Topic: Playing the banjo.....fittings help

[drlarryw]

Oh great sohc minds, I am fitting ss brakelines to my 750F and ask your assistance in selecting correct angles for the banjo fittings.  In front, I'm keeping the 2 line system, but eliminating the rigid tube to the caliper, replacing it with a banjo.  My guesstimates for the FRONT are:
At master cylinder - 30 degree bend
At junction block  -   0 degrees [straight]
Leaving junction block - 45 degrees
at caliper    -  30 degrees
Your experience will be very helpful and most appreciated !!
Larry in Boston

[drlarryw]

OK, maybe my wording is too confusing.  HELP.....what length lines and what angled banjo fittings have you guys used on the front end???  THANKS!!!!
Larry

[paulages]

i just took mine to a local fluid line fabricator and had them replicate the old ones in SS.

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Hey Larry,

I have a single-disk 550 on which I just replaced the brake lines.  I too kept the splitter/pressure switch block in the middle and eliminated the steel line at the caliper.  Here is how I had my lines built:

- straight banjo at the MC, 20-inches, 90-degree banjo at the inlet of the splitter. 
- 20-deg banjo, no offset at the splitter outlet, 27-inches to a "type 520 fitting" at the caliper.

I did a 90-degree at the splitter inlet due to interference with the headlight bucket.

What the hell is a "type 520 fitting"?  It's a part number from Spiegler for a fitting that screws right into the caliper.  It's not a banjo fitting, rather a male 10x1.25 threaded end.  I went with the 520 since I didn't want to drill out and tap the deep innards of the caliper socket to allow a standard banjo bolt to thread in all the way.  I was also thinking that the 520 would be less likely to leak, tho a properly fitted banjo is pretty leak resistant if the seat at the caliper is clean.

I don't know if you have a short banjo bolt or already have had your calipers tapped to the bottom.  To see is your calipers are ready for a standard banjo bolt, remove the steel line from the caliper and thread in a banjo bolt with a banjo end on it.  If the bolt bottoms before the banjo seats, you may need to tap your caliper or go with something like the 520 fitting.

The 520 does come straight out of the caliper, so if you are really wanting the line to come in at an angle, then your banjo idea is good way to do.

Oh, and it wasn't your wording, it was that heavy Boston accent! 

[drlarryw]

Hey!  What accent???  I did solve the issue by calling Spiegler where I could work off the stock dimensions and angles.  They were very helpful, and for $100. I've got lines on the way.
Larry in Baaahston

p.s.  Nice YELLOW tank!!!

[MrFry]

Hey Larry,

I have a single-disk 550 on which I just replaced the brake lines.  I too kept the splitter/pressure switch block in the middle and eliminated the steel line at the caliper.  Here is how I had my lines built:

- straight banjo at the MC, 20-inches, 90-degree banjo at the inlet of the splitter. 
- 20-deg banjo, no offset at the splitter outlet, 27-inches to a "type 520 fitting" at the caliper.

I did a 90-degree at the splitter inlet due to interference with the headlight bucket.

What the hell is a "type 520 fitting"?  It's a part number from Spiegler for a fitting that screws right into the caliper.  It's not a banjo fitting, rather a male 10x1.25 threaded end.  I went with the 520 since I didn't want to drill out and tap the deep innards of the caliper socket to allow a standard banjo bolt to thread in all the way.  I was also thinking that the 520 would be less likely to leak, tho a properly fitted banjo is pretty leak resistant if the seat at the caliper is clean.

I don't know if you have a short banjo bolt or already have had your calipers tapped to the bottom.  To see is your calipers are ready for a standard banjo bolt, remove the steel line from the caliper and thread in a banjo bolt with a banjo end on it.  If the bolt bottoms before the banjo seats, you may need to tap your caliper or go with something like the 520 fitting.

The 520 does come straight out of the caliper, so if you are really wanting the line to come in at an angle, then your banjo idea is good way to do.

Oh, and it wasn't your wording, it was that heavy Boston accent! 

do you have any pictures of this 520 fitting?

[drlarryw]

Guys, Spiegler is including the screw-in type fitting for the front caliper with the lines.  I'm assuming this is the "520" fitting mentioned earlier, that is used instead of a banjo.

[kslrr]

On my 350, I did away with everything and installed a single SS line that threaded directly into the Master and then directly into the caliper.  I figured it would save weight and have less places for leaks.

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Here is the "520" in action.  The angle of the camera is deceiving, there is plenty of clearance between the brake line and the tire.  Notice that the line rides in the same carrier that held the solid pipe, including the grommet and hook behind the fork tube.

[jevfro]

On my 350, I did away with everything and installed a single SS line that threaded directly into the Master and then directly into the caliper.  I figured it would save weight and have less places for leaks.

I did this too and bought a banjo bolt w/ built-in pressure switch for the break light... nice and tiddy looking and it got rid of the extra places for air to collect  so bleeding is easy.

[drlarryw]

Installed my front lines in about 20 minutes.  As usual, great product , quick delivery from Spiegler, especially the "swiveling" banjos.  [Like "dueling banjos??].  My "520" fitting looks just like yours and looks great.  I wish I had known about banjo bolts with pressure sending switches. Wow!!
Larry

[kslrr]

Here is how I did mine 15 years ago.  Just behinde the fork lower is a nylon cable strap to hold the line in place yet allow some flex.  Now it needs some major clean up and a new piston.

[Helo229]

To any of you who might be able to help, I was looking to do the same thing on my bike and came across these fittings

http://www.z1enterprises.com/detail.aspx?ID=3349

Brake Hose 10MM X 1.25 MALE TO MALE ADAPT
TU03-6239

Is this more or less the part which you guys described as a 'type 520' fitting?

[754]

If you play the banjos, your angles really are dependent on what bars you run & where you want the line to run..

Signed,
No longer plays with banjos..

[OldSchool_IsCool]

The Type 520 fitting is exactly the fitting in my picture above.  It is crimped onto stainless lines by the manufacturer (spriegler, in my case) and is screwed directly into the caliper.