gabby
Junior Ruckster
nothing
Posts: 59
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Post by gabby on Aug 5, 2007 8:30:46 GMT -5
here's a little history first. battlescooter.proboards27.com/index.cgi?board=problems&action=display&thread=1179422058&page=1#1179422058I got my bike back after 2 fricken months of the shop sitting on their butts claiming to having been waiting for parts. In the meantime I put 1000 kms on the courtesy vino125. That bike sucked big time. I bought a ruckus for its unconventional looks and cool-factor. The vino is just another plastic-wrapped P.O.S. I've got this problem. After letting go of my rear brake lever, the lever doesn't return all the way back to it's normal position. This in turn leaves the brake light on. I have to push the lever back into the original position with the back of my fingers. I have a theory that the repair shop replaced the switch on paper but in reality they may have salvaged the part to put back on the bike...I think this because nobody there can explain why the lever fails to return to it's original position. Does anyone have issues with the scruples of dealership service? IE: dealers scamming insurance companies? Or creating future work by perfoming a less than satisfactory job on the machine? What, if anything, can I do to resolve the mechanics of the switch? With my limited experience, I need to know if I'm being given the shaft or if this is in fact a legitimate problem. Thanks |
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Post by Blackruk on Aug 5, 2007 8:45:01 GMT -5
Sounds to me like you seriously need to clean & lube the brake cable.
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gabby
Junior Ruckster
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Posts: 59
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Post by gabby on Aug 5, 2007 8:53:33 GMT -5
Hey Blackruk,
Thanks for your reply. The service rep at the shop also suggested that lube may be required. Is it normal that a supposed "new" cable needs to be lubed?
Maybe they replaced the switch and used the old cable...
I'll just have to wait and see...
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deloreanman
Junior Ruckster
my little red rocket
Posts: 90
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Post by deloreanman on Aug 5, 2007 9:14:25 GMT -5
have you tightened the brake cable before if it's too loose the lever is very (weak) and dangles alittle bit.
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gabby
Junior Ruckster
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Posts: 59
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Post by gabby on Aug 5, 2007 9:30:51 GMT -5
The brake cable has been tightened almost to max before realizing that the brake shoes were rubbing against the drum. After loosening the cable bit by bit, the problem reappeared. I'm going to try to lube the cable and if that doesn't work than more troubleshooting...
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Post by chanito on Aug 5, 2007 9:36:05 GMT -5
???It might be just a weak spring on the bussiness end of the cable, the rear brake uses a spring to return the cable, it might be out of place or broken so it does not return the cable to its proper rest position ;D If you can post some pics of your rear brake lever with the cable atach  so we can help you with diagnosis |
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gabby
Junior Ruckster
nothing
Posts: 59
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Post by gabby on Aug 5, 2007 15:18:14 GMT -5
I'll get right on it, and get back to you. |
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gabby
Junior Ruckster
nothing
Posts: 59
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Post by gabby on Aug 5, 2007 16:34:59 GMT -5
Here's some pics that I hope will help.    Thanks again ;D |
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Post by chanito on Aug 5, 2007 17:25:18 GMT -5
 Thanks a lot for those pics but we need the other end of the cable the one by the rear wheel  Sorry, i was not clear
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Post by gomiotaku on Aug 5, 2007 17:55:53 GMT -5
If it was in insurance deal (as it sounds like it was, I remember your first post to the board was when you got hit) then the shop should dig into it and replace any parts necessary to get it working correctly. It can be appended onto the original insurance settlement, that's how they work. Sometimes damage isn't immediately apparent until things get taken apart. If they failed to notice it when they were doing the insurance work, then they as a good shop should good will it to you if they can't get the insurance to cover it. That's what shop insurance is for.
gomi_
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gabby
Junior Ruckster
nothing
Posts: 59
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Post by gabby on Aug 5, 2007 19:45:32 GMT -5
Thanks a lot for those pics but we need the other end of the cable the one by the rear wheel Sorry, i was not clear oops, I will do that soon. I'm going to do my best to get the shop to do all they can to get the job done right. Before I send my bike off to the hands of a stranger, I'll inspect the other end of my brake-line to see the condition of the spring. Other issues include: Electric starter doesn't always work. It will either give me a small backfire or nothing at all. High beams don't work. They replaced my Chanito windsceen to a Spitfire which lost a piece after only 11 days. I may just have to buy a new Chanito screen.  ;D  |
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Post by timberwolfmadcat on Aug 5, 2007 20:24:05 GMT -5
Thanks a lot for those pics but we need the other end of the cable the one by the rear wheel Sorry, i was not clear oops, I will do that soon. I'm going to do my best to get the shop to do all they can to get the job done right. Before I send my bike off to the hands of a stranger, I'll inspect the other end of my brake-line to see the condition of the spring. Other issues include: Electric starter doesn't always work. It will either give me a small backfire or nothing at all. High beams don't work. They replaced my Chanito windsceen to a Spitfire which lost a piece after only 11 days. I may just have to buy a new Chanito screen. ;D Electric starter sounds damaged High beams dont work.... thats a wierd problem for sure... my bet is they screwed up the wiring.... Perhaps you should talk to G.W Cycle and see if they will fix it under the insurance ;D G.W is the best Honda Shop in town by far, and one of the mechanics owns a old school elite 150, they are probably THE only shop in town id trust to work on my Ruck. Very friendly and personable staff as well Brake line issue... my suspicion is the rear brake component that holds the spring has been damaged and will need to be replaced... When my engine was shipped back from the states that piece got bent and caused all kinds of problems. Could also be lube on the cable... but i definitely woulda thought the dealer woulda lubed them (arent they enclosed and come prelubed???) |
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gabby
Junior Ruckster
nothing
Posts: 59
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Post by gabby on Aug 14, 2007 19:30:17 GMT -5
Hey folks, The brake light issue has been solved and because the shop overlooked the problem while re-constructing my Ruckus from the insurance claim, they won't charge me. The techs at shop are young and not detailed oriented. They managed to repair my high-beams. The electric starter is back to normal too. My persistence with their getting the job done right the first time may have had an affect on them... Thanks for all of your input. I took it to them and they had question marks above their heads. Talk about a punctuation punch in the brain. You guys ROCK...I don't know what I'd do without your advice and knowledge. ;D Believe it or not, but the windscreen adds about 5-10 kms on my top end.... |
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Post by chanito on Aug 14, 2007 20:30:34 GMT -5
Please explain what was wrong with the brakes, and also i might try and see if installing the windshield higher will make me faster
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gabby
Junior Ruckster
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Posts: 59
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Post by gabby on Aug 15, 2007 19:18:36 GMT -5
Yes, well, the spring in the non-replaced rear brake cable may have been damaged. I'll post a picture when I can.
About the windscreen, the spitfire screen is adjustable and deflects the wind away from my 6ft/200lb frame. I also have my feet on the floorboard instead of the foot pegs. I need 2 more hands to adjust the flimsy thing, but when positioned, it is quite effective. I will save up to buy one of your screens cause the looks are better in my opinion. The spitfire stands out and makes my Ruck look bad. If you increased the height of the Chanito screen about 4-6 inches, I bet you'd notice a little difference...
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gabby
Junior Ruckster
nothing
Posts: 59
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Post by gabby on Sept 12, 2007 22:07:56 GMT -5
Thanks a lot for those pics but we need the other end of the cable the one by the rear wheel Sorry, i was not clear I have finally produced some rear brake pics.   The spring seems fine. I even tried stretching it slightly.  I don't think there's any component damage, Timber.  I'm gonna guess that there may be a kink somewhere in the cable. You know how when the lever returns to the resting position, there's a metal to metal sound of the lever hitting the switch. On my rear brake lever, the return action is sluggish and stops before returning to the switch. What do you think? |
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Post by Dandy Dan on Sept 13, 2007 8:51:01 GMT -5
Hmm...maybe you just need to go crazy with some lube. You might just have some crap in the cable that is adding friction.
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gabby
Junior Ruckster
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Posts: 59
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Post by gabby on Sept 13, 2007 15:17:55 GMT -5
DD, what type of Lube do you recommend for the cable?
I talked the bike shop into replacing my cable and they agreed.
I suppose I'll take the current cable and Lube the crap out of it after the new cable is installed.
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Post by timberwolfmadcat on Sept 13, 2007 18:55:19 GMT -5
DD, what type of Lube do you recommend for the cable? I talked the bike shop into replacing my cable and they agreed. I suppose I'll take the current cable and Lube the crap out of it after the new cable is installed. Its possible your springs may just need to be replaced.... |
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gabby
Junior Ruckster
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Posts: 59
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Post by gabby on Sept 14, 2007 10:59:38 GMT -5
The newer spring was ordered and installed but to no luck.
Is there more than one spring in the rear brake cable?
Maybe where the lever/switch is...
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