Front brakes won't Pressurize

[davidsymons53]

When I purchased this bike the cap and diaphragm were off of the front MC. I just finished rebuilding the MC and I used this method to fill the system with brake fluid:

http://www.benefiscal.co.uk/forum/in...p?topic=1842.0

I had already bled the MC by working the brake lever and opening and closing banjo bolt hole with my finger. I had the pressure build up high enough that I could squirt fluid across the garage. I then filled the lines from the bottom up, bolted the brake line to the MC with the banjo bowl.

I can pump the lever seemingly forever and I cannot get the pressure build up What should I try next?

T I A David

[lee_dutcher]

sounds like u unseated the rubber oring in the pump valve. if u pulled the lever all the way back while trying to bleed u might have to disasemble and put it back where it was. your only suppose to pull about 3/4 the way back leaving about and inch from the throttle control.

[cywelchjr]

IIRC the field service manual recommends putting a block of wood behind the lever to prevent pulling it too far.

[Larrym]

Bubble Trouble???

From a previous posting of mine:

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showpost.p...0&postcount=11

[yamahansolo]

I did the same thing a few months back and was in denial for a while about it being the rubber piece ... finally after bleeding the brakes a billion times including leaving it parked with a bungee cord around the lever overnight. .. I broke down and took it apart. Had to bring it to with ans try 10 different snapring pliers before finding the right ones...

[davidsymons53]

Pressure!!!

I went out this afternoon and disconnected the brake line from the MC. I pumped the lever slowly while placing my finger on and off the banjo bolt hole. After a half a dozen pumps pressure build, and after a few more pumps I could not hold the brake fluid in. I reconnected the brake line. I attached it clear holes to the right caliper bleed screw and open open the screw up. then with slow, shallow repeated pumps of the brake lever , I successfully bled the right hand caliper.
I used the same procedure with the different clear hose on the left caliber. After the bleeder screws were closed tight I continued slow shallow pumps of the brake lever and was rewarded with a nice firm brake lever.

And now, on to the fork oil!

[Larrym]

Mission Mentality...

davidsymons53,

Congratulations!

Not every owner has solved this problem in a timely manner. Some have gotten caught in a troubleshooting "loop" where they keep disassembling and reassembling the system because they are convinced that the problem is parts related. Then they move on to purchasing new parts, installing those new parts, and still getting a "spongy" brake lever. (very frustrating and costly to boot...)

Not every owner has solved this problem at all. My first XS came with a parts bike. (Not really a complete bike but rather just the mangled frame, the engine mounted in the frame along with some boxes of parts .) Because I lived in a small community at the time I was able to meet the original "owner" of that crashed bike. It seems that he was unable to solve this "problem" yet still chose to ride the motorcycle. The "crash" was a direct result of his inability to decelerate/stop at a "Tee" intersection.

[davidsymons53]

Thanks Larry.