Bleeding issues

[Hoggystyle]

i will make sure i get it completely clean, i know the importance of brakes so ill be spending most of my time getting it right, as my life will depend o it. Cowboy, do the lines from earls have Dot approval? are the lines themselves stamped? my only concern with making these lines is passing insection.

[cowboyup3371]

They aren't marked but I cannot see why anyone will go to that much trouble to determine if the lines are a specific brand. You'll do fine.

[Hoggystyle]

alright, ill order the parts tonight for the lines. Thanks Chuck for the suggestion you made earlier about removing the axles on the bike! with the help of a steel bar on the end of my allen wrench, they came of quite easily. one more thing i am wondering, i pulled the fluid out of the master cylinder today and there is a bunch of sludge in the bottom. does this warrant a master cylinder rebuild? all of this is new to me so im not sure what i need to do to get a clean healthy front braking system

[chuck hahn]

Not necessarily on the rebuild. If they work now, I would just submerge the entire thing in something like a strong mix of purple power and water ( wear rubber gloves ) and pump the handle to dissolve the sludge and clean the bore. Take the 2 screws out in the resivoir cup and pull up hard and twist and the bowl will pop out of the oring that holds it in. Clean that groove the ring sits in real well too. On the rear master..remove the rubber boot at the bottom and youll see a snap ring. remove the snap ring and the entire thing just slides apart..look at the parts fiches and youll see what i mean.

EDIT...blow lots of compressed air thru the little holes in the bottom of the frt master body ..those holes regulate the fluids flow to and from the lines. be sure the unit is dry inside as well...no moisture in the lines please!!!

[Hoggystyle]

ok ill have at it tomorrow while i wait for my parts and see what i can do. i dont have an air compressor. would a can of dust remover work? while im in the general region, i have a problem with the brake light sticking and staying on with the front brake lever. is that controlled by the wiring on the bottom of the assembly?

[chuck hahn]

Yes..you slightly loosen the two srews in the black cap and move the chip board thats trapped between that cover and the master cylinder body. Find the sweet spot where it works best for you. tighten the screws and recheck its function..may take a try or two to get it just right.

[Hoggystyle]

im glad to know thats the problem. i had no idea getting this bike up to par would be so expensive! the labor of love i say

[chuck hahn]

Youve only just begun grasshopper..How much time and money do you think ive spent restoring 6 of them...and i dont regret a second of it. If i had a million to spare thats all I would do...find old bikes and rebuild them.

[Hoggystyle]

i do find it more appealing than buying a new bike to ride. though ive never bought a new bike, it has been a fulfilling to take something abandoned and mistreated and bring it back to life. The fact that i am learning so much along the way, and have not given up or handed it over to a mechanic keeps me inspired to keep going and finish the project. the only thing that keeps me down is my financial situation and my workspace, but that makes it more of a challenge. hopefully i'll be ready by spring and will have a great summer reaping what i sow!

[GateKeeper]

Where are the pictures........have you started a build thread ?


we love pictures

[Hoggystyle]

i havent started a thread, but i can get some pictures up if youd like. im sure youll like to see the before and after of the brake rebuild, judging by whats in the reservoir, its going to be a nice transformation!

[Hoggystyle]

heres what was under the piston, felt nice to see it clean! i can only attatch one pic at a time, but i have to buy a new caliper axle, the one with o-rings was chewed up really bad, like someone took a chisel to it. the piston is perfect, no rust marks or scoring. now i just have to wait for the new seals i started taking the front MC apart today, but ill have to wait until i pick up a set of circle clip pliers. one thing i noticed was the dust seal is ripped. should i replace it? the only reason i ask is i would have to buy a new piston set just for the boot.

[chuck hahn]

Thats the greasy slimed up brake fluid i was telling you about..and was the groove for the oring all crusty? You gotta get all that stuff out of the system..good start and glad your doing it...

[Hoggystyle]

it definitely wasn't clean, im not sure how old the fluid was but it stained the reservoir to where it wont come off, so im sure it was there for quite some time. i am glad i am doing it as well, when i saw how bad the fluid was in the caliper, i knew that this was beyond necessary to rebuild

[chuck hahn]

Youll be glad too should you ever really have to get down on them in an emergency..and we suspect youre gonna get new lines too????