And now my rear caliper hanger has snapped.

Looks like the bolt was loose on the torque arm. Squeezed the rear brake and there was an almighty clonk.

Got to a safe spot to pull over and look at it- the caliper had travelled all the way around the swingarm. Pushed it, quietly seething, to work.

Fortunately it's an easy fix- can get another hanger from SV Spares (and a bolt). At least it's a cheap part. Will call recovery tomorrow when it's all arrived and job done.

I guess copper grease and rain make a fairly lethal combination in these situations. Bloody weather!

EVERYTHING on my bike becomes a saga. EVERYTHING. Though I accept my responsibility in this!

Not best pleased this morning.

Just a quick question folks- I'm assuming that this should be easily replaceable by a breakdown mechanic? I'm going to call them out when the parts arrive (hopefully tomorrow).

Originally Posted by thedonal

Just a quick question folks- I'm assuming that this should be easily replaceable by a breakdown mechanic? I'm going to call them out when the parts arrive (hopefully tomorrow).

If it's the hanger that has broken, then it's a wheel out job. How did it break? And did the brake line not break as well?

Sorry to hear your SV saga continues

[dirtydog]

If it wasn't for your bad luck you would have no luck at all!

[Dave20046]

Might have to double check my bolts! Good luck I'd imagine it is an easy job for the breakdown mechanic but I get the idea they try and act more as delivery drivers than mechanics and like to just plonk things from a to b if the fix would take longer. Not sure where the responsibility lies i.e whether it's reasonable or not to insist they fix it.

[SoulKiss]

This happened to Jester666 on the way to AR08 i believe.

He removed the broken bits and bungeed the rest out of the way and fixed it after he got back from the AR.

Originally Posted by petevtwin650

If it's the hanger that has broken, then it's a wheel out job. How did it break? And did the brake line not break as well?

Sorry to hear your SV saga continues

Amazingly, the brake line didn't break!

Basically, the bolt holding the caliper to the torque arm loosened and came out on the journey. This is due to mixing copperslip with rainwater, methinks- made it much slippier! Ironically, it was a new nut as the old one was fairly rounded (has been since I got the bike).

I was bedding the brakes in a little by (very progressively) braking hard with the rear when coming to a stop. As I got to a junction, it snapped, I heard a clonk and suddenly the lever was hard up and impossible to push down.

There was a little steam coming off the upended caliper when I got to a safe spot- I'm hoping this is residual rainwater and that I haven't cooked the fluid (I really don't want to go through bleeding the bleeder again!!).

Any ideas on the fluid?

I will specify to CN that I need a mechanic with a paddock stand for a roadside repair- hopefully that can be sorted. TBH, the recovery people I've experienced before have been great, so should be an option.

I've ordered the bits from SV Spares. They are rather helpful there. Apparently, the site is being changed so each item in stock is photographed and you pick that, rather than just a catalogue to phone about (I asked, as much had disappeared of the list).

DD- even if I was in the mood I was in this morning, that would have got a laugh. Cheers!

Well- new hanger is on.

Ironic- the breakdown mechanic turned up, had a look and said "I wish they'd said something- I could have packed my stand before I set off".

I told them it was the hanger, they told the guy it was the lever! Doh!

So I held the bike up on the side stand while the job was done. And done it was.

I've got a new (old) hanger and it's all back on. The edge of the pads are a bit chewed- but should be OK- I'll check the feel and have to get some more if necessary. No real damage to the disc- a little superficial scuffing that'll come out on the way home. The brakes are binding on the disc a little- again I'll see how it goes. I may need new seals before winter anyway.

So- job done. Until the next. Front calipers in a couple of weeks- cross your fingers for me!!!