adjusting the front brake

[KitKat]

Hi,

So i bought a new master cylinder (thanks MAC10 ) and hooked it up and it worked perfectly. I was able to bleed the brakes without any problems. The only thing is, the front brake has very little play: as in, if i just barely squeeze the lever, the wheel will lock up, and it the lever doesn't pull back much, all of the action is within the first 1/2 of the lever stroke, is there any way to adjust the front brake lever engagement?

Thanks

[JordansCycles]

fluid return port might be cl0gged

[Nessism]

I wonder if the small fluid return port is open? If it isn't, the brake system can lock up on it's own so be careful.

[KitKat]

where is the small fluid return port exactly?

[bwringer]

It's either working perfectly or there's a serious problem. When you say "locks up" do you mean that the calipers won't release at all, or just that they're working normally?

[KitKat]

no, the brakes work perfectly fine, they close and release exactly how they should, it just that it takes the lever a very short amount of movement to apply full braking force. i would like to extend the play of the lever, does that make sense? its kind of hard to describe, but easy to visualize

[JordansCycles]

his brakes feel like theres no give or play in the master cylinder. It should squish down a bit and feel a little soft but his master cylinder feels rigid when you push against it.

[Nessism]

If everything within the brake system is working the way it should, and particularly if you have Teflon/stainless brake lines, the lever should feel very firm with only a minimum amount of hand lever movement. It's hard for use to tell over the internet but your front brake may be okay. How about measuring how far the lever comes back when you are squeezing hard?

[KitKat]

without trying to over muscle the brake, the lever moves back about 1.3 - 1.4 inches (measured from the rightmost tip (the nob of the lever))

[bwringer]

without trying to over muscle the brake, the lever moves back about 1.3 - 1.4 inches (measured from the rightmost tip (the nob of the lever))

Sounds like the brakes on a bike with stainless lines.

Whatchoo worried about? Go ride!

[KitKat]

i have stock brake lines on my bike....

[SVSooke]

Sounds like you just lucked out and have a great system.Bwringers right go ride it.

[Deano]

There is no reach adjustment with the stock lever if thats what you wanted to know. I have small hands so i file the lever to move the contact point closer to the handlebars.

[SVSooke]

Has anybody tried the brake lever off a SV or similar bike? My 2006 650 had an ajustable lever.

[salty_monk]

It looks like you have a single disc 550... What Master cylinder did you fit?

If you fitted one off a dual disc model then the piston will be 5/8" rather than 14mm so travel at the lever will be reduced (& lever effort will go up for a given amount of braking force).