Brake Lever Adjustment

[Jak]

OK - I need some help.

The problem : when the garage had my bike recently they obviously adjusted the brake lever to where it "should be". Trouble is my hands are small and with the palm of my hand on the bar I can only touch the lever with the tips of my fingers. So I need to adjust it back so that it's closer to the bar before I use it.

Now before you all go getting technical on me ... photos will help no end - as will dumbass descriptions ... I haven't got a bloody clue how to do it. I'm sure it's a very simple job IF you know what you're doing.

[youngy]

Well it IS complicated.

There is a dial adjuster on the lever. Push the lever outwards.
Turn the dial adjuster (either way) til the number 4 aligns with the arrow (the numbers are stamped on the dial - the arrow isn't).
Pull the lever in. (This is the smallest span on the stock lever.)
Say Thank You, Martin.

Alternatively rtfm page 3-33

[Jak]

Well it IS complicated.
.....
Say Thank You, Martin.

You know what they say ... sarcasm is the lowest form of wit!

I knew it would be simple FOR YOU GUYS ... but considering my mechanical skills stop at topping up oil it's not so easy for me

Oh and as for rtfm ... yeah I know ... but the bike's outside now and I want to do it ... figured someone would be here with nothing better to do than answer my dumb question

[youngy]

don't mention filling up the oil..................

[youngy]

figured someone would be here with nothing better to do than answer my dumb question

you know me soooooo well!

[Jak]

don't mention filling up the oil..................

filling up the oil
filling up the oil
filling up the oil



why? do tell ....................

[youngy]

I discovered the hard way why Yamaha say not to put in all the oil at once

When you put a full 4 litre can into the oil tank, then try to drop the level by cranking the motor, it chucks oil out of the filler neck - all over you, the engine, the floor and the wall.

Without an air gap in the top of the tank, you can't move the oil round the engine, so you have to partly drain the tank, missing the bowl, and soaking your foot with oil.

[Jak]

Martin - your new signature is far more honest than anything I could've thought up

I'd just like to point out ... this thread wasn't started to take the piss out of the current discussion about the level of mechanical knowledge posted in other threads ... I really am THAT useless and it bugged me when I was out on the bike earlier.

[trixynut]

Jak,

Word of caution: make sure the lever won't pull all the way back to the throttle grip and then touch it with the adjuster on position 4 therefore leaving you with no more braking power beyond that.

Pretty sure it won't but just check and, if you can reach the lever ok with it on position 3, that may be a better option (brakes fade when they get hot too, so need more of a handful).

Dave.

[Jak]

Right ... well it was set on 1 so no wonder I struggled!! I've moved it to 4, it's nowhere near the grip but I'll bear that in mind Dave and maybe adjust out to 3. Mind you ... even in 4 I can only just grip it properly

One thing I noticed ... there's a bit of up/down play in the lever, is that normal or is something loose?

[trixynut]

There's a bolt that holds the lever on, with a nut underneath. Check it's tight.

There's always some up/down play in the lever but not usually more than say 5mm at the bar end max. If you tighten the bolt, it should clamp the lever holder onto the lever. Don't overtighten it or the lever won't move.

Alternatively, if it's not a problem or too excessive, leave it.

[steve speed]

There's a bolt that holds the lever on, with a nut underneath. Check it's tight.

There's always some up/down play in the lever but not usually more than say 5mm at the bar end max. If you tighten the bolt, it should clamp the lever holder onto the lever. Don't overtighten it or the lever won't move.

Alternatively, if it's not a problem or too excessive, leave it.

trixynut is right ,,,but you cannot take up much slack on the lever as the bolt is shouldered ,, also the other trick is pull the lever back and tape it to the handlebar over night ,,this bleeds air out of the master cylinder ,,,,,,,