Front Master Cylinder

[TonimusMaximus]

Allright fellahs, my front MC is a complete loss. I need a new one. Anyone have any/how much? Drop me an email. TIA.

[MartyA]

What does complete loss mean? You can replace the most of the innards with kits, otherwise you will have to find a bolt on replacement. I don't think the stock M/C is available.

[mitch]

MC

Just about any master cyl will work off any metric bike with twin front brakes, Ebay my friend .....MITCH

[TonimusMaximus]

There is no way to get the old pistion out of the MC. Even if I could, the inside of it would be terribly pitted and would not function; A complete loss.

[MartyA]

The first year I owned my XS, I took the front M/C apart to check it out and put fresh fluid in. There was more rust and water than brake fluid there. I carefully got all parts out and cleaned it all up, put it all back together with fresh fluid and worked fine. I had a little trouble with the plunger, but I have not done anything to it since, 8 years ago. I will get around to replacing the parts some day, and get SS lines.

Parts n More has a picture of the kit parts, maybe it will work once you clean it all out and put in the replacement parts?

See if this link works.

http://www.partsnmore.com/PNMSite/XS...UILD%20KIT.htm

AND, whatever you do with your brakes, be SURE they work at a very low speed test first.

[TonimusMaximus]

By a complete loss, I mean that 1500 pounds of force will not get the piston out. Yes, 1500. I tried to use a rod, a floor jack and my truck to get it loose. Nothing. Lifted the front end of my 4 door Chevy Blazer. I simply need to buy a new one. That's all there is too it. If you saw it, you'd understand. Maybe I can borrow my neighbor's digicam...

[wildbill]

Re: front master cylinder

That is the same thing what happened to mine.Do you know a shop near you that has used bike parts?if so check with them.That is the way I replaced mine.Find one that came of a bike with dual front disc brakes.Might have to rig up a brake light{by spliching wires}and useing a different mirror,the one I got came off a Honda Magna.Looks weird but it works good.I think with everything I got{headlight,mirror and master cylinder}it cost me around $40.The lowest priced ones{new}have found that I think will work is in the Dennis Kirk Catolog for dirt bikes and they run around $100.I have the catolog here,if interested send me a pm and will get back in touch.Hope this helps Thank You

[Ken Talbot]

Tony, did you notice a reply I posted back before you broke this section out to a new thread? I was curious about whether or not the brake lever operated at all before you tore into the M/C, and I asked whether or not you had been able to remove the circlip and the retaining plate under it before you tried to remove the piston. I'm not trying to be a smart@$$, but just trying to understand how the piston could be so stuck. BTW - the piston is actually quite a loose fit in the M/C, it is only the rubber bits that fill the bore and pump the fluid.

[TonimusMaximus]

Hey Ken. I did end up tearing the boot off and prying the circlip out. I really need to find a digital camera to use so I can show you. The brake lever did not move the MC piston at all before I had at it. (Reason I took it off in the first place) I'll post a picture once I get it.

[nashville_bill]

You should be able to find a master cylinder on ebay just about any time you look.

[fusionking]

There is a guy selling the whole front system complete on there now and is at $36 with a couple days left. If yours is that bad then you probably need it all anyhow and spares are good stuff. IMHO.....HTH

[Ken Talbot]

So, just to be sure, you removed two 'clips' plus a retainer plate then. There would have been one round wire clip that held in the large end of the rubber boot. Inside from that would have been the actual circlip. Finally, there would have been a sort of U shaped retaining washer just inside of the circlip. With all that out of the way, you would have finally been looking at the seized piston itself.

[mitch]

lmao

Kenny you are like a pit bull once u hook on you wont let go lol.I see what your saying but wouldnt it be just as easy to replace the sucker anyhooo! All in all i have now gainedsome well needed info on the inner workings of the master clyinder ty for that . Have a great day and Happy New Year...............MITCH

[Ken Talbot]

You're right, Doug. It would certainly be easier to just throw on another part, provided you can track one down. Of course anything you can track down for a bike this old is probably going to be a used part, so it will also need to be stripped down and rebuilt before use. AFAIK, Tony's situation is quite unusual, I know I've never heard of it before. It may never happen again or it may actually be quite common, but at least the thorough reasearch can help guide the next XSive who runs into trouble.

[wildbill]

When the piston sticks in a master cylinder that tight,that means more than likely it is pitted inside and would be more trouble than its worth to try to repair because once everything is replaced,more than likely it would not work right.Which with it either leaking,not holding pressure just not worth it.Is the piston on a XS-11{front master cylinder} a 11 or a 10.5?The piston on my bike was set up so tight,you could not budge it with anything I tried{including a ball peen hammer.Find out which size the piston is.The price is still same including front brake light switch. Good luck