Braided lines

[DEN MONKEY]

Our local bike group is having a tool day where we get together and do basic services etc to help out new comers to riding and give them a few tips.

Looks like there is a few who want to be shown how to change oil and suspension set up etc but figure while there are spare hands, it might be a good chance to do my brake lines.
Has to beat the shit out of trying to bleed them on my own.

So the question is what's a good brand to go with or what are the brands best avoided ?
I've heard to stay away from anodized stuff due to possible failures but I'm not sure that is relevant over here with our perfect weather .


Also I don't really need new pads right now but do you think I should do it as a job lot ?

Front and back while I'm at it as far as the lines go or just front ?

Obviously I'll also give the calipers a good clean while I'm in there.

For a 05 zx636 by the way.


Just though maybe this should be in the workshop.
Oh well I figure brand queries are general bike too ...who knows
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meh

[BanditsHigh]

Stainless steel lines and anodised fittings are a no no, as they react with each other and the fitting will fail.

You get the same problem with the red/blue alloy oil line fittings and stainless lines if you let damp and salt get to them ... already had two sets disintegrate!!

Either HEL, Goodridge or Earls lines ... basically all the same as far as I know ... I'd go for stainless fittings as well, not the cadmium coated crap ... plastic coating will protect the overbraiding a bit as well, and are easier to clean

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

As said use stainless fittings only.

As for which brand, personally I prefer HEL, but I've also heard good things about Venhill too.
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[S1KE]

i just got some goodridge ones, with a coloured black sleeve of course!

50 quid of ebay posted, bargain me thinks for both front and back.

i fitted them on my own, took a while but i did it!


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random twat!
* xbox live mickeyc26
* zx6r b1h 2004 GREEN !

[DEN MONKEY]

looks like Hel are the way to go here in Aus.
Have to be ADR compliant (what ever that is )
Seems goodridge may not be compliant over here?
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meh

[S1KE]

they both seem identical to me, different labels,

either way same sort of price
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random twat!
* xbox live mickeyc26
* zx6r b1h 2004 GREEN !

[Kickstart]

Hi

Don't touch those with alloy fittings. Seen a couple of sets fail with people on this forum. One set had just cracked, the other was missing half one of the connections. Both bikes had been ridden to my house. Only advantage they have is that they weigh a gnats less, but you would probably save more weight keeping the oil level on min rather than the max.

Stainless fittings will look better for longer than either cadmium or "chrome" plated fittings. However not really any practical difference in how long they will work for.

Biggest advantage of changing to braided hoses is likely to be that you are forced to bleed the brakes properly (few years ago I used some measuring calipers to check how much various hoses expanded on our bikes, and the 15+ year old rubber hoses on a GPZ500S expanded quite a bit less than the standard fit braided hoses on Charlottes Triumph Thunderbird). Make very sure that you route the lines so they are not rubbing on anything (braided lines seem far more prone to damage from gentle rubbing).

Suspect the ADR (Australian Design Rules) specifies stuff about what they are made from, how they are constructed, etc. Not sure exactly what, but they might well insist that they are swaged (sp) together rather than bolted together (believe this is the case for braided lines in the USA).

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Vincent]

One more thing, loosen the bleed nipple, stick a pipe on it with the other end in an empty jar and pump out as much of the fluid before taking the hoses off. No matter how hard you try, a drop of fluid always seems to get on some paint somewhere. I cover as much of the bike as possible with something to help protect it. Even better, take the whole system off, (if possible), and do it that way.

[McJamweasel]

Oh come on Keith, we can't have you saying things like that and not backing them up with the photos!
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BCF: Be yourself, just don't be an arse.

[BanditsHigh]

This is what happens when alloy fittings are used with stainless lines ... and of course throw in winter riding as well ...

https://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b9/BanditsHigh/OilLineFitting002.jpg

And this is what happens when one of these oil line fittings lets go (luckily in the garage) on a GSX1400 (SRAD needed a wash anyway) ...

https://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b9/BanditsHigh/JealousGSX140001.jpg

[DidierD]

Nice bit of evidence there BanditsHigh, that should stop people making the same mistakes

I recently put HEL braided hoses on (stainless + stainless fittings) and they've helped a little bit, makes it a bit smoother braking. But I need to overhaul my calipers or something because they're still a bit timid. Might even just be I need some better pads on it.

... All this means I am NOT the person to be taking advice from

...But HEL work fine yes and look nice as well
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Bike - '98 Yamaha YZF600 Thundercat Pics

31st March 2008 - Fully converted from four wheels to 2 sets of two wheels

[BanditsHigh]

[Kickstart]

[BanditsHigh]

^^^ Excellent Keith ... nice (you know what I mean) to see someone else with the same problem.

It's the exact same problem as well ... corrosion starts between the line and the olive, this then builds up and eventually cracks the olive ... no more clamping action to hold hose onto main fitting.

I think when I do new oil lines with the nickel plated fittings that I'll be putting some silicone sealant on the braided line before I fit it ... hopefully that'll give a seal between the line and the fitting and prevent corrosion

[Kickstart]

Hi

The oil cooler on the Bandit has anodised fittings. Personally I would prefer to get some stainless fittings.

Both those brake lines were still holding pressure . Although the 2nd did weep very slightly if you pulled the brakes and poked the hose at the same time.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[DEN MONKEY]

How the hell do they get away with supplying items which degrade such as this that are paramount to safe riding and get away with it ?

Has anyone who has encountered such a failure taken it up with the supplier/manufacturer ?

Will keep all of this info in mind.

This was from the ebay listing that I have been checking out

HEL only ever use stainless steel fittings for the motorcycle marketplace so we can offer the HEL Lifetime Warranty on all brake line kits. HEL have again changed the industry for the better by informing riders of the dangers of using Aluminium Brakeline fittings on stainless steel hose. When an aluminium fitting is placed on a stainless steel hose and the two parts are contaminated by salt water a reaction takes place between the metals which corrodes the aluminium fitting - Don't settle for anything other than stainless steel....

ebay listing
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meh

[Knacker]

Has just ordered Some HEL brake lines Cheers ham and who else Recomended HEL Lines
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Current: Gsxr 600 Srad - GS125 - DT125
Previous: K1 GSXR 1000

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[Knacker]

Also ordered some new pads and caliper seal kits my brakes seem to be binding like mad

Do these need changing ?

https://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb259/Squeaky_86_2007/Gix002.jpg
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Current: Gsxr 600 Srad - GS125 - DT125
Previous: K1 GSXR 1000

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[DidierD]

Yeah they have plenty of life left. Keep checking them though after long ride outs

This is what my back one's looked like last time I changed

https://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e2/Dechant/DSC00269.jpg

...I do not reccomend letting them get this low as it can damage the brake disc.
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Bike - '98 Yamaha YZF600 Thundercat Pics

31st March 2008 - Fully converted from four wheels to 2 sets of two wheels

[Kickstart]

[DidierD]

Eek, I'll be checking my lines aren't rubbing as soon as I get a chance.

Cheers Keith
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Bike - '98 Yamaha YZF600 Thundercat Pics

31st March 2008 - Fully converted from four wheels to 2 sets of two wheels