[mikestp]

I rebuilt the caliper. Although the brakes worked, they often stuck and my bike would ride in a difficult manner (light brakes on all the time) so that full throttle would be needed to get anywhere, and icy frosty patches of road would be dangerous as well as areas of road dirt accumulation. So After a few people told me it was my master cyl that was the problem, I rebuilt that. And although it seemed to work for a couple of bike rides, it is now sticking again. Is there an easy swap of either front brake components? Or has anyone ever swapped a Front end off of a Yamaha or some other better built bike onto a honda?

mikestp@yahoo.com

[Jetpilot07]

pretty old bike, i once had a 79 cb400t, same problem and it ended up the brake lines were coming apart on the inside blocking flow, i'd check that.

[mikestp]

Originally Posted by Jetpilot07

pretty old bike, i once had a 79 cb400t, same problem and it ended up the brake lines were coming apart on the inside blocking flow, i'd check that.

I think the problem is indeed a collapsing brake hose from the inside. I got a replacement hose from a company that makes custom brake hoses. However they sent me a hose that has the wrong size screw in fitting. The 1981 CM400 Honda has a banjo fitting on one end and a straight screw in fitting on the other end. They sent the wrong size fitting for the screw in end. Is there any way I can get the proper size of the fitting? I am reluctant to take it apart because it is my main means of transport, and I don't have the tools to do a proper brake bleed. If anyone has the part number or fitting size that is used I would sure appreciate it.

mike
Honda 1981 CM400
Triumph 1971 Bonneville
Triumph 1972 Trophy
Norton 1967 N15


mikestp@yahoo.com

[mikestp]

Well I replaced the brake hose with a used hose for 10 bucks. This... because the new hose that a Toronto company furnished me was fitted with the wrong size screw-in fitting. I have the old original hose in the box going back to them.

Locally a bike wrecker (Bent Bike) had a hose that was the right length and I installed it. After bleeding I was happy with the results.

However now the sticking brakes are back... Soooo I have rebuilt the slave, the Master and replaced the hose. I read in another thread that sometimes a pinhole bleedback hole supposedly in the master cyl reservoir can get blocked and prevent the fluid from traveling back and holding the pads tight. Anyone else have this sort of troubles?

Mike....

[mikestp]

I have given up. I'm now looking for a Yamaha replacement front end. Honda obviously has issues with this single caliper brake. I'm not going to waste time with a fundamentally flawed and screwed up system. PPE we call it.... Piss Poor Engineering.

[mikestp]

Finally fixed the problem. Anyone who has the original style master cylinder will sooner or later at the very least have to rebuild it.... dont... I bought a new better than OEM generic master cylinder complete with chrome brake actuator. Cost was 49 USD. Considering the cost of the rebuild kit was 19, and the time to took to take apart and the fact it just plain looked crappy. The new unit looks great, uses the more standard banjo fittings, it makes a rebuild seem silly.
Now my brakes work. I rebuilt the caliper, paid a mechanic to rebuild the master, I replaced the hose (twice), and finally I replaced the master (that had been professionally rebuilt)). For 49 bucks get a new unit...

Mike...

[cbx1013]

Mike:

Where did you get your replacement Master Cyl from? Any more info available?

Thanks!

cbx1013

[mikestp]

It's a generic type master cylinder. Works well and it bolts on. The only difference in my case was a change from the weird "threaded fitting" on my Honda to the more common banjo fitting found on most bikes. Simple change of brake line for me.

They seem to only have a face-book and or eBay store.
eBay Seller: usa-motorcycles-inc: Parts Accessories items on eBay Motors

However if you have a CB400 or a CM400 like mine, I bought two of them at the time of purchase. The price when I bought them was 55 dollars each and 15 dollars to ship both. Today the asking price is 79 dollars without shipping.

Even at that price it is a good deal.. However, if you like I can send you my spare, I doubt I will need it anytime soon. I would offer it to you for 55 dollars and 15 dollars to ship. The shipping is a bit expensive in my opinion but hey, that is the price I pay to live in Canada. Everything is a bit more costly here, but I love it up here in Vancouver...

It was a bolt on replacement here with a stainless custom brake hose I bought from a company in Toronto. They did a fantastic job of making me a custom brake hose. You can reach them (Brake hose specialists called GT Auto Sport) at:General@infintrading.com They make any and all types of brake hose. (good service great prices) Stainless steel braided hose custom made for 25 dollars.

GT Auto Sport,
250 Don Park Road, Unit 15,
Markham, Ontario,
L3R 2V1, Ontario

The address of the master cylinder supplier USA-Motorcycles is in my guess the Southern California area.

It was soooo much hassle with the front brake lockups. I have never dropped a bike above 2 MPH. but with the front brake lock ups I dropped it three times, causing a hundred or so in damage. All because the front brakes locked up.

The pictures i have of my master cylinder are available but send me your email addy and I can send them to you. They would take up too much space here.

Mike...

[cbx1013]

Mike:

Sounds interesting. Let me check out the condition of the brakes on my bike, and I'll let you know. I have caliper parts on order, that might do it for now.

You can send me pics at bkav507atyahoodotcom

Odd that we don't have pm capabilities at this forum, or did I miss it somewhere?

Thanks for the info!

cbx

[cbx1013]

Mike:

You have e-mail.

cbx

[mikestp]

ok

[mikestp]

Did you get my package? How did it fit your needs?