[wrdabney]

i have a '99 fourtrax 300 that i just installed new front brake pads and adjuster screws on (the old ones were rusted really bad). I bled the brakes and checked the fluid. The brakes arent really working now (they didnt work before i rebuilt them either). I'm trying to figure out what could be causing this? Any suggestions?

 

[mud99]

Did you adjust them out to were you have little resistance on the drum.

 

[Saber6]

Were you getting fluid at the caliper?

 

[TRX2fiveO]

Agreed^^^^^ also if you loosen one bleeder at a time very slowly squeeze the lever until it bottoms out on the bars hold it and have someone tighten the bleeder up do this until you have a steady stream of fluid and repeat for the other side. keep your resovoir full too! top it off after every pump, and fill it while you are holding the lever in.

NOTE: DO NOT LOOSEN BOTH B:EEDERS AT THE SAME TIME!!!!

 

[wrdabney]

i did bleed them one at a time. How am i suppose to adjust them? I didnt turn the adjusters at all. They are all the way in. I will try bleeding them like you say to TRX.

 

[mud99]

You adjust them out to were you have slight tension against the drum. If they are adjusted all the way in that could be why you don't have breaks. You can take the plug out of the hub and adjust them with the hub on also.

 

[jrowe06]

agree^^^^also try adjusting them,if this doesn't help you may have a break line that is streached out & swelling when you squeeze the leaver.

 

[TRX2fiveO]

Like Mud said... number 4 is what you want to take out to get to the adjuster turn it until it clicks and turn the drum until it's hard to turn then put the wheel on and try it you should get about 3/4 of a turn if you try to spin it with the wheel on. make sure you set both sides the same that way you won't get a pull when you apply the brakes.

 

[Helmut]

When adjusting the brakes, make sure you adjust each adjuster out the same amount, also. This will help the brakes to build up better when you bleed. If they still won't bleed, then it could be your master cylinder on the handlebars. If you are not experienced at bleeding the brakes on an ATV, then I would get someone who was to try to bleed them before I bought a master cylinder, because they can be tricky to bleed sometimes.

 

[lilman26]

After fighting with the front brakes on a Recon I discovered doing it this way:
To adjust the brake lining clearance:
1. Squeeze the brake lever firmly two to three times, than release it.
2. Raise the front and rear wheels off the ground by placing a support block under the vehicle.
3. Beginning with either the left or right wheel, remove the inspection plug and line up the hole with one of the adjusters
4. Using a screwdriver, turn the brake adjuster till the front brakes locks. ( turn adjuster up to tighten brake)
5. Back the adjuster off three clicks, than squeeze the brake lever several times. Spin the wheel manually to make sure the bake does not drag.
6. Line up the inspection hole with the second adjuster and repeat steps 3-5.
7. Follow steps 3-6 to adjust the other front brake.

This was taken out of the Owner’s Manual.

Hope this helps.

 

[Helmut]

When bleeding the brakes, make sure you don't let the master cylinder get even close to being low. If you do, it will get air back in it faster than you can bleed it out. Keep topping it off real often. Also, make sure you use good clean brake fluid, free of moisture.