Topic: cb550 with drag bars brake system - nighthawk master cylinder usable?

[nilsey]

This is where i left off: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=85674.msg964637#msg964637

long story short, my poor braking function is likely due to both the brake line configuration due to my drag bars (which need shorter lines). plus the brake lines are old and leaky. time for a refresh of the system. since i'm looking at a week of 30 degree weather here, i have some time.....

what i'm, thinking is i will replace the front brake master cylinder along with the brake lines.

my current master cylinder is operational, but as is common when trying to fit it to drag bars, it winds up at slightly awkward angle because there's not a lot of room to angle it properly.

in searching the archives, it seems like a front brake master cylinder from an 83 nighthawk cb550sc would work. Can anyone confirm that?

otherwise, is there any universal or other master cylinder that will work with teh existing 76 CB550 caliper?

then i gotta figure out which SS brake lines will work with whatever MC i wind up with.

[nilsey]

no one has any ideas on a suitable replacement master cylinder?

[famoussas1]

I cant help you with finding parts, but I have a 74 550 and installed drag bars on it this winter, looked at some previous threads and was able to loop the original brake line from master cylinder down to front break, without breaking lock and introducing air into system, had to jimmy line around and remove tach, but made it without having to find new parts.  just so you know it is possible.

[nilsey]

I cant help you with finding parts, but I have a 74 550 and installed drag bars on it this winter, looked at some previous threads and was able to loop the original brake line from master cylinder down to front break, without breaking lock and introducing air into system, had to jimmy line around and remove tach, but made it without having to find new parts.  just so you know it is possible.

cool, got any good pictures of how that worked?

[Gordon]

I cant help you with finding parts, but I have a 74 550 and installed drag bars on it this winter, looked at some previous threads and was able to loop the original brake line from master cylinder down to front break, without breaking lock and introducing air into system, had to jimmy line around and remove tach, but made it without having to find new parts.  just so you know it is possible.

cool, got any good pictures of how that worked?

I have this picture of the final arrangement of the brake line and banjo bolt on my '76 550K.  Posted it a while back for somebody else having the same fitment issue with drag bars on a 550.  The master cylinder and brake lever are sitting at a normal angle, and the throttle grip is seated fully over the end of the handlebar with no overhang.  

The fitting did not require removal of the tachometer, just a lot of small adjustments of the handlebar angle, mc angle and banjo bolt angle.  This one part turned what would have ordinarily been a quick handlebar swap into a half-day project.  

[nilsey]

That looks juts like my setup there.

doing more research i see that i can probably use a master cylinder from anoteh bike as long as it has a 14mm bore diameter.

at least, according to this: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=81927.0

anyways thinking abut using something like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FR-BRAKE-MASTER-CYLINDER-YAMAHA-MAXIM-XJ700-XJ750-XS750-/110661575089?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item19c3f1a1b1

[Spikeybike]

i'm using that same M.C. on my KZ project ,and it has dual brakes ... works good for my purposes, and it was under 50 bucks  .

and it's new so you don't have to worry about cleaning or rebuilding it

......

but for my CB i did the same thing Gordon did in your other thread , just leave everything loose, mock it up then tighten it all ... i think you'll find that once you replace the hose and banjo fittings , that the MC you already have will work just fine , i've seen a lot of CBs with drag bars and stock MC (got one in my garage) ..Cheers