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- - Brake lever (http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=136940)

richiekuk

04-08-09 09:48 AM

Brake lever

Hi all.

My front brake lever is really stiff the second half of travel.
The first half is nice and smooth, but after that it is really stiff and jerky. (like you keep adding pressure, nothing happens, then it jerks a few mm and applies loads more brake than I want).

Anyone else encountered this, and any way to sort it?

Thanks

Richie K

Geoffrey

04-08-09 09:53 AM

Re: Brake lever

which sv650 do you have, a later abs equipped version?

the lever should get progressively firmer along its travel, start with the obvious and have a look at the pivot point and see if it is warn or needs grease.

Spanner Man

04-08-09 09:54 AM

Re: Brake lever

Good morning.

It sounds as though the piston in the master cylinder is getting a little 'grungy'.
If you carefully lift the rubber boot that's around the piston using a pointed tool of some sort, & squirt a little bit of silicone lube in there it should solve the problem.
I wouldn't use WD40 or similar, as this could contaminate the hydraulic seals, & cause them to swell.

Cheers.

richiekuk

04-08-09 06:54 PM

Re: Brake lever

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spanner Man (Post 1992666)

Thanks. Where is the master cylinder located?

Richie K

Geoffrey

05-08-09 06:05 AM

Re: Brake lever

Quote:

Originally Posted by richiekuk (Post 1993279)

Thanks. Where is the master cylinder located?

Richie K

it is what the brake lever attaches too, the cast metal section mounted to the handle bar

richiekuk

18-08-09 11:54 AM

Re: Brake lever

I removed the brake lever, and pushed the master cylinder piston by hand, and its nice and smooth. I suspect its the actual lever and the housing. I've removed the lever. I'm going to polish the part that goes in the pivot housing, and apply a little bit of grease. Hopefully a nice smooth (predictable!) front brake.

Thanks

Richie K

jambo

18-08-09 12:00 PM

Re: Brake lever

Sounds like you're on the right track, I've seen several SVs with enough dry dirt / old dry grease residue on the lever pivot that you feel resistance of that rather than hydraulic resistance from the brake system.

Clean the lever and pivot up with a rag and some brake cleaner / WD40, then use some general purpose grese and re-fit.

Jambo

richiekuk

19-08-09 07:24 PM

Re: Brake lever

Bugger, its not as bad as it was, but the lever is back to its old tricks again. Nore grease this time!

richiekuk

10-09-09 04:39 PM

Re: Brake lever

Can't seem to solve this problem. Every time I remove the lever, clean and lube its ok for a while, then it starts again with the grittiness!

I know its the pivot point, as I clean it its ok for a bit. Even so I stripped the whole brake system, cleaned everything, rebuilt using braided hoses, and its still the same!

I'm gonna nedd shares in a grease company at this rate!

Richie K

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