Brakes update:
The caliper as previously mentioned was toast, every single part that could be knackered ...was knackered . Buying a new caliper was a no go because as Jaz explained they are like honest politicians ..impossible to find. So a full strip down was in order and because the original paint was corroding away from the metalwork I stripped it back to bare . There was so much rock solid gunk inside the actual caliper that I had to use a Dremel tool to clean it out and polish the internals. I repainted and Laquered the caliper with high-temp laquer and will be fitting all the internals during the week. Im at work during the week so its hard to get jobs done as I dont get home till 7 so weekends is when most of the work gets done .
The original Caliper
The Stripping down of the caliper
The original pistons
The repainted Caliper ready for new internals
I stripped the front brake and thanks to Jaz for his tip on drilling out the screws I managed to get into the Master Cylinder after drilling the tops of the screws off , knocking the lid off with a leather hammer and slowly turning the screw stumps out with mole grips - Inside was watery jet black liquid with all the rubbers shot to pieces , Ill post piccies at the weekend as the refurb kit should be here tomorrow .
HONDA HELIX PROJECT HAS LANDED !
- Pandrop
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Re: HONDA HELIX PROJECT HAS LANDED !
Really good job you are doing..... I'm enjoying your updates
Re: HONDA HELIX PROJECT HAS LANDED !
Great work! People often criticize the Helix's brakes, but that's because they're usually 20-odd years old, never serviced and thoroughly knackered. In good trim that front brake is a decent bit of kit.
- Pandrop
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Re: HONDA HELIX PROJECT HAS LANDED !
Cheers TartanTartan Cobbler wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 3:39 pm Really good job you are doing..... I'm enjoying your updates
- Pandrop
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Re: HONDA HELIX PROJECT HAS LANDED !
Cheers Jaz, these calipers and Master Cylinder definatley haven't been looked at for a very long time, but Nissin make good kit, I feel sure that once its all re-assembled with new hose and fluid and properly bled through they will be more than good enough.
- Pandrop
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Re: HONDA HELIX PROJECT HAS LANDED !
Front Brake Master Cylinder re-build
The internals were rusty because the original brake fluid had become watery either by water ingress or because it broke back down to its constiuent parts , either way everything was rusty/ crusty with horrible white gunk that had set like stone.
I removed the piston and spring
I had to drill the screws out holding the lid on and bash it with a hide hammer to loosen it. Eventually the lid popped off revealing two rusted in stumps
I removed the stumps using mole grips and very, very slowly applied pressure until they gave way
I struggled to clean the internals of rust but in the end cut down a small felt polishing wheel to fit inside the piston chamber and loaded it up with solvol autosol
I spent 20 minutes with a slow drill and the metal polish until the internals were clean and shiny
Ive re-painted the Master cylinder and will rebuild the internals this week ( re-build kit was £17 and the new screws for the M/C lid were a couple of quid) and re-assemble the whole front braking system next weekend.
The internals were rusty because the original brake fluid had become watery either by water ingress or because it broke back down to its constiuent parts , either way everything was rusty/ crusty with horrible white gunk that had set like stone.
I removed the piston and spring
I had to drill the screws out holding the lid on and bash it with a hide hammer to loosen it. Eventually the lid popped off revealing two rusted in stumps
I removed the stumps using mole grips and very, very slowly applied pressure until they gave way
I struggled to clean the internals of rust but in the end cut down a small felt polishing wheel to fit inside the piston chamber and loaded it up with solvol autosol
I spent 20 minutes with a slow drill and the metal polish until the internals were clean and shiny
Ive re-painted the Master cylinder and will rebuild the internals this week ( re-build kit was £17 and the new screws for the M/C lid were a couple of quid) and re-assemble the whole front braking system next weekend.