Welcome to the Stratoliner Deluxe Motorcycle Forum

Why join our motorcycle community?

  • Membership is free and easy
  • Get technical support for your Stratoliner motorcycle or search for information before buying
  • Use the member map to find riders near you
  • Participate in our monthly virtual bike show (or at least vote)
  • Get rid of these annoying boxes asking you to regsiter  ;D

More importantly, make new friends!!  This forum has some of the most friendly and sincere people you will ever meet!!
« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: No brakes!  (Read 4884 times)

The Pondman

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 216
  • Location: New Smyrna Bch, FL
  • Referrals: 0
    • FWG Designs
No brakes!
« on: February 05, 2016, 07:02:01 pm »
So I helped a buddy change his brake lines on his new Strat (2006 so new to him) today and after all was buttoned up we bled the brakes.  All air bubbles out front, both sides, but still no brakes pressure.  Before bleeding I could wiggle the pads as pistons hadn't pushed out yet. Now after bleeding, the pads are making contact but there is no pressure at either the lever or pads.  What the.....?  I did same procedure I've done on many race cars and last week when I installed the chrome calipers on my Strat. Anyone have this happen? Help!
Logged


Life is easy.......people make it hard!

StratolinerDeluxe

  • Advertisement
  • ***
    Sponsored Links

    zach141b

    • Hero Member
    • *****
    • Posts: 1079
    • Referrals: 1
    Re: No brakes!
    « Reply #1 on: February 05, 2016, 08:54:04 pm »
    For me, the normal way is to bleed until I see little to no air coming through.  Then, I close the bleeder, pull the lever to the grip, and zip-tie it there.  Leave it there for 12 hours, come back and squeeze it a couple times, and I have firm brakes.
    Logged

    The Pondman

    • Full Member
    • ***
    • Posts: 216
    • Location: New Smyrna Bch, FL
    • Referrals: 0
      • FWG Designs
    Re: No brakes!
    « Reply #2 on: February 05, 2016, 09:00:43 pm »
    Never heard of having to do that, but at this point I will try anything!
    Logged
    Life is easy.......people make it hard!

    zach141b

    • Hero Member
    • *****
    • Posts: 1079
    • Referrals: 1
    Re: No brakes!
    « Reply #3 on: February 05, 2016, 09:22:22 pm »
    It was recommended to me by the famous TimB, a Star parts man and guru.  It has never failed (me).

    Best wishes.
    Logged

    The Pondman

    • Full Member
    • ***
    • Posts: 216
    • Location: New Smyrna Bch, FL
    • Referrals: 0
      • FWG Designs
    Re: No brakes!
    « Reply #4 on: February 05, 2016, 09:44:35 pm »
    I always say, "Don't knock it, till you try it".  That being said, brake lever was zip-tied 20 minutes ago!

    Thanks again zach
    Logged
    Life is easy.......people make it hard!

    shifthappy6

    • Full Member
    • ***
    • Posts: 211
    • Referrals: 0
    Re: No brakes!
    « Reply #5 on: February 05, 2016, 10:30:11 pm »
    Only two sure fire ways to do it! 1 either buy a mighty vac and sucks all the bubbles out through the calipers or 2 the right way and put the air upto the master cylinder with fluid pressure! As air bubbles naturally want to rise.
    The way I've always done it, weather it be my race cars or bikes!  Buy a cheap hudson sprayer ( pump style garden sprayer)  cut the spray handle of the hose and put on a quick disconnect air fitting, attach an air nozzle with rubber tip, pour break fluid in the bottle and pump it up, stick the rubber tip over the bleeder Crack it open and slowly squeeze the air nozzle. I guess I should have started with EMPTY THE RESIVOUR FIRST! As your force the fluid from the calipers to the master cylinder the bubbles  will naturally rise to the master! JOB DONE!
    Logged

    The Pondman

    • Full Member
    • ***
    • Posts: 216
    • Location: New Smyrna Bch, FL
    • Referrals: 0
      • FWG Designs
    Re: No brakes!
    « Reply #6 on: February 05, 2016, 10:37:54 pm »
    Quote from: shifthappy6 on February 05, 2016, 10:30:11 pm
    Only two sure fire ways to do it! 1 either buy a mighty vac and sucks all the bubbles out through the calipers or 2 the right way and put the air upto the master cylinder with fluid pressure! As air bubbles naturally want to rise.
    The way I've always done it, weather it be my race cars or bikes!  Buy a cheap hudson sprayer ( pump style garden sprayer)  cut the spray handle of the hose and put on a quick disconnect air fitting, attach an air nozzle with rubber tip, pour break fluid in the bottle and pump it up, stick the rubber tip over the bleeder Crack it open and slowly squeeze the air nozzle. I guess I should have started with EMPTY THE RESIVOUR FIRST! As your force the fluid from the calipers to the master cylinder the bubbles  will naturally rise to the master! JOB DONE!

    If the zip-ties don't do it I will do this next.  Thanks for info!
    Logged
    Life is easy.......people make it hard!

    smokin

    • Hero Member
    • *****
    • *
    • *
    • *
    • *
    • *
    • Posts: 2112
    • Speed costs money...how fast do you want to go?
    • Referrals: 0
    Re: No brakes!
    « Reply #7 on: February 05, 2016, 10:58:36 pm »
    I do what shifthappy6 says as well. Use it on the car and bike. A lot of times you get lucky bleeding lines, but especially with the front brakes and the two lines
    there are still air bubbles in there and it can take a massive amount of loosen bleeder pull lever, add fluid without it.
    Before I went to the easy method I was at it for several hours before I got any kind of action out of the lever
    Good luck
    :)
    Logged

    zach141b

    • Hero Member
    • *****
    • Posts: 1079
    • Referrals: 1
    Re: No brakes!
    « Reply #8 on: February 06, 2016, 09:47:58 am »
    Now that I think of it, I believe it was "Nick" on the V Star 650 forum that gave me the zip-tie technique.  TimB (I think) advocated the reverse bleed technique detailed above.  Not that y'all really care!.

    In any event, if those efforts are not working, you could conceivably have a problem with master cylinder leaking air; it might need rebuilding.

    Let us know how it goes.
    « Last Edit: February 06, 2016, 04:51:59 pm by zach141b »
    Logged

    The Pondman

    • Full Member
    • ***
    • Posts: 216
    • Location: New Smyrna Bch, FL
    • Referrals: 0
      • FWG Designs
    Re: No brakes!
    « Reply #9 on: February 06, 2016, 06:06:51 pm »
    The zip-tie technique didn't work. Maybe I used the wrong color zip-ties? Lol.

    Bought pump today, tomorrow I'll do the reverse bleed. I'll keep you posted....
    Logged
    Life is easy.......people make it hard!

    zach141b

    • Hero Member
    • *****
    • Posts: 1079
    • Referrals: 1
    Re: No brakes!
    « Reply #10 on: February 07, 2016, 07:22:49 am »
    Quote from: The Pondman on February 06, 2016, 06:06:51 pm
    The zip-tie technique didn't work. Maybe I used the wrong color zip-ties? Lol.

    Wow.  I've done it that way at least a half dozen times. 
    Logged

    shifthappy6

    • Full Member
    • ***
    • Posts: 211
    • Referrals: 0
    Re: No brakes!
    « Reply #11 on: February 07, 2016, 01:49:52 pm »
    Logged

    The Pondman

    • Full Member
    • ***
    • Posts: 216
    • Location: New Smyrna Bch, FL
    • Referrals: 0
      • FWG Designs
    Re: No brakes!
    « Reply #12 on: February 07, 2016, 06:28:01 pm »
    UPDATE:

    I was out of town so I has asked my wife to cut zip ties and press brakes a few times after which she said there was no difference.  So I got home and pressed the brakes a few times and they worked!  I showed her that they worked and she told me that she was pressing the "other" brakes (clutch).

    So, the zip-ties DID work.  Thanks again zach!
    Logged
    Life is easy.......people make it hard!

    zach141b

    • Hero Member
    • *****
    • Posts: 1079
    • Referrals: 1
    Re: No brakes!
    « Reply #13 on: February 08, 2016, 07:43:11 am »
    Quote from: The Pondman on February 07, 2016, 06:28:01 pm
    she was pressing the "other" brakes (clutch).

    So, the zip-ties DID work.  Thanks again zach!

    That's funny, right there!
    Logged
    Pages: [1]   Go Up
    « previous next »
     
    stratolinerdeluxe.com is an independent Yamaha enthusiast website owned and operated by VerticalScope Inc. Content on stratolinerdeluxe.com is generated by its users. stratolinerdeluxe.com is not in any way affiliated with Yamaha Motor Company.
     
    Terms of Use
    Copyright
    Privacy Policy