| Author | Message | ||
     Pangalactic |
Okie...short version: any body know a good way to clean out some brake lines that have had fluid mixed in them? Longer version: My brother got a used bike, '84 Honda Magna 750, as basic trasportation. Runs good, been beat up, not the original motor, but it runs good, everything checks out ok enough to ride, but obviously it is a project. Anyway, the kid we bought it from said "he thinks" it needed the front master cylinder rebuilt- meaning he frucked it up, but wouldn't own up to breaking it. 250 bucks for a good running beater cruiser bike. Anyways, got the rebuild kit, only took two weeks for the Honda dealership to order, among some other minor things, and got to work today. Left the brake job for last, because it was seemingly an easy fix. wrong. The brake worked, but it was reeeeeeal soft. It hasn't been ridden since we bought it, because of a lack of plates, and the work it needed to it, so we didn't get a long enough test ride for the front brake to fail. (This was a good thing- it would have failed in a few miles...) Anyways, rip open the reservoir, and there is a clear glue like layer of gunk in the reservoir box. Completely disassembled the cylinder, and cleaned everything, hoping the lines and calipers were okay. Nope. Apparently he mixed some fluids that shouldn't be mixed... Took everthing apart, and found two hoses were clogged. Calipers were clean (but took'em apart to clean 'em anyways...) and one of the hoses was clean, but from the diverter to the two calipers was partially clogged. I took a rubber bulb and tried to blow out what was plugging it- depending how I held it, or shook it, sometimes air would flow, and sometimes it would gunk up. I would just go to a dealer and buy new lines, but nobody is open on Sundays (evidently this God fellow has a problem with people tinkering on their motorcycle on the sabbath...). What sucks even more, is most of the dealers in the area are closed Mondays, too. I'd like to be able to get this running so I can get it plated on Monday. Any suggestions? | ||
| Sportyeric |
I believe rubbing alcohol is the recommended solvent. I had an issue with a sticky rear brake as a result of changing from dot 5 to dot 3 and back. Don't ask why. My dealership mechanic said to flush it with rubbing alcohol. Your problem could also be a tear in the lining, which could create a flap that allows flow in one direction and not the other. | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Dot 3 and Dot 5 can NEVER be mixed! Dot 3 in a mineral based fluid, Dot 5 is synthetic. If the two get mixed, the recommended fix is to replace EVERYTHING. Up until last year I had a 84 Honda Magna. The front brakes never did feel real solid. Always a bit soft. It stopped fine but the brake lacked "feel". It was always a bitch to bleed. Keep in mind the Magna has a front anti-dive feature that is brake activated. If the fluids were mixed, you may have to pull the forks apart to clean them. I can't remember if the anti-dive was in both legs or just one. I can check if you want as my neighbor bought the bike. I may even be able to scan the service manual for you regarding the brakes. BTW, if the Magna is really a 1984 model, it's a 700cc motor. This was the first year of the "HD tarriff". Brad | ||
| Pangalactic |
sorry....i fat fingered....it is an '82 Magna v45...the '84s were v65, if I'm not mistaken... Unfortunately, I don't know what was mixed. He may have put hydraulic fluid, or tranny oil in it. I don't know. The clutch resevoir on the other handle looks identical, easy to confuse. It sure seems like 3/4(prolly 3-since that was stock) mixed with 5, because the gunk looked and felt like a silicon gel. But that's just guessing. I fully intend to replace the hoses, but I just wanted to get it working enough to drive down to the DMV. I took everything apart and cleaned and inspected it, everything appears fine except for those two hoses. I really dont want to replace the calipers, simply due to the cost and the time it would take to order them. Do you really think I should replace them anyway? Is there some kind of damage that a visual inspection would miss? PS- just a little editorial, remember when an auto parts store had people there who could actually answer questions like this? Now they are so commercialized and underpaid, it's lucky if they speak english, or can even adequately explaing the difference between motor oil and antifreeze. Maybe I'm just showing my age, but the Walmart-ization of the world just sucks... edited by pangalactic on June 06, 2004 | ||
| Steveshakeshaft |
I changed the fluid on both brakes about four years ago and put in DOT5.1 by mistake instead of DOT5. No problems yet. It's due another change this year so I'll use 5.1 again. Steve Shakeshaft steve_s@ukbeg.com www.ukbeg.com | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Pan, Honda made V65's and V45's in 82. Both Sabers and Magnas if memory serves. Both had a lot of get up and go for their time. | ||
| Pangalactic |
the rubbing alcohol trick worked like a charm....  Took about two hours of flushing it with a rubber bulb, but it is free and clear now... (coulda swore I posted this last night...must not have saved...) Bluz...are you sure about that? I thought the v65 didn't come out till '83, and then it was the 1100. that year they had 3 v45's sabre, magna and interceptor. '84 was the first 700 v65's. i thought. The haynes manual I got doesn't list an 82 v65, but it could just be another book. Then again, I'm not as up on 'em as I was in they day. I was a few years too young when they came out, but I had dirt bikes, and was itchin' to be old enough to ride a street bike. What I reallllllly wanted was a CBX. I thought that was just the "cat's @ss", to quote the family Teutle... edited by pangalactic on June 07, 2004 edited by pangalactic on June 07, 2004 | ||
| Pangalactic |
Can't believe you can't say "@ss" anymore...jeez... | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Jim, Good news regarding the alcohol flush. I'd keep a close eye on it though. Re the V65, you could be right. Near as I can tell, the V65 came out in 83. Ya gotta love google! Neat stuff out there on the V4 history. Brad |
