Topic: Friend's Front Brake Locked

[arshaw]

I was riding with a friend today and his bike (an older v-twin honda, unsure of exact model/year) had the front brake lock while he was riding.  He got it to the side of the road and when we cracked the bleed valve a bit of fluid discharged and his brakes let go.  He gently rode it home, but it is working at the moment.

I'll be helping him fix it tomorrow.  Since cracking the bleed freed it, I assume it was a clogged hose or maybe the reservoir is even too full?  Do you think we should we just thoroughly bleed his system?  I'm new to motorcycles, so any advice that could save a load of trial and error would be appreciated.  A quick physical inspections of pads/caliper look fine.

[manjisann]

I'd definately do a flush with new fluid at the minimum. If it was me though, I'd probably take at least the Master Cylinder apart and give it a full cleaning.

HTH,

Brandon

[scunny]

at least clean out the fluid return hole in the MC, it's very small a sewing needle will do it.

[Johnie]

If that ever happens again on the road you can take a rubber mallet or tennis shoe and give the caliper a wak in the area of the piston. That should free it up so you can get home.

[arshaw]

We were only going 35-40 mph when it happened, but it was quite a shock.

I'll help him flush all the old fluid out and, at a minimum, clean the return hole in the MC.

Thanks all.