what have i done to deserve this???

after all my other problems are semi-out of the way, i decided to rebuild my master cylinder today. it went well until i tried to bleed the brakes..i couldnt get any fluid to drain from the caliper, it just dripped out slowly even as i pulled the lever. so i blew threw the line that bolts to the master cylinder and fluid spurted out of the caliper, as if it was clogged up. i pulled the caliper, tried to press the piston back in but, no go. well, i took the caliper apart to rebuild it and check for pitting on the piston. now im just waiting on the new seals to come in the mail and am going to have the shop clean and hone the caliper while its off and apart.
im afraid to change out my chain and sprockets in fear of uncovering yet another problem.

 

You gotta take yer lumps man. Brakes and drive train always come first when you're on two wheels.

 

I am willing to bet you won't have much of a problem changing out the chain and sprockets other than a mess under the front sprocket cover. It will be caked with grease, grime, grit, and even asphault. Unless it was torqued way too hard it should be easy to change. The rear sprocket might be hard to get offf. Either try loosening the nuts while the bike is on the centerstand but in gear or have someone sit on it for you. But p.b. blaster didn't help loosen mine. Just don't strip those bolts. Thats bad. haha.
The chain is going to be the tough part unless you get a snap link. The rivet type requires either a tool made for riveting chains (and it costs way to much to justify unlesss you are doing a few chain changes a month. There is the option of getting a center punch and an anvil or something very heavy, a wooden block and a mallet and riveting it yourself. I did that then took a chisle and gave a couple of good whacks at it in a cross shape just to open it up a little more. Your best bet, though, is to by a chain with the snap link or when you get it, also by the link and forget the rivet type.
There is also a chain press tool for installing the side over the posts. You wont be able to just snap it on the link.

 

Life can be a b1tch. I got my bike all ready for its MOT inspection only to have it fail on Monoshock damping. £130 is the best pice I could get.

There is a post here that warns that just because the bike is cheap to buy, don't think it's going to be cheap to maintain! How true.

 

You're doing fine. When you get an old bike you know nothing about (sure the PO TOLD you it was MINT, and ran like a dream when parked but just needed a new battery...but can you really trust them? :evil: ) you should expect to completely tear down the brakes. Brake fluid is hydrophillic, it absorbs water (moisture that gets past the seals) and that corrodes the internals of the brake system while it stands there. You can clean the calipers yourself, just take your time. Also consider changing your brake lines (look for other posts on this to decide if it is necessary.

Look at it this way...if you brakes "worked," but still desperately needed a cleaning, you would have more than likely found out on the road, when the build up of corrsion clogged something up. This way, you'll fix everything up front, and you're bike will stop when you expect it to.

 

"There is a post here that warns that just because the bike is cheap to buy, don't think it's going to be cheap to maintain! How true."
markie

Doesn't take long for that to sink in, does it :roll: ???

skillet

 

thats hilarious because those were the exact words that came out of his mouth :roll: i was browsing the internet a few nights ago and saw someone that had acquired a used bike for free. they said, and i quote, "the free bike is usually the most expensive one in the barn"
although it wasnt free, it goes along the lines of what markie said