After market front master-Report

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gregforesi
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After market front master-Report

#1

Post by gregforesi »

Six years ago, I bought one of THESE to replace the stock front master. Nice looking unit with a 14mm piston. It worked well. I modified the stock lever to work with the new master and it looked good too.
The other day I noticed what looked like crazing on the sight "glass". The DOT3 fluid was dissolving the clear plastic and it was getting real close to dumping the fluid onto the bike.
After pulling the unit, I noticed that the dust boot over the plunger had failed as well.

Since I had time into it (altering the stock lever) I bought the same one again.

We've talked about how these el-cheapo masters would hold up and what would happen when they needed a rebuild, but this wasn't a mechanical failure. It didn't "wear out", but rather fell apart and wasn't worth fixing. The mileage didn't matter. It was the six years of exposure to brake fluid that was the problem. The rip in the dust boot would have eventually caused a mechanical failure as grit and water worked its way in, but it was the sight window that put me out $50. Still cheaper than a rebuild, and in this day and age I expect that whatever I buy will junk itself out. Glad I caught it though. It would have yanked my chain to have had brake fluid run all over the front of the bike.

I'm not sure if the people offering it now were the same people I bought the first one from, and it has been six years, so I haven't reported to them.
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Re: After market front master-Report

#2

Post by CYBORG »

Good to know.
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Re: After market front master-Report

#3

Post by wingrider »

It is possible that it is the same company. If you look at the reviews, it seems Winston bought one back in 07...
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Re: After market front master-Report

#4

Post by wingrider »

I know this may not have any bearing in this failure, but curious, was that the same fluid in there those 6 years, or did you change it in between?
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Re: After market front master-Report

#5

Post by CYBORG »

The other consideration is how much time it spent in sunlight. exposer to sunlight is hard on some plastic asnd rubber
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Re: After market front master-Report

#6

Post by gregforesi »

The bike has always been garaged and because of the angle the master sits at on the clubman bars I'm fairly certain it wasn't a UV problem. Couple that with the fact that when I ran my fingernail across the sight window, it's like a sponge.
No, the fluid was never changed. Still clear when I bled the new master though.
The two masters appear to be identical except for the color. The old one was silver and the new one is grayer. The levers were identical as well as the light switches. As I say, I'm not sure if it's the same re-seller, but it does appear to be the same manufacturer.
2006 GL1800 (Brutus Maximus)
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(If you want to discuss the Trashmobile, Webers, Rearsets, Clubmans, or other stuff then send me a PM.)
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Re: After market front master-Report

#7

Post by UK_Andy »

Would it be a good idea to change to DOT 4/5 fluid now as I understand it doesnt dissolve plastic, ruin paint.
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Re: After market front master-Report

#8

Post by bladredhead »

UK_Andy wrote:Would it be a good idea to change to DOT 4/5 fluid now as I understand it doesnt dissolve plastic, ruin paint.
No
dot 4 is same as dot 3 from a corrosive Ness standpoint as is dot 5.1

dot 5 is silicone based, and completely incompatible with 3 or 4 or 5.1.
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Re: After market front master-Report

#9

Post by robin1731 »

bladredhead wrote:
UK_Andy wrote:Would it be a good idea to change to DOT 4/5 fluid now as I understand it doesnt dissolve plastic, ruin paint.
No
dot 4 is same as dot 3 from a corrosive Ness standpoint as is dot 5.1

dot 5 is silicone based, and completely incompatible with 3 or 4 or 5.1.

Correct. That being said if you completely flush the system. Or start with a new dry system DOT 5 will work well. And it won't harm the paint if it does spill.

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Re: After market front master-Report

#10

Post by UK_Andy »

So you cant add DOT 5 to anything else?
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Re: After market front master-Report

#11

Post by twowings »

No, its silicone based and will react with the glycol based fluids.
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Re: After market front master-Report

#12

Post by HOTT »

robin1731 wrote:
..... Or start with a new dry system DOT 5 will work well. And it won't harm the paint if it does spill.

.
Yes. I have the same set up with DOT 5. Just checked, still looks good. (But I'll be checking from now on). Good catch Greg.


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gregforesi
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Re: After market front master-Report

#13

Post by gregforesi »

Thanks Ric, but now to explain HOW close it really was.
I've had the old unit sitting on a shelf till I decided if it was worth keeping for parts. I just took a look at it and the sight window is now perforated. I think I could left myself a wee bit more lead time than 7 days.
2006 GL1800 (Brutus Maximus)
1978 GL1000 (White Trash - 2012 BOTY
(If you want to discuss the Trashmobile, Webers, Rearsets, Clubmans, or other stuff then send me a PM.)
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"So how much you gonna spend to win that $5 trophy?" - Cyborg
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Re: After market front master-Report

#14

Post by HOTT »

:shock: YIPES!! :shock:
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Re: After market front master-Report

#15

Post by 5speed »

Greg..how does it compare with the stock mc in regards to the "wooden" feel of the brakes?
I have zero experience with the stock brakes so I wouldn't notice a difference but I like the look of these style mc's compared to the factory ones with the plastic reservoir.
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