Loose Bleeder Valve

[Gorilla]

Please check your front caliber bleeder valves. There are 2 on each caliper. MJ came real close to crashing today. We were going down I-295 near Jacksonville and a State Trooper crossed the road in front of 4 lanes of traffic for a broke down vehicle. Well cars started slowing real fast. MJ was behind me and as she push on the brakes they went to the floor. She was able to miss me by swinging to the right and using the parking brake to stop. We got her to a gas station and I checked the pedal which indeed went to the floor. I first looked at the calipers and saw a small puddle of fluid under the left front caliper. I started feeling around the caliper and found the bottom bleeder screw loose. I filled the brake fluid tank and bleed the caliper, brakes restored. For some reason it was either not tight from the factory or vibration made it come loose. PLEASE CHECK a crash can happen.

 

[Nana]

OMG!!!! I'm thankful you and MJ are BOTH ok, Ted! Guess a little drama and adrenalin keeps the mind sharp though

 

[Mattel]

The break system is designed so you will not loose all your breaks if the front or the rear looses pressure. Although the breaks will go all the way to the ground you should have some stopping ability from the back breaks. It happened to me. Using your emergency break also is another back up, I did the same because it is a weird feeling when the ped goes to the floor.

 

[Champion Trikes]

This is due either to a vibration or Factory Issue as we at Champion do not touch the front Brakes on the Harley's.

 

[Nana]

Since Ted & MJ's Stallion has over 10K miles on it, its hard to imagine it could have left the factory loose and not have already leaked, so it seems reasonable that its due to time and vibration. Wouldn't it be wise to periodically check this on ALL trikes?

 

[Markie]

About a month ago I had to replace the brake proportioning valve (located on the underside of the brake reservoir) due to it leaking and causing the brake pedal to become "mushy" & leaving little brake fluid puddles everywhere a stop was made. As part of this replacement bleeding of the brake system was required. As far as my rig (#353) was concerned none of the bleeder screws were loose prior to bleeding the brakes.

 

[Papa Zook]

Since Ted & MJ's Stallion has over 10K miles on it, its hard to imagine it could have left the factory loose and not have already leaked, so it seems reasonable that its due to time and vibration. Wouldn't it be wise to periodically check this on ALL trikes?

Id have to agree with you Nana. And yes this would be something that every trike owner would be wise to check periodically along with rear wheel lug nuts, triple tree pinch bolts...really every nut and bolt, bleeder valve, brake line, etc on the trike should be safety checked from time to time as a matter of habit.

 

[Gorilla]

Well MJ's Stallion is a replacement one. This one only had a little over 1k on it. The rear brakes did not have hardly any stopping grip at all. She flew by us with the panic look on her face. I believe the valve was not completely seated and it vibrated loose. I do check most visible nuts and bolts on both trikes. I was just giving everyone a heads up to just give that valve a little check. I've never had one vibrate loose even on all my Harley's. Bottom line she was okay.

 

[rudedogg]

can someone tell me the how to get to and fill the brake fluid tank ....Thanks

 

[WildBillH]

Hello rudedogg,<br />
<br />
The dealer showed me where it was from under the seat. Getting to it was another problem. I have not had to add fluid but if it did my plan was to put it up on ramps so i could get under it and remove the lid. I will use a small funnel with a clear flexible hose i can poor brake fluid through. <br />
<br />
If you come up with a better way let me know. My concern is contaminating the break fluid when the lid is off. Can't see very well, not easy to clean and difficult to get to.

 

[Mattel]

Adding break fluid on the road is a snap if you know where to look for that dam thing and you have a smaller bottle to get up in that small space. Pull one rear wheel up on a curb if you can, or even if you can't slide up under the rear of the bike and you will see a car type break fluid resorvor. Pop the lid off, and use a small bottle to pour in the break fluid. If you don't have a small bottle, you can use a drink bottle as long as it is clean.

 

[Gorilla]

When I fixed the problem I had as Mattel discribed. I put the left rear tire up on a 5 to 6 inch curb. This gave me plenty of room to slide under and remove the cap on the tank. I used a pint bottle of fluid and had no trouble filling the tank. With the seat removed enough light gets through to let you see what you are doing. The tank can not be easily seen from above.

 

[Mr.Wizard]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>Champion Trikes</strong>
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<div class="message">This is due either to a vibration or Factory Issue as we at Champion do not touch the front Brakes on the Harley's.</div>

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</div>Huh? You factory guys actually monitor us??<br />
<br />
OK everybody... let's pile on the new guy!! <img src="images/smilies/redface.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Blush" class="inlineimg" /><br />
<br />
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<img src="images/smilies/grin.gif" border="0" alt="" title="big grin" class="inlineimg" />

 

[Mattel]

Don't scare them off!

 

[Gorilla]

What was strange to me is that Champion thought it was their conversion I was writing about on the Stallion forum.

 

[Mr.Wizard]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>tmigala</strong>
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<div class="message">What was strange to me is that Champion thought it was their conversion I was writing about on the Stallion forum.</div>

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</div>Yup... they are here watching, reading, stalking us like a shadow on a sunny day but it's just not Champion.... shusssshhhhhh, we don't want to wake them up. Leaning back on the other thread, our positive attitudes and everyone's eagerness to help out makes this site easy for them to scan.<br />
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So...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><font size="6"><font color="Blue">Welcome to TT all you factory slugs!! </font></font></div>

 

[Greydog]

Although this thread is not directed at a Champion product I'm happy to see them here!! They make a great kit and this forum is a good place to see a really honest review of that kit and various accessories. Welcome Champion!!!

 

[BIG AL]

Glad to hear no-one was hurt and the fix was not hard to do , a good pre trip is always a good idea

 

[Gorilla]

I did a good pre trip as I have for over 40 years. This happened about 1000 miles into a several day excursion. When a bleed valve comes loose it is not something that is visible or gradual. It gets to the point where it is no longer restraining fluid and wonelly no brakes.<br />
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Now to my Harley/Champion <br />
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Dear factory rep. I LOVE MY CHAMPION and I really do.

 

[Mattel]

I did a good pre trip as I have for over 40 years. This happened about 1000 miles into a several day excursion. When a bleed valve comes loose it is not something that is visible or gradual. It gets to the point where it is no longer restraining fluid and wonelly no brakes.

Now to my Harley/Champion

Dear factory rep. I LOVE MY CHAMPION and I really do.

Tmigala,
I lost my front bleeder valve, and had fluid all over, but I still had breaks in addition to my emergency brake. Granted, it does not provide good stopping power as the peddle goes almost to the floor, but it does stop. I was later told by TBMS that the Stallion system is designed to provde braking power from the rear if you loose your front, and viceversa. It feels like you lost everything, but you don't on a Stallion.

 

[Gorilla]

Thanks Mattel I know TBMS uses the Ford Dual Master Cylinder with dual reservoir. I'm just letting people know that the bleeder valve can work loose like it did on both of our Stallions. This is unusual in my opinion. I've driven/ridden well over a million miles in my 50 years of driving/riding and have never encountered one doing that before. Leaking cylinders and calipers yes, but not bleeder valves backing out. Rear braking alone was very poor. Glad you did not have a serious problem from it also.

 

[Mattel]

Funny thing was mine did not back out by itself. Mine was not the bleeder, but the Banjo bolt! It had help from a mechanic who replaced the forks. He did not fully tighten it up and it backed out on my trip to Bike week last year. I put locktight on everything, and I was disapointed that he did not. I heard it slap the bottom of my bike at 70mph and the brake fluid bath ensued! I was not happy, but that's life.

 

[Papa Zook]

Huh? You factory guys actually monitor us??

OK everybody... let's pile on the new guy!! :blush:

You all might be interested to know that most if not all major trike manufacturers on the planet are aware of this site and visit it, some on a daily basis. How do I know? I talk to many of them regularly and get calls from them when something is posted in error or that they disagree with. Remember, these companies are run by people just like you and me...good people who are themselves trike enthusiasts of the highest order. They have taken their passion and turned it into a business and deserve our respect and support because without them we wouldnt be driving these wonderful machines we so dearly love. Like us, they are not perfect and can and do learn from us and the experiences and opinions we post here. That is why I appreciate every single one of them and try not to publicly favor one over the other. They are all making excellent products and are constantly improving their designs.

Randy

 

[Nauga Mok]

This bleeder coming loose by it's self is highly unusual. Before I got into heavy equipment, I worked in the Taxi Fleets here in 'Vegas. Some of those fleets were all Ford. These cars AVERAGED 100,000 mi/year & ran for 4 years. With fleets of 50 - 60 cars, that's a LOT of miles per year, & I've NEVER seen this happen. These cars averaged a brake job every 60 - 90 days, so there were plenty of opprotunities for someone to miss-tighten a bleeder, but it never happened -- nor did one come loose on it's own. I'm not saying it CAN'T happen, but I'd suspect it had some help like not being tightened fully. Banjo fittings should not need locktite due to the crush washers on both sides of the fitting acting as lock washers. In heavy equipment, these fittings are used a LOT & here again, they don't come loose by them selves. The only thing I can suggest is to double check these points everytime some one else works on our trikes. Like Zook sez, The masnufacturers are only human & can make a mistake now & then -- Mechanics fall into that catagory too. The only way NOT to make mistakes is NOT do ANYTHING!!

NM

 

[Mr.Wizard]

Pretty much the same thing on my site Zook. I get a kick out of teasing them and every once in a while I'll get a posted "snicker" out of one. :yes:

 

[Papa Zook]

I got a call a few days ago from one of the majors letting me know who made what degree steering rake for what bike. Seems someone had posted some info in error. I appreciated the call and getting the correct information straight from the horses mouth.

 

[Mattel]

Funny thing was mine did not back out by itself. Mine was not the bleeder, but the Banjo bolt! It had help from a mechanic who replaced the forks. He did not fully tighten it up and it backed out on my trip to Bike week last year. I put locktight on everything, and I was disapointed that he did not. I heard it slap the bottom of my bike at 70mph and the brake fluid bath ensued! I was not happy, but that's life.

Sorry I mispoke, It was the brake caliper bolt that flew off, not the banjo. Same result, but lock tight was needed there. The caliper started rotating on the remaining bolt when I hit the brakes, and the fluid started flying.