1979 SF Front caliper removal?

[Far Canal]

This might sound like a dumb question...but
How do the front brake calipers detach on this model bike?
There only appears to be one bolt that holds them on to the fork leg so Im guessing thats the one (12mm nut above caliper). Once this nut is removed I was hoping the caliper would just drop off. Not so in this case. Does it need a bit of persuasion?
Don't really want to butcher anything.
Any advice appreciated.

[DGXSER]

That nut is a locking nut to keep the bolt it is on from backing out. If you look at the under side of your caliper, you will see a white plastic circular cover. Pop that off, under it is the head of that bolt the nut was on. IT will unthread from the fork stantion and then the brake caliper will be loose.

On the Special models (SF, SG, LG, SH, and LH) the brake calipers swivel in that bolt. You will also find the brake pads are cut at a diagonal angle. You will know what I mean when you see them. Just preparing you so the next post we see from you is not the typical "WTF, How in the he!! did my brake pads wear like THAT!!!" And yes, that was one of my first post on the site back in 2008.

[Far Canal]

Thanks DGXSER. Mission accomplished so far.
The workshop manual I have is for the first model XS and does not show the XS SF peculiarities .
Thinking I should get a more model specific manual.
Notice there is a Haynes and a Clymer manual available.
Was wondering if either was suited to this model best.

[jetmechmarty]

Perhaps this will help.

[crazy steve]

Also look at this..... http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=37207

[Far Canal]

Thanks Marty(in Georgia) and Crazy Steve. I could not have wished for a more informative response.
" Who needs a manual"?
While I am at it I did notice that the front right hand fork was not aligned with the rotor. ie the rotor was not centered in the slots in the fork. This fork slider was leaking fork oil as well (no wonder).
I am hoping to fix this when putting the show back together by first tightening the axle bolt on the left hand slider, then to center the right hand slider over the rotor...kind of hold the slider central over the rotor while tightening up the axle clamping bolt on the bottom of R/H slider.
As I write this I can see a problem with the plan. Its to do with spacers on the axle.
Don't suppose you guys have a picture of the front axle and what spacers should be on it.?
I am assuming the forks are not bent. This seems to be an original low mileage bike with no signs of ever being crashed. Having said that though, its a bit puzzling that there are no bolts installed in the top triple clamps where the fork tubes locate.
Thanks
Brad(from Tasmania)

[DGXSER]

On the special models, you do have to adjust the position of the right hand fork to the brake disc when you tighten the pinch bolt. It is part of the factory field service manual process.

As to the spacers, on the left side there is only the speedo drive unit. On the right hand side, the spacer and dust shield for the bearing are one piece. As long as you have the dust shield on, you have the spacer in place.

Here are pics of my front wheel installed, please neglect the cleanliness issues.

Left side with speedo drive


Note that the speedo drive has a slot in it that needs to go over the tab sticking out of the fork. Here is the right side



You can just see the dust shield/spacer. The large diameter collar of the axle pushes against the dust shield/spacer and tightens the assembly of the spacer-wheel-speedo drive-and left fork when you tighten the axle nut. The right fork rides on that larger collar area. Slide it as needed to center up the brake rotor, then tighten the pinch bolt.

[jetmechmarty]

[Eveready1100]

Hi Brad.
When you go to order your fork seals from the local Yamaha dealer, ask him for a set to fit an 81 RH. 1100 Specials weren't sold over here and I've had a dickens of a time trying to get bits thru my local dealers. In the end, I gave up on them completely and order all my stuff online.

[TADracer]

Every time I see a thread on front calipers on a special I feel compelled to make this statement:

Be prepared to replace the long mounting bolt. Over time and use the bolt on some specials will bend ever so slightly right where the threaded part meets the fork mount. If it does you will virtually never get the caliper back into exact alignment. If the bolt is bent it will be evident as when you are unscrewing it the caliper will move slightly back and forth with the bend in the bolt. The bolts are available at most any hardware store and I change mine every time I take the calipers off. Nothing is said about this in the manuals but it happens.

[Rasputin]

Every time I see a thread on front calipers on a special I feel compelled to make this statement:

Be prepared to replace the long mounting bolt. Over time and use the bolt on some specials will bend ever so slightly right where the threaded part meets the fork mount. If it does you will virtually never get the caliper back into exact alignment. If the bolt is bent it will be evident as when you are unscrewing it the caliper will move slightly back and forth with the bend in the bolt. The bolts are available at most any hardware store and I change mine every time I take the calipers off. Nothing is said about this in the manuals but it happens.

Good Point.

[1234loft]

I just did my front brakes.
What is being said about the bent bolt is very important.

There is also a post about spacing the caliper correctly.
That spacing will allow the bolt to tighten against the sleeve and still allow the caliper to turn into whatever position is needed.

I had mine apart 4 times before I got it. Without the info from this site I may never have figured it out.

1. Straight bolts
2. Space the caliper correctly

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Again,

I thought I had given you this link before, but if not, it's Catatonic Bug's personal website where he hosts user and service manuals in PDF for free download....allow some time, one is ~200 MBs!

http://www.ringler.us/family/mybike.html

Secondly, the other thing about the bent mounting bolt is that it seems to contribute to a pulsing sensation in the brakes. I had been experiencing that for some time, and thought I had gotten warped rotors. After I did a "MOD" and put on some newer FJR 600 dual piston calipers, the pulsing went away. Other's have reported a pulsing that went away when they replaced their mounting bolts. BTW, that "MOD" is a radical one involving some serious non reversible machining work on the fork sliders....not a simple bolt on change!

T.C.

[Tenorman]

1980 XS1100LG Front Caliper Bolt

Hello and thanks for all of the info....

My front caliper mounting bolts are belt very slightly and I would like to replace them....

Since the are NLA from Yamaha, does anyone know the exact size of the bolts?

I'd like to get a set without having to remove the old ones from the bike until I have the new ones....

Thanks in advance....

Tenorman

[crazy steve]

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=37207