lost a calliper!!!!!

[aff-man]

Well.... went on that ride up north today and all was going fine untill i left dargaville.

Brakes had been feeling a bit wierd but i thought it might be the new pads I put on. Gave them a quick glance when we stopped and nothing seemed wrong so i assumed (I know dumb thing to do) that all was fine..

Then a few KM northish of dargers i hear this big clunk and here is me thinking shit that was a big rock i didn't see...... and to my surprise meer seconds later I found out that I didn't have any brakes when going into a corner (now that was interesting). So i pull over to find brake fluid pissing all over and my left caliper gone... SUX big time.


Anywho after searching for a while And not being able to locate said caliper i limped back towards dargers with only rear brakes.. Stopped at a little g.a.s. station (which i was surprised was open) and asked if they could help. Big ups to them the guy working there not only found a shorter brake hollow bolt thing but did the fluid change and everything for like $10.

So here i was in dargaville at 6pm with about 30-40% braking on the front, a front wheel and tyre covered in fluid (which the guy at the gas station thankfully washed the worst of it off) and a really bad case of the "really fucked off" syndrome......... Managed to get home in 2 hours so luckily traffic wasn't to bad.

CULPRIT: After some thinking and contemplation I think the cause may be a compounding of new brake pads and maybe a slightly warped disk. Cause when i changed the brake pads I tightened up both calipers the same (very tight) and the right one is all good. So I think some intence vibration under heavy braking might be the culprit but i'll never know.

THANKS: Have to go to ( I think) dv1nt and trever.... You know who you are....

KORNHOLIO SAYS: Man with no brakes learns to corner faster....

[thealmightytaco]

Cripes, sure you put it back together with all the washers in place? Especially spring ones if they have 'em, not sure havent been in there yet. And did them up to the white knuckled tigers?

They shouldn't be vibin' loose, no way. Scary ass.

[Highlander]

Well that could easily have been a lot worse.

Most impressive the guy at the GAS station got you sorted out enought to get home.

[inlinefour]

I lost my bike, some wank stole it last night...:bash: Glad it did not cause any injury though, bit of a bugger too eh. Hope its sorted soon dude.

[Big Dave]

Run Forest, Ruuuunnn

[White trash]

Service a few bikes do you?

Promise ya mate, it had nothing to do with a slightly warped rotor. How many callipers do you see pinging off Drunken Monkeys bike? You fucked up son, plain and simple.

[nudemetalz]

Sheesh...bad luck !!!

You might also want to put some loctite on your calliper bolts too.

[Unit]

I'm just glad when I came across you on the side of the road you and bike were upright and in one piece. Mate you missed the best part of the ride too :blank: (I know you didnt need to hear that) as we were right on the edge of the forest.:shit: Was great you came along and got home safely.

[FROSTY]

Aff man-I'm with trashy on this one.For the caliper to go west either the bolts have to strip the threads out ,sheer off or most likely just undoo themselves.
If its any consolation dude --You arent the first and ya won't be the last
There was a post classic guy a couple of years back did that --wondered why his brakes were getting worse and worse-then after therace noticed he hadnt tightened up his axle bolts.
I hope ya recovered the missing caliper

[V Twin Raver]

CULPRIT: After some thinking and contemplation I think the cause may be a compounding of new brake pads and maybe a slightly warped disk. Cause when i changed the brake pads I tightened up both calipers the same (very tight) and the right one is all good. So I think some intence vibration under heavy braking might be the culprit but i'll never know.



ummmm......wrong.......you simply failed to do up the bolts..........

[aff-man]

Aff man-I'm with trashy on this one.For the caliper to go west either the bolts have to strip the threads out ,sheer off or most likely just undoo themselves.
If its any consolation dude --You arent the first and ya won't be the last
There was a post classic guy a couple of years back did that --wondered why his brakes were getting worse and worse-then after therace noticed he hadnt tightened up his axle bolts.
I hope ya recovered the missing caliper

But it doesn't explain why it only happened on the left side if they were both tightened the same does it??

No i couldn't find the caliper..

[scumdog]

Hmmm, had a similar thing a few years ago, a big-arse fat bolt undid itself in towards the wheel from the caliper.
Wondered what the loud buzzing noise was, turns out the noise was caused by the wheel spokes hitting the head of said bolt:eek5: .
That was the only thing that stopped the bolt falling out.
Had it been a one piece alloy rim I suspect the bolt would have gone between the spokes and locked up the front wheel - would have been exciting at 100kph+!!
Don't hold much chance of you ever finding the caliper and it would very likely be too damaged to re-use anyway.

BTW My experience (I believe) was caused by my inadequate tightening of this bolt. (it held the two halves of the caliper together)

[aff-man]

Hmmm, had a similar thing a few years ago, a big-arse fat bolt undid itself in towards the wheel from the caliper.
Wondered what the loud buzzing noise was, turns out the noise was caused by the wheel spokes hitting the head of said bolt:eek5: .
That was the only thing that stopped the bolt falling out.
Had it been a one piece alloy rim I suspect the bolt would have gone between the spokes and locked up the front wheel - would have been exciting at 100kph+!!
Don't hold much chance of you ever finding the caliper and it would very likely be too damaged to re-use anyway.

BTW My experience (I believe) was caused by my inadequate tightening of this bolt. (it held the two halves of the caliper together)

Ahh but it's more the $65 that i just put in them...

Fine seeing as everyone is going to say I didn't tighten the bolt enough I might as well give into peer pressure (reads I've had a bad enough time to everone doesn't need to rub it in my face) Still doesn't explain why the otherside is still tight as????

[scumdog]

Ahh but it's more the $65 that i just put in them...

Fine seeing as everyone is going to say I didn't tighten the bolt enough I might as well give into peer pressure (reads I've had a bad enough time to everone doesn't need to rub it in my face) Still doesn't explain why the otherside is still tight as????

I though I HAD tightened mine enough but one side was more awkward to hold onto and get access to and that was the side that ended up coming undone.
And had not used Loctite - but I do ALWAYS now:done:

BTW It was the left side on my bike too!

[sAsLEX]

CULPRIT: After some thinking and contemplation I think the cause may be a compounding of new brake pads and maybe a slightly warped disk


well I changed my pads and fiddled with my callipers when mine where playing up when they poked up during a SI trip, tried to fix them in New Plymouth and discovered that the disc was major warped put back together and made it to Auckland sweet as.

rebuilt the front and rear callipers since then and have had no issues with them falling off at all since

[Motu]

If a bike shop had worked on it they'd be getting crusified right now.But it's almost common in the mechanicing game - you know you tightened something up,but the customer comes back saying something fell off - and it's almost impossible to defend yourself,as sAsLEX is finding out...point is,you did them up and they came loose.

I think the crap metal they use these days just can't take the stress reversals,bolts lose elasticity and come loose...it's a real worry for me on liability issues.Wheels are the worst - studs elongate,thread pitch between stud and nut differs,put the gun on them and the speed is so high they friction weld and a stud shears.So now we do wheel nuts up to the correct torque - and the keep bloody falling off! Alloy wheels are worse,the lower torque doesn't fully seat the wheel,no matter how many times you go over them....then a week later it settles and comes loose.It's got to the point where tyre shops now give the customer a card to tell them to come back for a retorque.This shit never used to happen,but it keeps us on our toes.

[sAsLEX]

as sAsLEX is finding out

huh?.....?

[imdying]

Seen this occasionally come through work, though thank the Lord never on a bike.

Two scenarios are possible, one more likely than the other.

Most likely, you forgot to tighten those bolts. It happens. No shame there, you're not the first.

The second, and unlikely because you haven't seen half a bolt, is you've overtightened then. Generally, this results in the head shearing off, and the thread is left in the hole. It is *possible* that the threaded bit worked its way out, but unlikely. So no threaded part, you can probably discount this.

When doing brakes, use Loctite, it lubricates the thread as well as locking them. This allows your torque wrench to read the correct value. Always use your torque wrench. It's not that the actual value is soooo important, but it reminds you not to overtighten them. Problem is people have a fear of their brakes falling off, so they heave on the bolts. Sadly, the bolts, they don't like this... especially after having it done after every pad/tyre change :(

[Motu]

huh?.....?


Haven't you noticed everyone is saying you fucked up...and you are saying...''but,but,but,I did tighten them''

[loosebruce]

Jono, i dont know what to say, for whatever reason the caliper bolts came out, fuck knows, glad you didn't bin it ya muppet, happens to the best of em a mate Sam noticed one of the locater pins for the pads missing out of one of Harris's 600 proddy race bikes at Puke TT on the dummy grid, could've got interesting down into the hairpin.

[aff-man]

Jono, i dont know what to say, for whatever reason the caliper bolts came out, fuck knows, glad you didn't bin it ya muppet, happens to the best of em a mate Sam noticed one of the locater pins for the pads missing out of one of Harris's 600 proddy race bikes at Puke TT on the dummy grid, could've got interesting down into the hairpin.

Yeh shit happens...

This is the second time though.... when i had the cibber the rear locating bolt fell out. Only realised that something was amiss when someone pointed out my calliper was sitting on the disk.... now that could have got interesting.... And no i never touched the rear caliper so that shit just happened.....

Gonna locktite the bolts now.... Another couple hundy down the drain but hey what ya gonna do. I think i'll go for a blat this coming weekend and have a serious look for it though.

[vifferman]

Yup, always use Loctite on important bits. Like it says in the manual.

[sAsLEX]

Haven't you noticed everyone is saying you fucked up...and you are saying...''but,but,but,I did tighten them''


think they are actually saying affman fucked up but I could be wrong, hell I better check my bike when I get home, was locked up all weekend but maybe the calliper has gone walk abouts.......:shifty:

[The Stranger]

The bloody rattle guns are so hit and miss.
Had the front and rear tyres replaced on both the blackbird and the X11 recently. The front on the x11 dropped a balance weight so came off again.

I have given up and just reset everything with the torque wrench when I get home. Stuffed if I am going to trust a mechanic with my life. I find there are huge variations each way each time the wheels are serviced. They only use a rattle gun, except last time the rear was done when a power bar (still no torque wrench) was employed.

[bugjuice]

locktight? ain't bad stuff.
Since I learnt the art of torque specs, everything mechanical I touch on my bike gets tightened back up to what Kawa reckon is chicken soup.

anyway, you will buy suzuki.... (bring it on :2guns: :dodge: )

[scumdog]

I think the crap metal they use these days just can't take the stress reversals,bolts lose elasticity and come loose...it's a real worry for me on liability issues.

Slight hi-jack but just come in from doing the valve clearances on my F100 - and when I swung on the Allen key to undo one of the lock-nuts it came undone a little too easily, went to retighten it and arghhhh! the Allen key kind of 'slipped' almost another flat.
Took lock-nut out and it's frikkin split!!!
I feel it split while I was driving along, hence it undid easily.

Anybody here got a spare lock-nut for a Crane roller rocker??? I thought not!:brick:

[sAsLEX]

Anybody here got a spare lock-nut for a Crane roller rocker??? I thought not!:brick:

people down your way would just whip out to the back shed and make one on the lathe while having an nice cup of tea.

or has the old no.8 wire burt munro style gone from there?

[Motu]

think they are actually saying affman fucked up but I could be wrong, hell I better check my bike when I get home, was locked up all weekend but maybe the calliper has gone walk abouts.......:shifty:

Ahem....that's besides that point,you're a fuckwit anyway...it's just a matter of degree.:shutup: :rofl:

[steved]

Ahem....that's besides that point,you're a fuckwit anyway...it's just a matter of degree.:shutup: :rofl:I may have Alzheimers, but at least I don't have Alzheimers.

[Pixie]

I'm sure you did them up tight.
As you said "bloody tight" I think you over tightened them,stretched the bolt and therefore the holding force relaxed,letting the bolts loosen.
I was tightening the rear caliper mounting bolts on a beandit and wondered why it didn't seem to get any tighter.I took the bolt out and could see the change in thread pitch where the bolt had stretched.I wasn't even tightening it hard.For some reason they used soft bolts on that position but not on the front calipers.
Now I always use loctite (medium strength) and a torque wrench.

Everything you wanted to know about tightining bolts:
http://www.boltscience.com/pages/tighten.htm

[ManDownUnder]

On a related note - which Garage did you the good deed.

Sounds like the deserve their share of our petrol money if/when we're around that way

[Monsterbishi]

If it doubt - LOCTITE!

[aff-man]

On a related note - which Garage did you the good deed.

Sounds like the deserve their share of our petrol money if/when we're around that way

just about 25ish km out of dargaville... it's a G.A.S. station with a little workshop attached... Bloody nice people too..

On another note came looking for ya today? Looking for frosty's number sarge sent me to the telecom building where they informed me they had 41 nigels or some rubbish:eek5: :brick: :brick:

[Drunken Monkey]

Service a few bikes do you?

Promise ya mate, it had nothing to do with a slightly warped rotor. How many callipers do you see pinging off Drunken Monkeys bike? You fucked up son, plain and simple.

hahaha I knew you were going to say that :P

[Zed]

...So i pull over to find brake fluid pissing all over and my left caliper gone... SUX big time.

THANKS: Have to go to ( I think) dv1nt and trever.... You know who you are...That does SUCK Jono, glad you didn't come off and got home in one piece...just!!

There is a dv1nt on this site who's name is Derek and is a mechanic in Helensville, rides a 86 gixxer750, same guy??

[aff-man]

That does SUCK Jono, glad you didn't come off and got home in one piece...just!!

There is a dv1nt on this site who's name is Derek and is a mechanic in Helensville, rides a 86 gixxer750, same guy??

Ummm I think so. It was the guy on the really old gixxer and the guy on the 00 silver gixxer 750....

Cheers guys.

[FROSTY]

Guys On this subject --something Id like to suggest here.
FUCK LOCTITE --
Drill and lockwire ya calipers if youre serious about calipers staying put.
Not only does it look totally pukka racebike but its a double check you did the bolts up.

[Unit]

Ahh but it's more the $65 that i just put in them...

Fine seeing as everyone is going to say I didn't tighten the bolt enough I might as well give into peer pressure (reads I've had a bad enough time to everone doesn't need to rub it in my face) Still doesn't explain why the otherside is still tight as????
Seems we're now getting more milage outta your calliper than you did:oi-grr: At least you had an honest attempt at doing them, and it appears by some of the posts that it's becoming a common issue anyway.:(

[Mental Trousers]

Well, I found out why my rear brakes kept disappearing then suddenly start working again a few k's down the road. The bleed valve had worked loose (bike had been in for a service 3 weeks before) and as it turned it would open so when I pressed the brake the fluid would simply piss out the back of the caliper all over the tyre!! Further down the road it'd turn a little further and close again, so I'd magically have a rear brake again. I kept thinking I'd cooked the fluid and when it cooled down it would be fine again. But no. I now have large chunks of powdercoating missing off the rear wheel and a week to wait for the replacement. And so far the only I've found that fitted temporarily until the replacement turns up disappeared somewhere on the Coromandel (where the original is funnily enough).

On a side note, I'm now used to riding without a rear brake - which is great. However, I really need a rear for when I come across loose stuff/new seal, which I have done 3 times in the last 1.5 weeks.

[Brian d marge]

Guys On this subject --something Id like to suggest here.
FUCK LOCTITE --
Drill and lockwire ya calipers if youre serious about calipers staying put.
Not only does it look totally pukka racebike but its a double check you did the bolts up.

Like most thing Loctite has its uses and places, One thing it doesnt like is Oil and grease , oh and temperature. Lockwireing must also be done correctly there is a way in which to wind the wire. :dodge:

Most of the problem associated with loctite come from incorrect prep...and on a racing bike where temps are high , I would be lock wiring the bolts , cant be too careful !!!

Have to agree with the above about having a double safety check .( IF you see tippex or yellow paint on a caliper bolt ,,,its me Ive worked on that bike ,( I use yellow cost its the same as the factory , tippex cos I cantt spell and its in me tool box always ! )


anyway you can write whole books on fastners , and the guy I look up to has done just that !

Stephen

[Monsterbishi]

As has already been mentioned, yes, surface prep is important for loctite, easy enough to do with stuff found in most folks garage.

Temperature is only as issue if the wrong type of loctite is used - the stuff we use on the manifold-turbo bolts on our Mirage withstands glowing red-hot temps without failing.