Front brake lever free play

[mixongw]

My GS1100GLD has absolutely no free play in the lever. This makes it almost impossible to adjust the brake light switch. It's also hard to apply the proper amount of front brake when stopping. Believe it or not, I have locked up the front wheel when braking on asphalt. Is there a way to introduce more free play?

[hikermikem]

Sounds like the brake lever isn't the correct one for the MC hsg??

Did you recently rebuild/replace the front MC??

[tkent02]

Could be the return port in the master cylinder is blocked. Very dangerous if that's the case.

[hikermikem]

I think I would at least disassemble the front MC, have a look around & hopefully just clean it & re-assemble.

[waterman]

Could be the return port in the master cylinder is blocked. Very dangerous if that's the case.

+1

My bike upon receipt used to have really powerful brakes, then on gravel the front locked without braking. After composing myself, I bleed front brakes and could spin tire again. Apply brakes, lock up again. Found that return port was blocked. Use a very fine wire from a wire brush and probe the small return hole.

[mixongw]

Everything on the bike seems to be original. After removing the front wheel for tire replacement, the lever pumped up in one stroke and then didn't change from where it was before the wheel was removed. Where is this return port located?

[tkent02]

Open up the entire system and clean it all. Calipers, master cylinder, all of it. Locking brakes are bad.

[Big T]

Everything on the bike seems to be original. After removing the front wheel for tire replacement, the lever pumped up in one stroke and then didn't change from where it was before the wheel was removed. Where is this return port located?

Inside the master cylinder. Look down in there and squeeze the brake lever

Is there a little spurt when you let go of the lever?

Time to clean your MC if no spurt. Wouldn't hurt to rebuild everything and have fresh fluid in the system

[feelergaugephil]

Bleed out all the brake fluid, take master cylinder apart, go buy a new diaphram kit, rebuild it, fill with brake fluid, bleed brakes, check brakes work properly, go ride, have fun.