Topic: master cylinder rebuild/ first things first

[carl550k]

since the weather is about to break i thought i might as well do my master cylinder. i disassembled it last fall and cleaned it, the inside of the cylinder looks good, no big grooves or scratches.is there anything to look for before i reassemble? i have read everything on the topic and seems pretty straight forward. just want to be sure. btw the bikes a 76 550k.  thanks carl

[nickjtc]

Presumably you're going to use a rebuild kit for the seals and what not. Just make sure everything is scrupulously clean, that the orifices from the reservoir in to the housing are clear, and use fresh brake fluid as a lube when putting it all back together. I'm doing Sophie's front brake as we speak and found it amazing the amount of cack there is accumulated in all of the interior nooks and crannies.

[greenjeans]

sorry....gotta hijack your thread a bit... same subject last night when I was attempting to rebuild my master cylinder, both of the holes broke off the circlip that holds the piston in the cylinder....guess they were very brittle & rusted.  Anybody have any great ideas ?  I have it soaking in some carb cleaner.   Cant really think of a way to get it out without scratching/messing things up.

I'll second the CLEAN everything very well and use new brake fluid from a sealed container.

[nickjtc]

both of the holes broke off the circlip that holds the piston in the cylinder....guess they were very brittle & rusted.  Anybody have any great ideas ?

Ouch! I feel your pain. Apart from using a sharp probe and trying to lever it out, I cannot think of any other way to solve your problem. At least there is little risk of damaging the bore inside the circlip.

[jerrybb]

I'm just getting ready to do mine too (see previous post from a few days ago), waiting for the kit to arrive, have it all cleaned up now. One of my circlip holes broke off too but I was able to pry the thing out with an awl point and small screwdriver after soaking a day in liquid wrench. It was pretty cruddy, too. Also make sure you clean that second hole in the reservoir-I used a guitar string, it's just about the right size for that tiny hole in the middle of the second hole.  Jerry

[trinorman]

Greenjeans,

You don't say what Honda you have.  I have a spare MC for a CB750K2 that you are welcome to have for the cost of shipping.  Probably about $5.00.  It needs a rebuild kit, but it has been honed and I think, but not sure, that it should be good.  It is a spare that came with my bike.  No worry about getting the circlip out as all that is out of it.
 
Let me know if you want it.