Changed Levers, No Front Brakes?
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 222
Likes: 7
From: Palm Springs
Changed Levers, No Front Brakes?
Something strange has happened. I changed my old levers with some chromed ones and now I have no pressure on the lever on the front brakes. I left the house and after using my brakes at 3 stop lights, my front brakes started to "stick/drag" until the calipers completely closed as if I was holding the lever. I opened both nipples briefly to get them to open and rode back home. I tried bleeding the brakes, but because I have no pressure at the lever, I can't get them to "bleed". I also tried to do the reverse bleed and nothing. I am confused since they were working perfectly before changing levers, and as all of you know, changing levers is not rocket science. Thanks
Best regards,
Ed
Best regards,
Ed
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 222
Likes: 7
From: Palm Springs
A shim? I installed it they way it came.....so no, it looked like the original and I installed it the same way
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,476
Likes: 3,003
From: Charleston, SC
It's not something that would not affect brake line pressure.
Yes, install your old lever and see what gives...
lp
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 222
Likes: 7
From: Palm Springs
Well everything with the switch is fine, could my master cylinder have gone bad? I don't see how it could have taken a crap on me from one day to the next. I did notice a small noise when applying brakes (kind of a small electric current or "white noise") coming from the MC, so not sure if that was a sign that it was going bad. I removed the bajo bolt to the MC and when I press on lever, no fluid comes out of MC port.
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
that was a test to see if you have the manual...
the shim referenced is required on models the past 30 years to prevent the switch tip breaking- a $60 part ( some have fixed with jb weld).
a busted switch tip may jam up the lever to master cylinder interference.
Mike
the shim referenced is required on models the past 30 years to prevent the switch tip breaking- a $60 part ( some have fixed with jb weld).
a busted switch tip may jam up the lever to master cylinder interference.
Mike
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,624
Likes: 13
From: Fort Worth
I had something similar on a cager years ago...
How old is the brake fluid? What I experienced in the past was that I changed out some parts of the brake system and being that it was only a couple years old I didn't think I needed to change the fluid. What was happening in my case was that the brake fluid had moisture in it. With both front calipers dragging just a bit, it was enough heat to cause the moisture in the fluid to boil and cause very spongy brakes. After I drained the fluid, cleaned the calipers and flushed the system real well, the problem went away.
Just a thought....
How old is the brake fluid? What I experienced in the past was that I changed out some parts of the brake system and being that it was only a couple years old I didn't think I needed to change the fluid. What was happening in my case was that the brake fluid had moisture in it. With both front calipers dragging just a bit, it was enough heat to cause the moisture in the fluid to boil and cause very spongy brakes. After I drained the fluid, cleaned the calipers and flushed the system real well, the problem went away.
Just a thought....