Hard to stop

[Top Cat NJ]

I bought my 97 standard back in April, the first time I used my front brake, I squeezed the lever, it moved half way, but it didn't slow, I squeezed harder than it worked. The previous owner didn't mention it so he must have been used to it. After a couple of weeks of that, I took the lever off and found the 23 year old grease had hardened, I got what I could with a flat head screw driver and used fine sandpaper, then a rag with cleaner so the inside, the pivot bolt and lever looked like new, greased everything with my paint brush stuck in my Mobil 1 synthetic grease and reinstalled the lever. Now I can slow my bike with one finger, I use more fingers to stop it , I just serviced my clutch lever and found the same, now they work like new. There's nothing better than fixing something and not costing you anything. Peace

[Bagger John - #3785]

At 23 years I'd be rebuilding every master cylinder on the bike - possibly the clutch slave cylinder and calipers as well.

[sandy]

You’ll find the same “hard grease” issue in the starter button and the turn signal switch.

[..]

Be very, very careful with the small spring in the starter switch.

It will boiiiiiiiing into a worm hole never to be seen again.

[longrider]

The rear brake pedal acts similar to the front brake   It also needs to be serviced yearly.  When the pivot gets dirty and the grease gets stiff it requires much more pedal pressure and may not return properly. This can leave the brake light on as well

[CoreyP]

At 23 years I'd be rebuilding every master cylinder on the bike - possibly the clutch slave cylinder and calipers as well.

I have a 2001 and I don't see any problems with the master cylinders, don't know why i would take the time to rebuild them yet? If the fluid was changed every so often they should be fine. Mine work and it's not like they will totally fail in a split second. 

[hubcapsc]

At 23 years I'd be rebuilding every master cylinder on the bike - possibly the clutch slave cylinder and calipers as well.

I have a 2001 and I don't see any problems with the master cylinders, don't know why i would take the time to rebuild them yet? If the fluid was changed every so often they should be fine. Mine work and it's not like they will totally fail in a split second. 

I take my calipers off and apart and clean them up inside and out each
time (almost :-) ) I change the pads.

When I first got my bike, I flushed the brake fluid and put in new pads
and after a few rides to work my rear brake started hanging up, which
I noticed while trying to jockey my bike around in the parking spot
I'd chosen at work. The rotor was sizzling hot. The un-cleaned pistons
I'd mashed back into the calipers for the new pads were sticking.

Anywho... brakes can do a lot more than "work", nicely maintained
Valkyrie brakes are a joy to use...

-Mike "I missed my first BMDR because of that..."

[RonW]

I take my calipers off and apart and clean them up inside and out each
time (almost :-) ) I change the pads.

How much work is involved? I only clean around the pistons.

[hubcapsc]

I take my calipers off and apart and clean them up inside and out each
time (almost :-) ) I change the pads.

How much work is involved? I only clean around the pistons.

Draining and refilling is more of a job than just flushing.
The front calipers come right off. I pull the rear axle out
A little to get the rear caliper & plate off. You have to get
The pistons out. Some cleaning... more work.

When I changed my front pads in the parking lot at inzane a
Couple of years ago, I got the old pads out and squeezed
The brake lever enough to get the  dirty part of the pistons
Exposed and was able to clean the pistons up pretty well
That way.

-Mike

[RonW]

Thanks, that might inspire me to do an in depth brake maintenance. I'm pretty good at replacing the fluid on a regular basis and cleaning the the brake pistons.

[Bagger John - #3785]

At 23 years I'd be rebuilding every master cylinder on the bike - possibly the clutch slave cylinder and calipers as well.

I have a 2001 and I don't see any problems with the master cylinders, don't know why i would take the time to rebuild them yet? If the fluid was changed every so often they should be fine. Mine work and it's not like they will totally fail in a split second.  

If you've owned it since 2001 and have kept up on maintenance, you probably won't have issues.

If the motorcycle is an unknown quantity with an unknown service record (meaning, you didn't perform the work yourself) then treat the various fluids, seals, pads, etc. as suspect. The "dried grease" comment should have been a red flag. Someone wasn't paying attention to it.

My '99 is on its third owner (me) since 2008 and most of the bike looks like it just rolled off the showroom floor. Including the controls, cables, safety systems and so forth. I un-did the prior owner lack of attention (including rebuilding both handlebar-mounted master cylinders) as part of a top-to-bottom inspection. Fortunately, it only had 3600mi at purchase so the heart of the beast was quite healthy. Everything else can be (or was) rebuilt or replaced.

[semo97]

At 23 years I'd be rebuilding every master cylinder on the bike - possibly the clutch slave cylinder and calipers as well.

Very good advice, rebuild replace internal parts and flush the systems. I bought a 97 tourer two yrs. ago. the bike never saw a rain drop, paint like new no rust no dents but maintenance was seldom done. Maybe oil that was it, brake fluid was thick like jelly. Pretty outside but an ugly duck on the inside. It took me three months and a total strip down of the bike to just frame and engine. it is well worth the time.

[Skinhead]

I had an issue with my 99 interstate. 148K miles.  I mentioned this to Bob Smith @ inzane this year.  The issue was that when I applied the front brake I would get some limited braking, and then increased resistance on the lever, but no increase in braking.  If I then increased pressure on the lever, I would then get a sudden increase in braking, not a very good feeling and could be dangerous in rain or other slippery conditions.  When I got home I cleaned and greased the pivot bolt and bushing and was about to reassemble everything, when I happened to look at the Piston that the brake lever pushes against in the master cylinder.  That piston had a divot (slot) worn into it by the brake lever so that when the lever was applied, the part that contacted the piston would slip into the divot and hang up until you applied enough force to make the lever move back out of the divot.  This would result in that sudden, unanticipated increase in braking.  I took a pair of needle nose and rotated that piston 90 degrees so that the divot was now perpendicular to the knee on the lever and applied a coating of Belray grease to both parts.  So now the slot or divot is perpendicular to the knee rather than parallel to it.  It no longer hangs up and brake operates nice and smoothly.  I see no reason why the piston would rotate another 90 degrees and cause the condition to repeat, but I suppose rebuilding the master cylinder and replacing the piston would ensure it not happening again.  But I'm getting lazy and even cheaper in my old age, so I think I'll just keep an eye on it for now. 

I just wanted to put it out there in case someone else has a similar experience.

[Bagger John - #3785]

I see no reason why the piston would rotate another 90 degrees and cause the condition to repeat, but I suppose rebuilding the master cylinder and replacing the piston would ensure it not happening again.  But I'm getting lazy and even cheaper in my old age, so I think I'll just keep an eye on it for now. 

The one thing I do not scrimp on when it comes to a vehicle - especially a motorcycle - is its braking system.

If your life is worth less than a $50 rebuild kit plus a $5 bottle of brake fluid, by all means you do you. Just avoid me and mine while on the road.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I see no reason why the piston would rotate another 90 degrees and cause the condition to repeat, but I suppose rebuilding the master cylinder and replacing the piston would ensure it not happening again.  But I'm getting lazy and even cheaper in my old age, so I think I'll just keep an eye on it for now. 

The one thing I do not scrimp on when it comes to a vehicle - especially a motorcycle - is its braking system.

If your life is worth less than a $50 rebuild kit plus a $5 bottle of brake fluid, by all means you do you. Just avoid me and mine while on the road.

I agree Skin. It's a pretty easy job.

[Skinhead]

I see no reason why the piston would rotate another 90 degrees and cause the condition to repeat, but I suppose rebuilding the master cylinder and replacing the piston would ensure it not happening again.  But I'm getting lazy and even cheaper in my old age, so I think I'll just keep an eye on it for now. 

The one thing I do not scrimp on when it comes to a vehicle - especially a motorcycle - is its braking system.

If your life is worth less than a $50 rebuild kit plus a $5 bottle of brake fluid, by all means you do you. Just avoid me and mine while on the road.

I agree Skin. It's a pretty easy job.

That's what was once nice about this country, The freedom to make your own choices, or mistakes.  You guys may want to ride behind me.

Seriously, I see no force involved in brake level operation that would cause the part to rotate.  It stayed in one place long enough to wear a slot in the surface of the piston.  I have a few months to make repairs as the riding season is pretty much over until spring, and I have been riding my couch rocket as of late.

[Bagger John - #3785]

That's what was once nice about this country, The freedom to make your own choices, or mistakes.  You guys may want to ride behind me.

The problem with this approach is that your mistakes (negligence) may adversely affect others. It isn't just your fellow Valkyrie riders on the road. It's someone's kid crossing the street while you're coming in hot on a vehicle with a sub-standard braking system.

In my day job, we have a saying (in concert with our Legal team): Discovery's a b!tch. An investigator worth his or her salt can differentiate between an unfortunate accident and preventable negligence. (It's what they/we do, albeit my role isn't focused on vehicle incidents.)

If money's the object here I'm willing to throw in a bit to buy parts. Anyone else in-thread?

[Skinhead]

That's what was once nice about this country, The freedom to make your own choices, or mistakes.  You guys may want to ride behind me.

The problem with this approach is that your mistakes (negligence) may adversely affect others. It isn't just your fellow Valkyrie riders on the road. It's someone's kid crossing the street while you're coming in hot on a vehicle with a sub-standard braking system.

In my day job, we have a saying (in concert with our Legal team): Discovery's a b!tch. An investigator worth his or her salt can differentiate between an unfortunate accident and preventable negligence. (It's what they/we do, albeit my role isn't focused on vehicle incidents.)

If money's the object here I'm willing to throw in a bit to buy parts. Anyone else in-thread?

While I appreciate the offer, I don't want or need your money.  I also appreciate your concerns, although I think they are unfounded.  I posted in this thread to point out a possible concern and solution to a problem others may experience.  Let's just leave it at that, OK?