Triumphrat

kschnebly · 03-09-2010, 09:33 PM

I know someone out there has had this happen or know someone who has. I live in Central Illinois and have had my bike in storage all winter. As is always the case, the bike was in great running order when stored. Got the bike out, replaced the battery and all was fine. Noticed when I was rolling it out of the garage that the brakes had started to stiffen up. When I picked it up the night before it rolled smooth and easily up the trailer. Same when I unloaded. I thought it was moisture so I took it for a ride. About four blocks away in the middle of the turn front brakes locked. Lever was like a rock. I had to loosen the bleeder to even get it out of the street. Any ideas why a bike that went into storage with good brakes came out with problems. Also, the brake light is now on all the time. I am at a loss.

MotT3 · 03-10-2010, 03:33 AM

Do you have 4 pots or twin pot sliding calipers on the bike...? my guess is twin pots that have seized and a gummy brake lever, it would be calipers off stripped cleaned and seals replaced, lever off and a pivot point cleaned & lubed.

Either way it's probably a brake strip anyhow ;-)

Cheers
Mot

KitNYC · 03-10-2010, 03:52 AM

Mot, he said '98 Sprint, so it's got 4-pots unless a PO downgraded.

Kschnebly, my first guess is that your brake fluid is demonstrating its hygroscopic nature and has become saturated with water. I would suggest fully bleeding them with fresh fluid from a brand-new container. A set of Speed Bleeders makes this much easier. If it works, do the clutch as well. If it doesn't work, come back here and tell me my free advice was overpriced and ask for another opinion.

Cheers,
-Kit

matt.speedtriple · 03-10-2010, 05:23 AM

The first thing i`d check it the brake pads themselves as the backing plates often rust under the pads actually lifting them off the plates while the bikes have been sitting in storage.

I`m sure plenty of other people will be having sticky brake problems soon as certainly here in Scotland then the bike season has started early and i`m getting 3 or 4 bikes in a week with this problem just now.

sailfish · 03-10-2010, 11:41 AM

All of the checks mentioned above but I'd guess on a stuck caliper or something is stuck in the master cylinder which is not allowing fluid to return to the reservoir. Because the brake light is staying on I'd guess the latter.

I have the opposite problem, there's nothing home behind the brake lever on my '98 Sprint, time to research a compatible Japanese master cylinder kit. The 'busa looks similar.

kschnebly · 03-10-2010, 01:22 PM

After reading the commetns I am going to bleed it down and replace the brake fluid. I got the bike late in the year and have no info on the bikes maintenance history. Probably needs done any ways. I think the brake light is related to a faulty switch on the master cylinder. I disconnected it and the light went back to normal. At least I can identify it as a front switch problem and not a rear. Thanks for all of the comments.

MotT3 · 03-10-2010, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KitNYC

Mot, he said '98 Sprint, so it's got 4-pots unless a PO downgraded.
Cheers,
-Kit

Doh...! must be my paranoia for the old twin pots seizing blinding me to the facts....or maybe a sign of things to come...I did put my pants on back to front this morning too !!!!!!

KitNYC · 03-10-2010, 06:13 PM

Kschnebly, I actually expected it to be your rear switch turning the brake light on. If the front still keeps it on all the time after the new fluid, that switch interchanges with a whole lot of Kawasakis including '88-'08 Ninja 250s.

Mot, sounds like the symptoms of CRS. I've been fighting a losing battle with that for years...

Cheers,
-Kit