Back Brakes

[funtimes221]

85 200x

I can not get the back brakes to grab, I have bleed and bleed.
New pads. Im stumped.

[DohcBikes]

Are you getting fluid to come out of the bleeder?

Can you tell us your method for bleeding, step by step?

[funtimes221]

I am getting fluid from the bleeder, I fill my res, put the cap back on tighten it down, pump the brakes, hold it down release the bleeder valve, close it, let up on the brakes. repeat over and over, refilling the res as it gets low ( I never let it get empty)

[wisconsinite]

Does the piston move freely in the caliper? Sometimes they can rust up and seize. Maybe a weak master cilinder also. Does the brake lever pull all the way to the handlebar with the bleeder closed?

[jb2wheels]

Does the caliper slide around on it's bracket like it's supposed to?

[funtimes221]

Ill pull it apart and check the piston again, thanks guys.

[DohcBikes]

Also remove the slider pin, clean and lube.

[Mr. Clean]

There is no lever on the handlebars for back brakes at least not on this particular model trike.

Does the brake lever pull all the way to the handlebar with the bleeder closed?

Remove the caliper and pads, press down on the brake pedal, does the piston move? In addition when you put in the new pads I assume you used a c-clamp to push the piston back in the caliper? How much fluid is coming out of the bleeder?

I like to put a clear piece of hose on the bleeder valve and watch the air bubbles diminish as you bleed the brakes, maybe you still have air bubbles in the system? How firm is the pedal when you are pumping the brakes? Does it get more and more firm as you bleed the brakes?

It took me about 1/3 of a bottle of brake fluid and roughly 20 minutes to bleed my x when I installed a new stainless braided brake line. This was after swapping the original rubber line as seen in the attached pic.

[DohcBikes]

Well actually the rear park brake is controlled by a lever on the handlebars....

[El Camexican]

What direction is the bleeder screw in relation to the piston? If it is lower than the piston as is the case on some sport bikes, you will never get it to bleed off all the air untill you remove it and do your bleed with the bleeder screw above the piston.

[DohcBikes]

Nope its higher on the X. They usually bleed real easy, somethings awry....

[El Camexican]

Nope its higher on the X. They usually bleed real easy, somethings awry....

What about the hose? If it has a spot higher than the piston and he's not pumping the heck out of it before he brakes the screw loose there could be a little air in it.

I prefer a gravity bleed whenever possible. It's clean, it's easy, no pumping involved and you can drink while you are topping up the resevoir.

[DohcBikes]

Lol....good point on the drinking. But honestly the 1st gen X brakes are very well designed and the hose runs below the level of the piston all the way to the caliper. It really is one of the easiest rear brakes I've ever bled, out of ohhh lots of rear brakes.

I like to gravity bleed as well. At MMI I watched an Instructor fumble with a Mighty Vac (junk, junk, p.o.s., junk.) for a full hour trying to bleed a kx80 front brake. He was not amused when walked I over to the bike next to him, did a whole caliper r&r including rebuild and gravity bled it before he was done with his "demonstration".

[wisconsinite]

There is no lever on the handlebars for back brakes at least not on this particular model trike.

Oh yeah, BACK brakes, duh!

[vonlindheim]

Simple brake bleed is to use (2) plastic syringes from any pharmacy and an o-ring that fits on the tip of the syringe from any auto store. Discnnect your brake reservoir and hold the tube straight up. now remove tour rear caliper zert and place nearby. Have a buddy hold (1) syringe tight against the zert hole and you will then fill you syringe with new brake fluid and start filling the tube standing straight up. Eventguall you will see fluid about to come out the top of your straight up tube. now fill up your syringe completely and press down hard on the syringe and the handle while pumping your foot brake. This will pressurize your brakes and begin showing up on your buddys syringe back by the caliper. When he only sees fluid, your sytem should be full pressurized and you can replace the zert at the caliper and reconnect your reservoir. Top off your reservoir and you should be good to go. I can bleed any brakes in under 5 minutes. Quicker if I have a buddy. Front brakes are even easier. Hope you understand my ramblings. Good luck