Brake Issues, Revisited...

I thought the same, around the same time, may be a little younger; new bike with 'freewheel and finger brake' and 'spiderman wheels'; tested it on a down-hill in a terraced olive orchard (little jumps every row of trees). Big as life briar patch (good black berries IIRC) at the bottom, required a 'power slide' turn at the bottom.

Last thing I remember was going airborne into a 10ft high pile of blackberries. there were berry stalks in there the diameter of the handlebars. I don't recall how I got out, but I do recall some favorite duds which were shredded and the wounds that looked like I'd been in a fight between 6 bobcats.

 

There is a difference in brake fluid dot 3 has a lower boiling point than dot 4 ect, I use to have a old 1 ton van, which would give me brake issues with dot 3, I changed over to dot 4 did a lot better. Dot 5 is the newest never used in a car just motorcycles.

 

I've been using DOT 5 in some of my vehicles for over 30 years. Also it was used in the military, I believe. Also race cars.

Big can of worms, discussed here and elsewhere many times before.

<backing away slowly…>

 

Pete,

I was thinking along these same lines, but I pulled the vacuum, hose, plugged it and the brakes were still dragging. Didn't seem to make any difference.

I have some ideas I am going to try and I will let you all know when i am done.

Thanks for the assistance. That's to all of you... Have a good day...

 

Glenn, I guess I am just unlucky (LOL). I will get it working. I am one of those who keeps at it until I get to the very bottom of what is going on. When I do, I will let you know what I did. Each thing I have done so far has improved the brake function.

Later...

 

I am using new DOT3 brake fluid. Didn't see anything later on the shelf....

 

Hey, I finally got my brake problems solved. I checked with a brake specialist and told him what I had done and asked him what he thought the issue might be. He seemed to think that I needed a different master cylinder and a heat shield. So I got a dual reservoir MC with a 1" bore, very similar in design to the ones they used on early Corvettes. This MC has no residual valves in it either, so it allows free flow of brake fluid back and forth. Anyhow, I finished bleeding the brakes and put it on the road today. I drove it for over an hour at high speeds, in stop and go traffic, etc., and the brakes operated as they should have under all conditions. What a nice feeling...

The heat shield I fashioned is currently held in place with wire ties. I will eventually get it permanently mounted in place when I get time. I wanted to see if it makes a difference. It makes a huge difference!!! The MC and lines never get hot. As you may recall from my earlier posts, the MC and the lines were too hot to touch in the old system. Now they are lukewarm even after an hour of driving and putting it to the test.

I will take some pix and get them posted, along with information on the brake system vendor. They have a lot of kits for different applications.

Later, and thanks to all of you for helping me get this problem solved. Later...

 

The MC is larger and both reservoirs are the same size, but not much. This model was designed for drum/drum brakes and has no valves to hold pressure in the lines. Not sure why they were needed anyway, since it is a closed system. Sure feels good and pedal pressure is now perfect. The only major thing I need to do now is replace the TO bearing that went bad only a few months after it was installed. I will post some pix today if I remember. Speaking of coffee, I am going to go have a cup. Thanks for your input, Glenn Have a good Sunday...