front brake is limp??

[mcgroom]

Are you opening the bleeder enough? Sometimes it takes several turns.

Have someone help you if they can.

Fill reservoir, pump 3 times and hold brake lever, open bleeder and continue to maintain pressure on lever, once the lever bottoms out (you will know you are doing this properly because air bubbles/brake fluid will be coming out of the bleeder), continue to hold the lever and close the bleeder. Now you can let go of the brake lever, double check fluid level and repeat the process.

 

[mml03102]

maybe not but I will try it again tomorrow and turn it a couple turns but at the moment I am trying what kdub said let it sit overnight.

I also can reach the brake lever and bleeder at the same time so I should be ok there.

 

[narow37]

i use a syringe and hose that fits the bleeder screw, take the top off the reservoir, put the hose on the bleeder and crack it open and force the fluid up to the reservoir. may want to remove some fluid from the reservoir first. this worked for me the first try.

 

[mcgroom]

i use a syringe and hose that fits the bleeder screw, take the top off the reservoir, put the hose on the bleeder and crack it open and force the fluid up to the reservoir. may want to remove some fluid from the reservoir first. this worked for me the first try.

To funny, I brought an EZ Bleeder to try out and forgot I had it.

 

[07bigdog]

I had the same problem. Only way i could get the air out was with the cover off. Also the crush seal at the caliper had a slight leak and got the pad wet. No front brake. Had to change the pads.

 

[TomM]

Im probably doing something wrong but I tried bleeding them over and over again , took the cover off the reservoir and loosened the bleeder and pumped the brake lever till fluid came out and while holding the lever in , I tightened the nut , no results so I tried this again several times and there was no to very lil fluid coming out , all the while making sure there was fluid in the reservoir ????

I am doing what Kdub suggested letting it sit till tomorrow after work with the cover off and the handle all the way in,keepin my fingers crossed.

I thought tryin to bleed them first before buying a rebuild kit was a good idea if the problem continues then sure rebuild it but for now Im gonna ride it anyway but would be nice to have my fron t brakes again,lol

PS I was changing and checking the fluids when I bought the bike and the front brake was very low on fluid so I added and you could feel the difference in the lever but there were times when the lever was stiffer than others?

If you are pumping the lever with the bleeder open that is your problem right there.

 

[mml03102]

no and I let it sit for about 20 hours with the reservoir open and lever tied down and then proceeded to bleed it by pumping the lever several times and while holding it in I opened the bleeder and very lil came out and opened it several turns till where it was about to come off , I repeated this maybe ten or more times and nothing happened and altho the fluid went down some ,nothing happened . looks like gonna have to bring t back to the shop and have them cheeck it out,wtf, but at least I can still ride it lol

 

[mobsta]

Time to rebuild the master!just sayn

 

[TomM]

no and I let it sit for about 20 hours with the reservoir open and lever tied down and then proceeded to bleed it by pumping the lever several times and while holding it in I opened the bleeder and very lil came out and opened it several turns till where it was about to come off , I repeated this maybe ten or more times and nothing happened and altho the fluid went down some ,nothing happened . looks like gonna have to bring t back to the shop and have them cheeck it out,wtf, but at least I can still ride it lol

Gotcha. Was just clarifying. The way you worded it made it sound like you were pumping the lever with the bleeder open. No worries :up:. I would agree with what several others have said,time to rebuild the master cylinder,maybe the caliper as well.

 

[mml03102]

Droped it off at the shop , there pretty good there also fair , he thinks its just air in the line and also thinks the vent might be pluged , find out tomorrow I hope ,lol

 

[mml03102]

well we bled the brakes and got all the air out and altho there is some tension on the lever now . it isnt much so looks like you guys were dead on , getting a rebuild kit but will ride it this weekend anyway,lol thanks:up:

 

[ourode12]

I had the same issue. Called Bob with BDM products, there are no rebuild kits available at the present. Take apart your handle assembly and pull out the little white plunger, it has an "o" ring on it. NAPA has the o-ring for $.32. Be sure to use DOT5 fluid. Check out the links they are extremely helpful for parts break-down.

go to page 2 with the first link

2004 – 2007 Handlebar Controls – Chrome | BDM Performance Products

EXPLODED VIEW DRAWINGS BY ASSEMBLY | BDM Performance Products

 

[mml03102]

I had that apart for a different reason a few months ago and I dont remember seeing a white plunger , its inside the assembly?

 

[mml03102]

had the rebuild kit installed and they bled the brakes and all seems ok.

 

[boomer4444]

thought id throw this out,,buddy with harley had front tire changed at local shop,,lost all front brake everyonce in awile and sometimes worked fine,, took back and shop found they had bent the rotor just enough that on tire rotation it would push pads back into caliper and force fluid back up to mastercylinder witch in turn meant not enough pressure in line and not enough travel in lever to pressure calipers,, weird shit !!

 

[mml03102]

same shit all over again , going to have to bring it back to the shop,dont have a clue!!

 

[mml03102]

Just got it back they rebuilt the caliper this time and so far its working great!

 

[Th3InfamousI]

By any chance do you know what the master cyclinder rebuild kit was that the shop used? Might be helpful for future reference. This thread has a lot of good info just missing that as I take it your shop didn't go through BDPP.

I just had the same problem last weekend. Left the bar amd rolled right through the stop sign as I had no brakes on the front, handle was squishy. I think I was a bit low on fluid and got some air in the line. Bleed em today and filled it up with some fresh DOT5 everything seems good now :up:

 

[mml03102]

I dont know where they are getting there parts . I did mention it and seems like they were avoiding the issue but a I know many of the parts for a Harley fxst will fit , I bought a primary cover gasket from them and it was the right one also there are some vendors on here that can help you. theres bigdogpartsking they sponser the ebay auctions on here also there is motoman who I bought a starter slam button from and I know theres others with links from this site