Front brakes dragging...

[MB1953]

I have a new one (for me). Yesterday I was headed over to the west side of Orlando when I noticed that something was slowng me down. As I was pulling up to a traffic light, I pulled the clutch in, and I started to slow down quickly. I had to keep it in gear and open the throttle to keep from stopping in the middle of the road. When I did stop, I was on a slope, and even in neutral, the bike would not drift back down at all. My first thought was the parking brake, since I have seen it hang just a little on once or twice before. Set and released several times, no difference. I had been on the bike at highway speed for about 40 minutes. I was close to the local dealer, and it was late inthe afternoon, so I called them and they said to bring it in. I had been on the phone for a few minutes, and was concerned about riding with a brake hanging, but I checked and it seemed to be free again.

Besides, I was over an hour from home. They looked it over, and could find nothing wrong, no blueing of the rotors indicating heat, etc. Rode it home with no trouble.

This afernoon I rode home from work, about 1/2 hour, and as I pulled inot my driveway it was doing it again. Jacked the front end up, and verified that the front brakes were hanging up; with the front end up, I could not turn the front wheel by hand. Called the other Orlando HD service guys and described my trouble. Yold them that I had the ESP; he said IF it was a covered repair and IF they had the bike for over 24 hours, they could give me a loaner bike! He said "it vould just need an adjustment, which would not be covered". I didn't know that there was any adjustment on the front brakes...

I am concerned about this sudden issue. I am also a liitle surprised about the Service Manager's attitude. Anyone else seen this type of problem?

 

[MB1953]

An update. I just looked everything over, and saw nothing wrong. Kicked it into neutral, and rocked it back and forth; completely free. Aapplied and released the front brakes several times, still free. Applied and released the rear brakes, and it drags. If I put my toe under the brake pedal and lift up a little, it is free again. What could cause this?

 

[msocko3]

An update. I just looked everything over, and saw nothing wrong. Kicked it into neutral, and rocked it back and forth; completely free. Aapplied and released the front brakes several times, still free. Applied and released the rear brakes, and it drags. If I put my toe under the brake pedal and lift up a little, it is free again. What could cause this?

If the rear brake peddle is sticking down, it needs lubed. You might have to remove it and lube the shaft it runs on and where it connects to the master cylinder.

 

[MB1953]

M3, you hit it right on the head. Got it into the dealer this morning. They looked at it, and commented "probably the bushing". Rolled it right in, and changed the brake pedal busing (they had them on the shelf) and "lubed it up good". Works freely again. This area is right in the path of any and all road spray, and the MOCO didn't see fit to put a grease fitting on it. I was on my way in an hour, and it was FREE.

Since they had them on the shelf, and knew right where to look, they have seen this before. Something to keep an eye on, I know that I will.

 

[msocko3]

M3, you hit it right on the head. Got it into the dealer this morning. They looked at it, and commented "probably the bushing". Rolled it right in, and changed the brake pedal busing (they had them on the shelf) and "lubed it up good". Works freely again. This area is right in the path of any and all road spray, and the MOCO didn't see fit to put a grease fitting on it. I was on my way in an hour, and it was FREE.

Since they had them on the shelf, and knew right where to look, they have seen this before. Something to keep an eye on, I know that I will.

Glad to see your dealer knew right where to go. I've been lucky over the years because I install the billet brake peddle which has rubber o-rings to seal out crud, I also grease it when I'm installing the peddle.

 

[screwball]

I'm confused. If your front break was dragging to the point you couldn't turn the wheel when jacked, how would lubing the rear break pedal help?? I know that the '15 Freewheeler has connected front/rear breaks, I didn't thing the '14 Tri-glides did.

Good Luck

 

[MB1953]

Yep, the linked brakes came out on the '14s.

 

[screwball]

Yep, the linked brakes came out on the '14s.

Ahhhhh, now I understand.