Sticking brake pedal

[metalhead19]

Hi all,

The trouble Im currently having is that when the brake pedal is pressed (has to be very hard for it to work) it does not return back up again. Have checked and both springs are still attached.
Was working fine (but still needed alot of pressure) until the rearset was bent when the bike was knocked over. So my thinking is that now the rearset is bent it is stopping the pedal from moving freely?

From reading the haynes manual, would loosening off the footrest holder bolt create a little more room for the brake pedal and possibly enable it to move more freely?

Thanks
Dan

[rictus01]

I wouldn't loosen off any retaining bolts as these are of a set length for the job they do. check the master cylinder is still in alinement, if the carrier is so bent it's not you may get away for the interim by using longer bolts and spacers on the mastercylinder mount, and the pedal moves without physical impedance, then if that's OK, check the caliper is in a serviceable condition (this maybe why you have to push it so hard). but this in no way means you shouldn't replace the damaged parts as soon as you can.

Cheers Mark.

[Jordy]

Could maybe be your caliper piston seals because they act as a self return, just a thought though.

[munkygunn182]

I'm also experiencing the same problem, so i'm quite curious, i'd just put it down to the pedal not being used as the bike's barely been out recently!

[andrewsmith]

Try stripping the lever off and greasing it up.

Happened to me last year

[munkygunn182]

Yeah, i've tried to, got the rearset off no bother, but couldn't get the single bolt that holds the pedal to loosen up... i'd seen a few warnings that they were made of cheese so I have exercised caution!

[andrewsmith]

You'd need to get the rearset off the bike, minus the brake system

put it on the ground and use a decent length allen key, it should release it a bit effort

[Drumming_Animal]

You'd need to get the rearset off the bike, minus the brake system

put it on the ground and use a decent length allen key, it should release it a bit effort

+1
did mine a few days ago, same method to get it undone
brake pedal is all lovely now, just remember not to loose split pins and put washers back where theyre supposed to do you dont have to take it apart again, its a reasonably simple job though

[andrewsmith]

Another thing liberally grease up the bearing metal of the lever

[munkygunn182]

Thats tomorrow evenings plan then. Is a particularly difficult job to remove the brake components from the back of the plate?

PS, sorry for the hijack, but hopefully the responses will benefit the OP too!

[metalhead19]

but hopefully the responses will benefit the OP too!

Pretty much :D

Thanks for the all replies.
Hopefully will be able to have a look/remove the bent rearset tomorrow. Havent got a replacement yet, but am working on that.

[metalhead19]

Unfortunately I am unable to check the calipers as i dont have the tools here (student house) or the know-how. But should be able to remove the rearset and look over the master-cylinder ect.

[Drumming_Animal]

The whole thing is pretty easy, you'll need (if my memory serves me correctly) a couple of allen keys, 5mm and one a bit smaller, i think its about 3mm and i think a 6mm aswell. A 10mm spanner/socket. A pair of thin nose pliers is also pretty handy.

This is for a pointy, not sure on curvys...

By the heel plate are 2 allen headed bolts, undo those to release the brake system from the back of the rearset. Undo the 10mm bolt behind the heelplate where it goes into a point towards the rear. Then loosen off the 2 allen headed bolts holding the rearset onto the frame. Behind the rearset is then the light switch for the brake pedal. Take this out of the mount on the rearset and take off the spring, noting which way it goes.

The whole rearset and peg should now be free from the bike apart from the end of the brake pedal which is still attached to the brake. Be careful and dont let it hang by its own weight from this joint. Youll need the pliers here to undo the split pin on the back on the larger pin holding the lever onto the brake (i have totally forgotten the technical word for that bit by the way). Once you have that undone, everything should be free now.

Put the rearset on the floor in such a way that it wont break but you can still put some reasonable force onto the bolt holding the footpeg to the rearset. Undo this. Be mindful of the spring for the brake pedal itself aswell. Lob a bit of grease in there its pretty obvious where youre supposed to put it. Not too much otherwise it will squirt everywhere when everything goes back together. Actual grease, not WD40 or 3 in 1.
Then reverse what youve just done to put it back together.


Make sure you do everything back up tight, goes for most things really.
Also if your rear wheel is out while youre doing this, make sure you dont accidentally apply pressure to the brake, its a sod to reverse.

Thats from memory, but i dont think ive missed anything....
Quite a straightforward job :D

[andrewsmith]

Same process on the Curvy!

Just the split pin should be replaced while in there

[metalhead19]

Ok thanks! Very very helpful!