Front Brakes on 83 Midnight 750 HELP!

So I purchased this 83 750 midnight maxim and the front brakes have never worked... I tried bleeding the lines and nothing. I went to the junk yard and pulled a master cyclinder, swapped it and a little improvement. I am lost on what next to do. The master cyclinder that I pulled and installed is off of a new style honda. everything bolted up nicely and looks a great deal better.

The handle is harder then it should be to pull and the doesnt grab hardly at all... I dont know what to do next... Also when i removed one caliper and squeezed the lever it closed a little but it reopened. it didnt adjust. I am lost on how to get this working!

 

Do a forum search type in" bleeding brakes" and some info will come up
that may be of some help.
If you can not get your brakes to work and you are unsure of what you are doing then you would be best to take the bike to a brake service
centre. It will cost you some dollars but the brakes are one thing that
must work correctly. Sounds like the whole system needs to be rebuilt.

 

I looked at nearly all of the posts and most point to the difficulty of correctly bleeding the front... i tried everything today... different MC different fitting that mounts on the front under the Yamaha logo. everything... and bleed the gebus out of it. I cracked open and bleed all the banjo screws. I AM FRUSTRATED! I am getting none of the 'ol faithful' effect.

Do i have to get a power bleeder or vacuum bleeder or whatever other kind of bleeder there is out there. Its really annoying because I am relying on my rear brake as I put around the city to and from school. I need this working already.

Thanks in advance for all your guys input.

 

If the master cylinder (original or the other junkyard piece) won't build pressure then it probably needs to be rebuilt. I would go back to the original, and rebuild that. You have no way of knowing if the Honda M/C's displacement is correct for your system. A master cylinder depends on some very delicate rubber parts to work correctly, when they're 29 years old they need to be replaced. Actually, they should be replaced after 5 years.

You will most likely need to rebuild your caliper(s?) as well; they're very simple but likewise depend on rubber seals which are now 29 years old and need to be replaced.

Brake lines over 5 years old (like the originals) need to be replaced.

You're probably NOT going to get the front brake working right without rebuilding the system. The parts aren't expensive, it's not difficult, just a messy PIA. I don't think you're looking at an "easy fix." This is not an area for shortcuts, the front brake is up to 90% of your stopping power.

Now, that rear brake you're depending on: Have you pulled IT apart and checked it for delamination, lest it come apart and drop you on your bunnies? http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=15874.html

 

I am going to try the power bleeder. see if that works... also I am going to put the original junction back on now that its cleaned out... there would be no reason it should just all of a sudden not work. I mean it has pressure just the calipers arent grabbing the rotor hardly when i grab a hand full of brake

 

We just had one in and the brake hoses were so bad you could not even blow through them. Make sure the hoses are not swollen internally and causing a restriction. New hoses and clean the MC and all ok now.

MN

PS. ever seen one that the brake fluid turns to dust? We have

 

If a Brake System isn't developing Hydraulic Pressure >> On it's own <<, ... Pressure Bleeders, One-Man Bleeders, Power Bleeders, Bleed Screws, Black Magic, and Graduates of Hogwarts won't be able to do much for you.

The Master Cylinder needs to be able to develop Hydraulic Pressure.
If it won't.
It needs new Seals.

You can't work-around it!

 

ok So I have tried nearly everything! I need to pick up new parts... caliper rebuilds, MC rebuild, and new lines. any ideas where to get theres parts? cheaper the better. I just got drag bar and installed them and won an auction for forks (total 45 bucks shipped) so I am tight on money.

Thanks again

 

Start a Thread in the Parts Wanted category.

Put-out an A-P-B for what you need.
At the same time:
a) Check Ebay & Craigs List
b) Call-up a nearby JunkYard and get on-the-wire.

 

He needs new parts, and consummables, Rick.

Check with chacal (XJ4Ever) he will have everything you need and at a reasonable price.