles from home, I stopped for a traffic light proceeded down the road after the light changed , never touching the FRONT BRAKE LEVER AGAIN !...and all of a sudden the brakes applied by themselves and locked my front wheel up...Down I went !..As myself and bystanders who helped me right the bike said lets push it off to the side , bike wouldn't move an inch , couldn't move front brake lever at all , banged on the Master Cylinder on the handlebars and sure enough it released..Has anyone ever heard of this happening before ??....PS~ ordered a new Master Cylinder !
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 667
Likes: 195
From: huntersville nc
About 10 years ago my rear brake locked up on me going down the road. Had to take the brake line off to make it home, it was a wilwood brake set up that I have put on a 86 evo custom I had put together.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,999
Likes: 55
From: Bay Area
Has you brake system had any recent work done to them? Is the fluid original and ever been flushed? Thats strange, even say if your rotor was warped so bad as to move the pistons to apply itself, it wouldnt be enough to lock it up. I would rebuild you front brake system, including calipers. Given the bikes age, Id seriously look into doing the rears also, including hoses. Brakes arent something to let get by or ignore.
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 15
Likes: 4
From: Hopewell Jct
the brake fluid was flushed out 2 years ago....there are no warped rotors those were new one year ago....All I know was that the lever wouldn't move at all until I banged on the top of it , then the brakes released...
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,999
Likes: 55
From: Bay Area
Is your lever perch pinched, causing the lever to get hung up? Have you dropped the bike at all? maybe the lever jammed up the piston going in the MC and its periodically sticking?
Trending Topics
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,664
Likes: 99
From: P.E.I. Canada
I had that happen once after installing an aftermarket chrome master cylinder. It wouldn't fully release and would eventually build enough pressure to lock the front wheel. Scary to say the least! I was lucky enough to keep it up and had to pop open the bleeder screw on the side of the road to get myself home. I can't imagine what would randomly cause that to happen though. Something must have gotten plugged in the system.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 15
Likes: 4
From: Hopewell Jct
Has you brake system had any recent work done to them? Is the fluid original and ever been flushed? Thats strange, even say if your rotor was warped so bad as to move the pistons to apply itself, it wouldnt be enough to lock it up. I would rebuild you front brake system, including calipers. Given the bikes age, Id seriously look into doing the rears also, including hoses. Brakes arent something to let get by or ignore.
Last edited by EAGLESNEST; Mar 14, 2016 at 06:33 AM.
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 15
Likes: 4
From: Hopewell Jct
The bike was dropped before I bought it...the lever has never stuck with me that I can see and I would think that if the lever was stuck that it wouldn't have released at the traffic light a mile or two before when that was the last time I used the front brake , but to release then apply on its own is what baffles me.....Thank for your input on this matter I value everyones opinion here