What can I replace rear master cylinder hose with?

[Anonymous]

Harley's have hard lines part way down the front and off of the handle bars. I have already got a stainless braided line on my 400 that I put on myself so I'm well versed in that subject...it seems that people think I'm talking about the line to the caliper but I'm not.

Steve

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't use hard line too much vibration on motorcycle

and you think airplanes dont vibrate? mounting the lines to not have issues with vibrations is fairly simple. it was just an idea though, I do like the look of anodized AN fittings though

[Anonymous]

DON'T USE FUEL HOSE!!!

Trust me. Brake fluid will eat fuel hose in less than a week. I've done it before. It's not pretty, especially when your brakes fail in the rain coming off the freeway at 60+.
9 years ago, I had a '63 VW, that I had to replace the master cylinder in. The shop was out of brake hose, so I figured I'd use some fuel hose instead. The nice, 45 cents a foot, black nylon covered stuff. On Bugs, the brake resevoir is remoteley mounted in the trunk, and the MC itself is down near your foot, on the other side of the firewall. When it failed, it failed at the worst possible time. I ended up using the e-brake to stop, on the other side of the intersection. They had the right stuff when I went back. In my case, brake hose is designated for VW's as being colored blue, as opposed to black for fuel hose (I forgot what green is for, but it's something specific, vacuum I think).
You don't have that luxury on a bike. Get the right stuff, for sure.

[Anonymous]

It's the reservoir hose, not the brake line.

Steve

OK now I'm confused, what is a reservoir hose? Brake fluid doesn't pass through it under pressure? If there is no pressure and it just drains into the master cylinder, silicone hose available at auto parts houses will work. It comes usually in black and bright colors but it is impervious to gas, oil or brake fluid.

[dgeorge]

Michael, this is the hose he is talking about.

[Billy Ricks]

It feeds the master cylinder by gravity, no pressure. Making a metal line is pretty much out of the question since the hose is held in place by clamps. You could have short pieces of hose at the reservoir and the mc but then you end up with 4 clamps instead of two. Just two more places to develop a leak.

[Anonymous]

hehe, soo many opinions! I'll hunt down some of the Gates hose since it comes with racing brakes. Anybody know what size it is? My bike is far away right now. I can't even get it out of the house, our neighbour dug out his property right up to the basement door! I think it'll take a month before they fill it in.

Steve

[Anonymous]

Yeah I guess I misread his original post, I'm thinking he was talking about the front master cylinder and I couldn't figure out what line coming from it didn't have pressure. 8O

[DPage]

Sorry to resurrect a thread from 2004, but the title looked right after doing a search. (Some Charter Member responses are here by the way, kind of like a blast from the past for you old-timers).

I'm looking to replace the black brake fluid supply hose that goes from the rear master cylinder reservoir, arcing down 90 degrees from the fluid reservoir to the rear master cylinder. The part number is 51241-85X50 (replaces 69731-47000). I found one on a 1980 parts fiche, but not a 1982 850G bike like the one I have. In past experience, when my '82 fiche doesn't show it but an older one does, it sometimes means the part isn't available anymore.

So here's my question - does anybody know if 51241-85X50 is available for sure, and if not what kind of hose can I use for it instead? In fact, I'd actually like an alternative, because this 6-8 inch piece of hose costs $18.25 on PartShark.

Thanks for your help.

[OldVet66]

I ordered one for mine from the Bandit. They sent enough hose to to do 4 or 5 bikes. PM me and I'll send you some if it is listed as the same part for the GS1000E, with an exact measurement. I replaced mine because I was switching to dot 5 with the rebuild and SS lines and didn't want any possible contaminating surfaces.

[simon kuether]

Spend the $15 .Cheers,Simon.

[bwringer]

You can buy tubing and research which materials are compatible with what on McMaster-Carr's web site:

http://www.mcmaster.com

Most materials have links to a data sheet that grades their resistance to various fluids.

Not all gasoline-resistant tubing will also withstand brake fluid. And it's kinda important to get this right.

[DPage]

Thanks OldVet66, I appreciate your offer, but if they give you that much extra hose when you order OEM, that's what I want. For my bike, my son's bike, and a spare or two for friends. I'll order OEM. Thanks for the advice.