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Well, today i was excited when my new braided SS front brake lines arrived. The old rubber ones hadn't given me any trouble and were still pliable, but i'd owned the bike for 6 years and had never changed them. It's possible, with the low miles on the bike, that they are the original 30 year old lines! 
New lines were called for, and a nice upgrade on my '82 GS850GL was finally getting done as i plan to keep her for awhile.
Today was THE Day!
The new SS braided lines "reek" of Quality! Nice SS banjo connections and bolts, with super strong crimped on SS furrels. I got the lines with the black outer coating and the plain SS banjo color, similar to the original color scheme.
So i take the Vetter fairing off, disconnect both front caliper connections and drain out all the "old" fluid. It wasn't that old, actually, for i replaced it all a few weeks ago when i got the bike on the road, and again a week ago after i rebuilt both front calipers.
The right side lower hose i completely removed and set aside, clean the connection points, and bring one of the two lower hose sections into place. These were easy to know where they went, as they have the rubber grommet around them that positions the hose near the caliper end and snaps into place.
Both of the new lower hoses measure 22 inches, and as i get the right side routed to begin the hook up,......something is VERY wrong! TOO SHORT! URGH!!! The old hose measures 24 inches, and those missing two inches bring the project to a complete halt.
Better check the upper hose,.....and i disconnect the banjo bolt coming from the master cylinder at the 2-into-1 junction, (leaving it connected at the master cylinder), and then pull it carefully up and out so as to get a measurement on it's length. The old one comes in at 23 inches. The new one only 16.25 inches! WTF????
A full 6.75 inches short, and NO WAY to change the routing to make up for that amount.
I confirm that even a "straight" line connection from the master cylinder to the 2-into-1 connector is impossible! (the old shortest way from point "A" to point "B" routine), so i know there is NO routing possibility to search out further.
BUMMER,.....have to hook up the old hoses again, and refill the lines, until i can get my new lines exchanged out for the proper lengths. I just installed a set of SS "Speed Bleeders" yesterday, and using those were a joy!
However, filling a completely drained out brake line proved to be a bit slow without a little help. I decided to clean up the far end of my 3 foot long 1/4" clear bleeder hose (fuel line actually), and used my mouth to create as strong a vacume as i could.
With pumping AND creating the vacume, fluid began to flow out the right side speed bleeder in very short order! After a few inches of fluid was showing in the hose, the sucking vacume was discontinued and unnecessary and the line bled easily. The left side speed bleeder required no sucking the hose, and bled out very quicky. (had to top off the master cylinder several times during the fill and bleeding)
I think the most frustrating part was i had inquired before i ordered the lines as to my bike's fitment, and was assured there should be no problems.
So either someone missed the old "Measure TWICE,...Cut ONCE" class
, or their database specs on this application was entered wrong originally or another application was mistakenly pulled when they processed my order.
Anyway,......looks like i have another fun filled 3 hours to do,....HEL All Over Again!
Just curious if this has happened to any of you?
New lines were called for, and a nice upgrade on my '82 GS850GL was finally getting done as i plan to keep her for awhile.
Today was THE Day!
The new SS braided lines "reek" of Quality! Nice SS banjo connections and bolts, with super strong crimped on SS furrels. I got the lines with the black outer coating and the plain SS banjo color, similar to the original color scheme.
So i take the Vetter fairing off, disconnect both front caliper connections and drain out all the "old" fluid. It wasn't that old, actually, for i replaced it all a few weeks ago when i got the bike on the road, and again a week ago after i rebuilt both front calipers.
The right side lower hose i completely removed and set aside, clean the connection points, and bring one of the two lower hose sections into place. These were easy to know where they went, as they have the rubber grommet around them that positions the hose near the caliper end and snaps into place.
Both of the new lower hoses measure 22 inches, and as i get the right side routed to begin the hook up,......something is VERY wrong! TOO SHORT! URGH!!! The old hose measures 24 inches, and those missing two inches bring the project to a complete halt.
Better check the upper hose,.....and i disconnect the banjo bolt coming from the master cylinder at the 2-into-1 junction, (leaving it connected at the master cylinder), and then pull it carefully up and out so as to get a measurement on it's length. The old one comes in at 23 inches. The new one only 16.25 inches! WTF????
A full 6.75 inches short, and NO WAY to change the routing to make up for that amount. I confirm that even a "straight" line connection from the master cylinder to the 2-into-1 connector is impossible! (the old shortest way from point "A" to point "B" routine), so i know there is NO routing possibility to search out further.
BUMMER,.....have to hook up the old hoses again, and refill the lines, until i can get my new lines exchanged out for the proper lengths. I just installed a set of SS "Speed Bleeders" yesterday, and using those were a joy!
However, filling a completely drained out brake line proved to be a bit slow without a little help. I decided to clean up the far end of my 3 foot long 1/4" clear bleeder hose (fuel line actually), and used my mouth to create as strong a vacume as i could.
With pumping AND creating the vacume, fluid began to flow out the right side speed bleeder in very short order! After a few inches of fluid was showing in the hose, the sucking vacume was discontinued and unnecessary and the line bled easily. The left side speed bleeder required no sucking the hose, and bled out very quicky. (had to top off the master cylinder several times during the fill and bleeding)
I think the most frustrating part was i had inquired before i ordered the lines as to my bike's fitment, and was assured there should be no problems.
So either someone missed the old "Measure TWICE,...Cut ONCE" class
, or their database specs on this application was entered wrong originally or another application was mistakenly pulled when they processed my order.Anyway,......looks like i have another fun filled 3 hours to do,....HEL All Over Again!
Just curious if this has happened to any of you?
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