Gone limp..need advice

[ODG]

Not exactly sure why but my Hayes FX9's went limp during a ride yesterday. When I say limp I mean the levers would not spring back out to their normal position after braking. The only way to release the calipers was for me to push the levers back out to their normal position by hand after braking. The brakes might have 50 miles on them and the only change I have made was to put a little lock-tite on the lever adjustment screws so they wouldn't back out. Any ideas before I start messing with these things?

Thanks

[Billy Mathisen]

How much lock-tite did you use? If even the smallest amount of lock-tite gets into a bushing or piston (which happen to be next to the adjustment screws) it willl try to seize it up. And the stuff is very runny when it initially comes out, so it easily spreads all over the place.

Sometimes you can cycle the levers enough to work it out -sometimes you have to clean the stuff off completely meaning you will have to take it apart (real fun)

If that aint the problem, I don't know what it is. Good luck with it.

[ODG]

That's the thing, the levers don't feel like they are sticking, they are loose but just not rebounding. I'm new to hyrdos, what normally causes the levers to rebound? Is it the pressure of the fluid or are there springs in the calipers?

[dmofot]

I had this happen, but it was coupled with a lot of other things so I can't say for sure what the problem was. Mine were Avid brakes though, had to send them back to Avid and they had to completely rebuild the brake. Just out of desperation you might try a rebleed. Are the pistons retracting even though the lever isn't springing back? If your pistons are also staying out they could need cleaning.

DT

[Billy Mathisen]

I run Avid and Hope Hydraulics. But I have never experienced this problem. (I have had plenty of wonderful experiences using crap-tite though)

There is a spring (looks like a tiny money clip) to retract the calipers after the breaks are released -located in the calipers. Not sure if there is a booster spring in the fluid reservoir near the lever as well. Anyway, you might want to check the Hayes website, or call them to see if they have a common answer to a common issue.

It might be an adjstment issue. Hydraulics are finicky little devils to setup. If you don't get them centered just right, they can be a headache. Shouldn't prevent the levers from springing back though. You got me.

[martin]

What kind of shifters do you have?

I had a similar problem and it was a very simple fix. Basically I just rotated my levers a little higher so that they would clear the shifters (grip shift). Sometimes the levers rub up against the shifters and get stuck on the way back. Look at them closely Underside) and make sure that's not happening.

Have you shortened the hose or had the lines bled recently? Maybe there's a little air bubble in there...

[ODG]

The only change to the braking system has been the little dab of lock-tite I applied to the end of the threads. It didn't appear that any made it past the lever onto the piston but who knows? I'm going to clean the bike this evening and go over everything carefully keeping all of your pointers in mind.

[jed]

This happened to me once with Hayes Mag levers. A little loc-tite got onto the barrel that the adjuster screw threads into and into the gap between the barrel and the lever. I took it apart and scraped the loc-tite off/out of there and reapplied sparingly. It is best to remove the entire lever to apply the loc-tite; I made the mistake of trying to drip it in there in a fit of laziness and of course the stuff went everywhere.

[ODG]

Thanks Jed,

I ran out of time last night so hopefully I'll be able to get around to it tonight.

[ODG]

Got the problem fixed, it was exactly as Jed described. Loc-tite dripped between the black metal barrel the rod threads into and the aluminum lever. I pulled everything apart, cleaned out the loc-tite and the levers are working perfectly.

Thanks Again

[bikerRob]

Got the problem fixed, it was exactly as Jed described. Loc-tite dripped between the black metal barrel the rod threads into and the aluminum lever. I pulled everything apart, cleaned out the loc-tite and the levers are working perfectly...Thanks Again

4/14/05 >> I'm running the same Hayes brakes as you are so I was watching this thread with much interest. I'm glad you figured the problem out. Thanks for the feed back. I was having the same problem as you were ( stupid reach adjustment screw keeps coming loose) The dealer suggested using loc-tite. I now know to be very careful with it if I choose to go that route.

Rob