The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2

Technical Discussion => BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 => Topic started by: anaxolotl on May 17, 2012, 07:40:46 PM

Title: brake lever play --> tail light on
Post by: anaxolotl on May 17, 2012, 07:40:46 PM
i noticed that, as the bike was warming up this morning, the tail light was on. after a bit, i noticed that there was a mm or two of "looseness" in the brake lever... it wasn't held all the way in by tention on the cable.  if i give it a slight push (out) it returns to its seated position and the tail light goes out.
on the commute to work, i didn't notice any weirdness or sponginess in the front brake.  any ideas how i can fix this?
Thanks in advance all.

Title: Re: brake lever play --> tail light on
Post by: Bob_Roller on May 17, 2012, 08:09:26 PM
It sounds like the master cylinder piston didn't come out all the way and push the brake lever far enough, to let the front brake switch go to the off postion .

About the only thing I can think of, is there may be corrosion in the master cylinder bore, causing the piston to hang up .
Title: Re: brake lever play --> tail light on
Post by: anaxolotl on May 17, 2012, 08:10:42 PM
yep, i think that is it... any easy fix?
Title: Re: brake lever play --> tail light on
Post by: Bob_Roller on May 17, 2012, 08:26:41 PM
Nothing real quick and simple .

The master cylinder needs to come out and be disassembled, if the corrosion is not too bad, you clean up the bore with a scotchbrtite, type material, or a very fine sandpaper/emery cloth .
Title: Re: brake lever play --> tail light on
Post by: anaxolotl on May 17, 2012, 08:31:05 PM
ugh.  so, is this a sign that i shouldn't be riding it until the master cylinder is fixed up?
Title: Re: brake lever play --> tail light on
Post by: Bob_Roller on May 17, 2012, 08:34:53 PM
That's kinda your call, but if your brake light is staying on all the time, you increase your risk of being rear ended by a vehicle behind you .
Title: Re: brake lever play --> tail light on
Post by: anaxolotl on May 17, 2012, 09:23:50 PM
okay.. as long as it isn't a sign my brakes are about to fail.  i spent today driving with one finger extended and that seems to keep the brake light out.  I'll give it a look this weekend.
Thanks again