2000 trx250a hydraulic front brakes... when I pull the lever it goes to the bar, when I pump the lever it comes up and gives good brakes, as long as I hold it. When I release it I have to pump it up again! never had anything apart and there is good fluid level, master cylinder going bad or did air sneak in there somehow??
soft handle
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you either have air in the line or the brake shoes are really thin and need to be replaced. If it was the cylinder it would build up after you pumped it up then bleed off while you were still holding it tight
thanks for the ideas!! One shoe on each side was thin on the bottom, which makes no sense to me, installed upside down maybe by previous owner, but I've got new shoes and springs coming in next week. so I can't bleed or check for swelling lines until then. I'll post back after mid week when my parts arrive.
Well now the handle won't "come up" at all!! I got all the air out, that took awhile, but I've noticed that when I squeeze the handle, the fluid pushes up in the reservoir! Is this because I've got the cover off or because the master cylinder is bad?? If I squeeze the handle it goes all the way to the bar and the drums get slightly snug, but pumping does nothing for performance!! I'm stumped!!
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Are you absolutely sure the air is all out? When you're bleeding the brakes, don't let the reservoir get even close to being low or they will get air back in them faster than you can bleed it out. It doesn't matter if the cover is off or not. ATV brakes can be tricky to bleed sometimes. A lot harder to bleed than a car. Also, make sure that you adjust each adjuster(each adjuster on the same wheel) out about the same distance. If you are sure that all the air is out and you are sure the brakes are adjusted up right, then the master cylinder may be bad.
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before your going to adjust anything...wait until you get your new brake shoes, while you got your drums off, take a dremel or some sand paper..and sand the inside of the drums where the shoes ride, after you do that..put them all back together..with the brake shoe adjuster plug out..turn your adjuster wheel's out all the way until they hit the drum..then back them off on the adjuster about 1 1/2 turns..this should give you enough room to turn the hub by hand, fill the brake resivore up with fresh brake fluid, go to the front left wheel < this helps if you got two people >..while pumping the brake..hold it..then bleed it..tighten the bleed screw..pump it up a few times, then do the right side..while doing all of this.make sure you don't run out of brake fluid !, after you get all of the air out, take a pair of vise grips, clamp them right there by the line where it comes out of the brake master cylinder < make sure you clamp over the part that has a sleave over it >..when you pull the brake lever..and you get alot of resistence, then you will know your brake cylinder is ok..and it was just alot of air..if the brake lever goes to the bar..with the vise grips clamped on the brake line..then you will need to rebuild the master cylinder with a new plunger kit..they are about 40..45 bucks from the dealer.
clamping the brake line was a neat trick!! master cylinder is good.... brakes were just way out of adjustment!!! all is well now!! Even bleed them a few times to make sure all the air was out. Thanks to all for all the suggestions and help!
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your welcome, glad we saved you a repair bill from the dealer !
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