Creaky/sticking front brake lever & leaky fork seal

TallPaul_S · Trackday Trickster Joined: 18 Dec 2013 Karma :

Got a couple of issues on my honda at the moment, the primary one is the front brake master cylinder seems to be sticking, normally its been in the extreme end of the range of movement when applying the brake, and a couple of full pumps would get it moving nice and freely. This morning however, it's stated creaking/juddering/sticking right from the initial bike, which has made the brake very grabby. It's not the caliper as I can feel and hear it at the lever end.

Apart from a rebuild, anything else I can do to sort this? I'll try and remove the lever and the weather seal on the end of the piston tonight an lube/grease it, see if that improves things.

2nd issue is my right fork leg seal is leaking oil - I cleaned it inside the seal a couple weeks ago, reseated it by pumping the fork until the upper leg was dry. Started leaking again, reseated it last night and it was dry when pumping the fork. If it starts to leak again, what's the best way to make sure the seal is seated? The seals are only a few months old and are tight as hell (tried to use a seal mate and could not insert it, no chance) so it might be a piece of dirt in the seal. Unless it's leaking from the outer side (inside of the outer fork leg)?
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Mez · Trackday Trickster Joined: 13 Mar 2004 Karma :

In my experience, leaky seals are leaky seals and need redoing. It may have gotten nicked on installation. Front brake lever, just take out and give the pivot area a good clean.
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Vincent · Banned Joined: 16 Oct 2006 Karma :

Aye....it doesn't take a lot to knacker new seals, esp cheap ones Wink

Are you sure the bushes are OK?
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TallPaul_S · Trackday Trickster Joined: 18 Dec 2013 Karma :

I'll keep an eye on the seals, it was fine the first few weeks, just been the last couple that it's stated leaking.

Took off the brake lever, gave the pivot a good greasing, and it's now as smooth as anything, 5 minute job. Thumbs Up

amazing how much the pivot can dry out in this weather.
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00 Honda VFR800 | 09 Aprilia Tuono Factory
CBT 06/03/2014 | Mod 1 and Mod 2 passed 15/10/2014

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

TallPaul_S · Trackday Trickster Joined: 18 Dec 2013 Karma :

Mez · Trackday Trickster Joined: 13 Mar 2004 Karma :

Hah. I didn't know people jabbed their seals with slivers of sharp plastic to establish if/why they're leaking.
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Vincent · Banned Joined: 16 Oct 2006 Karma :

Mez · Trackday Trickster Joined: 13 Mar 2004 Karma :

Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

I have often found that cheap brake levers which do not have some sort of sleeve inside the lever pivot will tend to warp.

So they are a 0 shape rather than an o shape.
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