Newby with front brake problems

Folks,
Just joined and need some help. I have an '83 Interceptor, low miles, that I just got back on the road after a long sit in my garage. Local Honda dealer rebuilt carbs and front brakes among some other minor stuff.

The problem is that the front brakes still aren't working properly. After 5 or so miles and using them several times something isn't releasing. The brakes begin to grab without pulling on the lever. The brake lever is more stiff during this with less pull before the brakes activate. If the bike is left alone for an hour or so, the pressure is released and the brakes work fine for a short while. This did strand me once but I was able to get home by bleeding just a drop out of each caliper (I now carry a box end wrench with me). I shot the discs with an infrared temp gun and both warm up so it sounds like something common such as the MC.

I plan to take back to the Honda dealer, but they were aware of the problem. They had originally rebuilt the MC and then noticed the grabbing so rebuilt both calipers. It was apparently better since I drove it home ~ 30 miles. But the brake lever did seem a little stiff. I was hoping that it would clear up with some use, but if anything it is getting worse.

I thought maybe one of you guys would have ideas for me to try or relay to them. I used to be an OK mechanic but I have been a long hour, semi desk jockey for so long, with no time to devote to actually working on cars or cycles, and my skills are long ago erroded. If there was something real simple and quick I would try it, but anything long and involved I will have the Honda dealer take another stab at it.

Ideas?

Thanks for any help you can give.

 

Hi and to the board! Sounds like a nice viffer you have!

Here are maybe some things to check in this thread: http://vfrworld.com/forums/mechanic...rceptor-750-front-brakes-locked-up-again.html

 

WOW, Thanks Porcupine.

Squirrelman and Masonv45 hit it on the head. Those are my symptoms to a "T". I knew the issue was a heat up and expand problem, but didn't know what design solution was, so didn't know what to look for and fix. I had a feeling that the board members here would have the answer. I will tackle the MC port clean out this weekend.

 

I'd go with the M/C rebuild. Be sure to remove the silver tang in the M/C res. to reach the small hole under it. It gets clogged with "gunk" and prevents fluid from returning to the M/C causing your problem.

 

Thanks Eddie,
That description will help me find it when I open up the MC

 

the rubber brake hoses are the problem, I've seen this dozens of times on old cars. the hoses are comming apart on the inside and the pieces act like a one-way valve. if you are experiencing the problem with both calipers the problem is with the hose after the master cyl., if with just one caliper, it is with the lower hoses.

 

I would also have to say my best guess is the brake hose. I had same exact same thing happen on my car a few weeks back. Funny how the dealership could'nt figure that one out..lol

 

I worked over 20 years in a porsche/audi dealer and 5 in a vw dealer. never see that kind of problem in places like that so a honda dealer would never see the problem there also. I saw the porblem working part time for an independent shop working on older cars, 20 years and older and some of my friends cars. I own old cars myself and my 75 dodge truck just did it also. I have a 68 barracuda and it's all original with 70k on it, it'll be a canditate as well.

 

Success - I think!

Well folks I believe the problem is fixed. I live outside of Houston and the outer bands of Dolly has dumped about 4" of rain here over the last 2 days, so no actual field trial yet. The next sunny day I will know for sure.

The problem was the small return port just as Squirrelman and MasonV45 identified in the thread linked by Porcupine. It was really plugged up. Rust color stuff - lots of it. The grabbing brake problem is what sidelined the bike several years ago - so it has been there for a while. It was definately brake temperature related since after a couple of brake pulls, I could carefully ride around the neigborhood using just the rear brake and the problem would gradually get worse.

I tried to clear the plug a couple of weeks ago without success. Mason's instructions were to "carefully" clean. I was either being a little too careful or it needed a couple week soak after getting the majority of the crud out - or both. Today I grasped the needle with needle noze pliars and was able to push it through. Here is the truly telling symptom. Now when I slowly pull on the brake handle with the top off of the MC, a small squirt comes up from the port. That didn't happen after my port clear try a couple of weeks ago.

By the way, the bike also had the old brake line check valve symptom identified by Porcupine on the linked thread and by ca110 and PrplHaze on my thread. This symptom was on a single caliper - at least that is what the Honda dealer told me. And they stated they had never seen that before. I wanted to keep the bike as original as possible so I bought a brake hose off of eBay and took it to the dealer. That solved the "check valve" problem but uncovered the slow grabbing problem that they tried to fix with kits on both calipers. Oh well, I probably needed the caliper soft parts anyway.

Thanks to all that responded. If I would have had this board a few years ago, the bike could have been on the road on nice days, instead of in the garage.

 

THE FRONT BRAKES ARE FIXED!

However, two new issues have popped up
- clutch must have a leak
- cooling fans won't come on

I will start a couple of new threads for these.

Thanks for the help!!!