Friday, July 19, 2013

Rear Brake work and cleaning up the right rear brake area

After I got the bike running I put the Sabre outside under cover and brought the K into the garage. I brought it in butt first so I could work on the right rear brake area. I don't have enough room to get to both sides of the bike, it's always a shuffle to work on different sides of the bike.

I started reading the Clymer manual to check on how to attack the brake. My main goal was to attach the new brake reservoir. While I could actually attach the reservoir I couldn't see the point where the hose was attached to the master cylinder. Clymer said that the three bolts attached the brake pedal, rear brake master cylinder and the right driver and passenger pegs had to be removed.

They gave a good tip, attach a bungy cord to the bike so the whole assembly can be hung beside the bike while you work, which I did.

Once I got the assembly off things were a dirty mess down there. I don't think the bike has been run since 94, and I'm pretty sure the area hasn't been cleaned in a long time. I figured I should clean things up. I started with a wire brush and then used a dremel brush on the area.

The remnants of the old hose were attached to the nipple of the master cylinder with clamp ring that requires a special pair of pliers to attach and remove, I don't own those pliers. I spent at least an hour working on that damn clamp. Eventually, I was able to use snips to get inside the little loop and cut the clamp.

I also wanted to clean up both the rider and passenger foot pegs. These clevis pins and cotter pins were rusty and were impossible to get out. I ended up just replacing the cotter pins with stainless steel pins. I'm hoping that some "PB Blaster" and riding the book will eventually loosen the clevis pins.

Late in the day, I thought I was ready to replace the brake fluid. Back to Clymer, the K100 forum, and youtube. Another problem, even though I don't have a brake flush pump, I had bought the wrong brake fluid. I bought DOT 4 and need DOT 3. What did I know? Why in heaven's name would you need different brake fluid. But, in truth, I suppose it's like oil and everything else.

My plan today is to hit Harbor Freight Tools in Glen Burnie early this morning and pick up a vacuum pump. I think the rear brake would be fine without the tool I think it would be much cleaner and safer to have the tool for the front brake. I don't want fluid killing what is left of the finish. I also want to change the fluid in the Sabre and "Little Wing", the tool should make it easier.

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