Author Topic: Master Cylinder Boot  (Read 1339 times)

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Offline grumpy56

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Master Cylinder Boot
« on: February 11, 2025, 03:32:59 PM »
How is the boot covering the banjo bolt/hose outlet supposed to fit? Thank you.

Offline newday777

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Re: Master Cylinder Boot
« Reply #1 on: February 11, 2025, 03:57:16 PM »
Are you not telling the whole story?? Is that a replacement boot? Aftermarket? Has the hose been replaced??
Stu
Honda Parts manager in the mid 1970s Nashua Honda
My current rides
1975 K5 Planet Blue my summer ride, it was a friend's bike I worked with at the Honda shop in 76, lots of fun to be on it again
1976 K6 Anteres Red rebuilding project, was originally my brother's that I set up from the crate, it'll breath again soon!
Project 750s, 1 K2, 4 K6, 1 K8, 1 F1, 1 F3
2008 GL1800 my daily ride and cross country runner

Prior bikes....
1972 Suzuki GT380 I had charge of it for a year in 1973 while my friend was deployed and learned to love street riding....
New CB450 K7 after my friend returned...
New CB750 K5 Planet Blue, demise by ex cousin in law at 9,000 miles...
New CB750 K6 Anteres Red, to replace the totaled K5, I sold this K6 at 45k in 1983, I had heavily modified it, many great memories on it and have missed it greatly.....
1983 GL1100A, 1999 GL1500 SE, 1999 GL1500A

Offline Don R

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Re: Master Cylinder Boot
« Reply #2 on: February 11, 2025, 04:14:24 PM »
 Those bars look like euro or 400f. I like it. Is there a double banjo under there?
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Offline grumpy56

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Re: Master Cylinder Boot
« Reply #3 on: February 11, 2025, 08:18:09 PM »
76 400F is all original as far as I can tell except for the seat cover and side panels which I replaced. My friend saw it covered up in some guy's garage in Prescott AZ a few years ago as he was there to buy a Harley. Called me up and I immediately had him buy it for me. Less than 6K miles. Hadn't been run in 30 years so the usual things (carbs, electrical, rear brake) needed attention, but it was and is a really nice example. Original brake lines as far as I know as there still is "yellow paint" on the three way joint where the brake light switch is located. It just seemed to me that this boot did not fit "right".

Offline grumpy56

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Re: Master Cylinder Boot
« Reply #4 on: February 11, 2025, 08:26:17 PM »
previous pic showed color as funky...original paint

Offline scottly

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Re: Master Cylinder Boot
« Reply #5 on: February 11, 2025, 08:33:31 PM »
Wow, nice looking bike, and the Suzi too! You can see the dark area on the MC where the boot used to cover it, protecting the anodized finish. The boot should fit over the end of the MC, covering the dark area.
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Offline seanbarney41

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Re: Master Cylinder Boot
« Reply #6 on: February 11, 2025, 10:46:29 PM »
sometimes you have to stretch them over, sometimes they easily rip in the process.  It is pretty thin rubber....in your pic, it does not really look like the usual Honda part...looks like thicker rubber
If it works good, it looks good...

Offline Remcod

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Re: Master Cylinder Boot
« Reply #7 on: February 12, 2025, 02:40:53 AM »
Look at the color difference of the cylinder. The dark part is usually covered by the rubber.

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Offline newday777

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Re: Master Cylinder Boot
« Reply #8 on: February 12, 2025, 03:14:53 AM »
Did you try a heat gun on the boot to make it flexible again to get it on in place?

Back in 73 I had the care of a friend's GT380,  and his TS185 for a year while he was deployed. He asked me to keep them exercised each week. I had a lot of fun on them. When he got back I had to get a bike of my own, thought about getting a Suzi but decided on a new CB450 K7 instead.
Stu
Honda Parts manager in the mid 1970s Nashua Honda
My current rides
1975 K5 Planet Blue my summer ride, it was a friend's bike I worked with at the Honda shop in 76, lots of fun to be on it again
1976 K6 Anteres Red rebuilding project, was originally my brother's that I set up from the crate, it'll breath again soon!
Project 750s, 1 K2, 4 K6, 1 K8, 1 F1, 1 F3
2008 GL1800 my daily ride and cross country runner

Prior bikes....
1972 Suzuki GT380 I had charge of it for a year in 1973 while my friend was deployed and learned to love street riding....
New CB450 K7 after my friend returned...
New CB750 K5 Planet Blue, demise by ex cousin in law at 9,000 miles...
New CB750 K6 Anteres Red, to replace the totaled K5, I sold this K6 at 45k in 1983, I had heavily modified it, many great memories on it and have missed it greatly.....
1983 GL1100A, 1999 GL1500 SE, 1999 GL1500A

Offline MauiK3

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Re: Master Cylinder Boot
« Reply #9 on: February 12, 2025, 06:44:08 AM »
Check Yamiya for the boot.
Nice Suzuki!!
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10/72 build Z1 Kawasaki

Offline grumpy56

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Re: Master Cylinder Boot
« Reply #10 on: February 12, 2025, 07:32:07 AM »
Thank you all. I found a pic of the boot before I started fooling around with the brakes and it looks the same as it does now. I am going to try the hair dryer and see if I can stretch it any and if not get a new boot.

A 72 GT 380 was my first street bike in 1972. I decided to put one together from parts right before the pandemic and after 3.5 years of fooling with it I can pretend to be 16 again. My best friend had a 72 CB350F and that was really cool back then, especially when the rich kids only had twins. May get a red 350F for my next project as I always liked that bike, especially the 4 pipes and that great sound.

Thanks again.

Offline BenelliSEI

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Re: Master Cylinder Boot
« Reply #11 on: February 12, 2025, 08:40:38 AM »
What a lovely 400F! I’d leave that boot alone….. It will never cover the master. Order a new one if you must.

Offline grumpy56

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Re: Master Cylinder Boot
« Reply #12 on: February 12, 2025, 10:25:12 AM »
Thank you!!! You're right as that boot won't slip up over the master cylinder. I ordered a OEM boot and will see what happens.

Offline Stev-o

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Re: Master Cylinder Boot
« Reply #13 on: February 13, 2025, 07:56:03 AM »
A 72 GT 380 was my first street bike in 1972.

Nice Suzi!  I always wanted a GT 550, you just dont see many of them around.
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline BenelliSEI

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Re: Master Cylinder Boot
« Reply #14 on: February 13, 2025, 08:15:55 AM »
A 72 GT 380 was my first street bike in 1972.

Nice Suzi!  I always wanted a GT 550, you just dont see many of them around.

+1. I had a later one and it was great looking and quick too!

Offline bryanj

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Re: Master Cylinder Boot
« Reply #15 on: February 13, 2025, 09:28:24 AM »
All the Suzi tripes were great until you parked them for an extended period then crank seals leaked and mains rumbled, still ran though
Semi Geriatric ex-Honda mechanic and MOT tester (UK version of annual inspection). Garage full of "projects" mostly 500/4 from pre 73 (no road tax in UK).

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Offline grumpy56

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Re: Master Cylinder Boot
« Reply #16 on: February 14, 2025, 06:26:51 PM »
I think the GT550 is one of the best bikes ever. Lots more torque than the 380 and the motor is perfectly proportional to the overall bile. Yes, crank seals are an issue. Had my crank rebuilt by Bune in Minnesota and wasn't cheap ($400+).

Offline jlh3rd

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Re: Master Cylinder Boot
« Reply #17 on: February 15, 2025, 06:53:38 AM »
I was on my trip in 1973 from Indianapolis-Amarillo-Dallas-Shv. on my '70 450. First night camped in Merrimack State Park below St. Louis. $2.00. Guy pulls up on a 380 next to me. I'd never seen one, "ram" air cooling , neat. I had a loaf of bread and a pack of cheese, forgot what he had but we shared.
He was heading to New York.
good times.
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Offline jonda500

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Re: Master Cylinder Boot
« Reply #18 on: February 15, 2025, 07:23:21 PM »
In the late eighties I owned both a cb400-4 and a gt380. Late one night (very late!) I challenged a mate to race me from home to city circle and back, me on my 380 and him on my 400. I was quite certain I would win on the two stroke! However, we both made it back to the driveway at the same time and although I got up the drive first, in the end I conceded that it was a dead heat - I was suddenly more impressed with the 400's power and with his riding skills!
John
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A starter clutch thread:
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,122084.0.html
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1972 CB500K1 returned to complete/original condition
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Offline seanbarney41

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Re: Master Cylinder Boot
« Reply #19 on: February 15, 2025, 07:39:32 PM »
ahhh...the old 80/20 rule strikes again ehhh?
If it works good, it looks good...

Offline grumpy56

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Re: Master Cylinder Boot
« Reply #20 on: February 16, 2025, 09:42:21 AM »
I ride both the 380 and 400F regularly now as they are my only bikes. Had to get rid of the larger ones as geting old sucks. Honda is much more "refined". The Sebring definately has more torque dwon low and is physically better suited to me (6'2" about 230 and rising). Love the pull of the 400 higher up in the revs and the sound out of the exhaust is superb. Love em both!!!

Offline grumpy56

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Re: Master Cylinder Boot
« Reply #21 on: February 22, 2025, 04:09:37 PM »
Got a new Honda boot and the portion covering the banjo appears longer (to fit over the differently "colored" part of the master cylinder). If I loosen and remove that banjo bolt will I get a mess of nasty brake fluid over everything or should I purge the whole system before removing the line? Thanks.

Offline newday777

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Re: Master Cylinder Boot
« Reply #22 on: February 22, 2025, 08:14:08 PM »
Got a new Honda boot and the portion covering the banjo appears longer (to fit over the differently "colored" part of the master cylinder). If I loosen and remove that banjo bolt will I get a mess of nasty brake fluid over everything or should I purge the whole system before removing the line? Thanks.
It does make a mess from dripping out of the master, but, if you (1st remove your tank to protect it from brake fluid) use plastic cover over the bike, crack open the banjo bolt so it's lightly loose while on the handlebars, then carefully remove the master from the bars so you can hold the master banjo bolt upright to lessen the dripping and not empty the master reservoir and do the swap out the snug the banjo bolt up, put the master back on the bars and the bleed the system. (Always keep a spray bottle of water to rinse any drips quickly and wipe clean immediately to prevent damage).
Stu
Honda Parts manager in the mid 1970s Nashua Honda
My current rides
1975 K5 Planet Blue my summer ride, it was a friend's bike I worked with at the Honda shop in 76, lots of fun to be on it again
1976 K6 Anteres Red rebuilding project, was originally my brother's that I set up from the crate, it'll breath again soon!
Project 750s, 1 K2, 4 K6, 1 K8, 1 F1, 1 F3
2008 GL1800 my daily ride and cross country runner

Prior bikes....
1972 Suzuki GT380 I had charge of it for a year in 1973 while my friend was deployed and learned to love street riding....
New CB450 K7 after my friend returned...
New CB750 K5 Planet Blue, demise by ex cousin in law at 9,000 miles...
New CB750 K6 Anteres Red, to replace the totaled K5, I sold this K6 at 45k in 1983, I had heavily modified it, many great memories on it and have missed it greatly.....
1983 GL1100A, 1999 GL1500 SE, 1999 GL1500A

Offline newday777

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Re: Master Cylinder Boot
« Reply #23 on: February 22, 2025, 08:19:24 PM »
If you do empty the reservoir, once you have done the swap, you will need to bleed the brake fluid of air at the banjo bolt 1st,(known as bench bleeding dry master cylinders)before bleeding the rest of the brake system.
Stu
Honda Parts manager in the mid 1970s Nashua Honda
My current rides
1975 K5 Planet Blue my summer ride, it was a friend's bike I worked with at the Honda shop in 76, lots of fun to be on it again
1976 K6 Anteres Red rebuilding project, was originally my brother's that I set up from the crate, it'll breath again soon!
Project 750s, 1 K2, 4 K6, 1 K8, 1 F1, 1 F3
2008 GL1800 my daily ride and cross country runner

Prior bikes....
1972 Suzuki GT380 I had charge of it for a year in 1973 while my friend was deployed and learned to love street riding....
New CB450 K7 after my friend returned...
New CB750 K5 Planet Blue, demise by ex cousin in law at 9,000 miles...
New CB750 K6 Anteres Red, to replace the totaled K5, I sold this K6 at 45k in 1983, I had heavily modified it, many great memories on it and have missed it greatly.....
1983 GL1100A, 1999 GL1500 SE, 1999 GL1500A

Offline MauiK3

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Re: Master Cylinder Boot
« Reply #24 on: February 23, 2025, 06:44:18 AM »
Others have mentioned this here, final bleeding isn't too difficult. Partially pull back the lever, I forget how much, and leave it overnight. Bubbles will migrate up and out. Pretty easy.
1973 CB 750 K3
10/72 build Z1 Kawasaki