LarryM
Goldbutt
Posts: 55
Bike Year / Level: 2002 Illusion Blue GL1800
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Post by LarryM on Nov 8, 2014 22:24:00 GMT
Over the past month or so, my brake lever has been sticking, and I don't mean just a little. It has gotten to the point where it takes some significant effort to do anything more than light braking.
My first thought was that it was simply the pivot, although I do lube them every winter as part of annual maintenance. I lubed it and it didn't help at all. I even tried leaving it a little loose, just as a test. No go.
That left the master cylinder plunger, or the contact point for the plunger. I dripped a little lubricant on the contact, and it fixed it, but I am pretty certain that some of it got into the plunger. I should have used grease to isolate it while testing. Oh well.
I have never had a plunger stick before, but then again, my mileage is getting into uncharted territory for me. Is is normal to have to inject some lubricant into the master cylinder plunger once in awhile, or do I have a master cylinder that is wearing out? As of right now, the brakes are working perfectly with just that couple of drops of lubricant.
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Post by pidjones on Nov 9, 2014 12:48:44 GMT
I suspect a little corrosion on the aluminum that was taken care of by the lube. I doubt any of the lube will make it past the seal to the brake fluid. Small cavity that water can migrate into and not evaporate out, eventually something like this will happen. As long as you don't have any fluid leaks and it doesn't bind again, you should be good for a while. Maybe pack the area with silicone grease annually to prevent more corrosion.
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LarryM
Goldbutt
Posts: 55
Bike Year / Level: 2002 Illusion Blue GL1800
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Post by LarryM on Nov 9, 2014 15:02:43 GMT
Thanks. I have never torn into a master cylinder, so I'm not really sure how the plunger is isolated from the reservoir. For all I know, it's a long shaft that is supposed to be lubricated by the hydraulic fluid.
The plunger is covered by a rubber boot. I'm wondering if I can pull back on it a bit and put a dab of silicon grease on the shaft. I really should do something. The little bit of Teflon lubricant that I dripped on it is certainly not going to last very long. It was only intended as a test, not a permanent solution.
Maybe I should RTFM (Read The .......) There might be a hint there.
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