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adjusting the front brake

  • Thread starter Thread starter KitKat
  • Start date Start date
K

KitKat

Guest
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
 
fluid return port might be cl0gged
 
Last edited:
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.
 
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?
 
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 :p
 
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.
 
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?
 
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))
 
KitKat said:
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))
Click to expand...

Sounds like the brakes on a bike with stainless lines.

Whatchoo worried about? Go ride! :p
 
Sounds like you just lucked out and have a great system.Bwringers right go ride it.
 
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.
 
Has anybody tried the brake lever off a SV or similar bike? My 2006 650 had an ajustable lever.
 
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).

:)
 
salty_monk said:
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).

:)
Click to expand...

True... a MC meant for a dual disk bike will give you little travel and higher effort on a single disk system. Hmmm... didn't think of that. Good spot, Salty!

I guess it's not really dangerous if your right hand is strong enough.
 
the master cylinder was off a 78 gs 1000 with a single disk, the owner was doing a dual disk conversion and thats why he was able to sell me his old master cylinder...
 
SVSooke said:
Has anybody tried the brake lever off a SV or similar bike? My 2006 650 had an ajustable lever.
Click to expand...
I'm using a mc and reservoir off of a GSXR with the adjustable lever. Probably about the only option for the OP.
 
Hi KitKat,

I'm glad the master cylinder works well. (I rebuilt it myself a couple of years ago)

When I did my conversion I noticed the same very firm feel when I added the braided lines. At first I tried a newer brake lever, the stepped kind made so you can get full power on a short stroke, and have smaller hands. That worked well, but I had to get used to the lever being much closer to the handle bar at full squeeze. I eventually switched back to the original straight lever- have big hands, and felt the control was better for me. I often ride with two fingers on the the lever, with the others twisting the throttle, and the straight lever gave me enough room under the lever for this.

I have a stepped lever I can sell you, if you want it.
 
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