There's nothing wrong with knowing your limitations! Many a person tackles things they shouldn't and makes a mess of them (sometimes actually thinking they've done a stellar job!)
Nova-Scotians...
- Thread starter The Dark Shadow
- Start date
If you know your screwdriver limits, that's okay.
I'll tell you something briefly. I've ridden BMW motorcycles for almost 29 years, mainly the Flyingbrick models. I have been a member of the Flyingbrick forum since 2011. This forum is like a mirror image of your forum - simply world class. This forum has been around for 22 years and of course a lot of knowledge and helpfulness has accumulated.
An anecdote from this forum: A woman from the north of Germany drove a K100RS. She crashed at some point at low speed, the moped got some off.
She did not dare to repair the damage herself. She posted in the forum her problem. The next weekend, 5 men stood with her in the yard, took the RS apart and made 2 more piles with the removed parts. They told her one pile is junk, the other repairable. She should order the parts from the dealer that are junk, we will take care of the other pile.
When she had the parts she should get back to them. When everything was there, she said let me know. The next weekend she should have cake, grilled meat and drinks ready.
In the morning the guys showed up, even from Holland, and in the evening the K100RS was running again and looked like nothing ever happened.
That's the spirit of Flyingbrick.de.
I know your country is huge and the distances between members are far, so such missions are hard to manage.
greetings from germany
holm
I'll tell you something briefly. I've ridden BMW motorcycles for almost 29 years, mainly the Flyingbrick models. I have been a member of the Flyingbrick forum since 2011. This forum is like a mirror image of your forum - simply world class. This forum has been around for 22 years and of course a lot of knowledge and helpfulness has accumulated.
An anecdote from this forum: A woman from the north of Germany drove a K100RS. She crashed at some point at low speed, the moped got some off.
She did not dare to repair the damage herself. She posted in the forum her problem. The next weekend, 5 men stood with her in the yard, took the RS apart and made 2 more piles with the removed parts. They told her one pile is junk, the other repairable. She should order the parts from the dealer that are junk, we will take care of the other pile.
When she had the parts she should get back to them. When everything was there, she said let me know. The next weekend she should have cake, grilled meat and drinks ready.
In the morning the guys showed up, even from Holland, and in the evening the K100RS was running again and looked like nothing ever happened.
That's the spirit of Flyingbrick.de.
I know your country is huge and the distances between members are far, so such missions are hard to manage.
greetings from germany
holm
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2020
- Messages
- 1,764
- Location
- Makefield Highlands PA
- Bike
- 2016 ST1300P
- 2024 Miles
- 002771
@The Dark Shadow I'm not that good at empathy, I'll try. My Grandma use to say "whether you say you can, or wether you say you can't, you're right. There are a lot of people who don't wrench and that diminishes nothing from them. I'm in the trades and most of my guys and Subs, always tell me why they can't do something. I'm the boss because I show them why they can. If one wants to solve a problem they will. Its good to have limitations, its bad to set them yourself, experience or just common sense is best, ask Icarus.
I suspect if I was going to have to swap cams on my bike with no manual or tools, anxiety would be prevalent. If I had to unbolt something and bolt it back on, I wouldn't be too anxious. We all come from different places and have different resources, this is why there are so many ways to do something. Focusing on why something is impossible will make it so, read that again a few times.
A $20.00 socket set, $3.00 roasting pan, $1.20 of hose, some water (brake fluid is corrosive to paint) and patience. If your SMC is toast, you're buying one, if the shop is installing it, you're paying more than tools and supplies and you get the uncertainty of "did they get it right this time". The one time a caliper bolt was left loose was the last time I let someone touch my bike without me right there( @Igofar ) not included.
There are literally dozens of riders here that will help you as best they can, none of them can change your mind. Wishing you the best.
I suspect if I was going to have to swap cams on my bike with no manual or tools, anxiety would be prevalent. If I had to unbolt something and bolt it back on, I wouldn't be too anxious. We all come from different places and have different resources, this is why there are so many ways to do something. Focusing on why something is impossible will make it so, read that again a few times.
A $20.00 socket set, $3.00 roasting pan, $1.20 of hose, some water (brake fluid is corrosive to paint) and patience. If your SMC is toast, you're buying one, if the shop is installing it, you're paying more than tools and supplies and you get the uncertainty of "did they get it right this time". The one time a caliper bolt was left loose was the last time I let someone touch my bike without me right there( @Igofar ) not included.
There are literally dozens of riders here that will help you as best they can, none of them can change your mind. Wishing you the best.
Did a quick search of Dartmouth MC places....
Perhaps give Cooks Classic Rebuilds a call. They don't seem to be a big dealer, and if you explain what you need perhaps they can help.
Tell them the facts: you have a Honda ST1300 that has linked brakes, and they are binding. The usual culprit is the secondary master cyclinder that's attached to the front brake and if so it will need to be replaced (not a rebuild kit as that usually doesn't work) The bike would also need the front and rear brake fluids replaced and bled. There's a specific bleeding process to that that you can provide the steps as the bike has multiple bleed nipples for the brakes. One of the nipples is underneath the passenger side fairing which needs to be removed as well.
links to the pdf here in the forum:
bleeding process: https://www.st-owners.com/forums/attachments/st1300-removing-air-from-brakes-pdf.253443/
avoiding the pitfalls: https://www.st-owners.com/forums/attachments/st1300-brakes-avoiding-the-pitfalls-2020-pdf.253636/
You might not be able or comfortable to do the work yourself, but you should be able to educate yourself what needs to be done and then have someone do that for you for a fee. You may need to tell / explain to them what needs to be done and not just assume they know what they are doing.
Does that make any sense and seem doable for you?
Perhaps give Cooks Classic Rebuilds a call. They don't seem to be a big dealer, and if you explain what you need perhaps they can help.
Tell them the facts: you have a Honda ST1300 that has linked brakes, and they are binding. The usual culprit is the secondary master cyclinder that's attached to the front brake and if so it will need to be replaced (not a rebuild kit as that usually doesn't work) The bike would also need the front and rear brake fluids replaced and bled. There's a specific bleeding process to that that you can provide the steps as the bike has multiple bleed nipples for the brakes. One of the nipples is underneath the passenger side fairing which needs to be removed as well.
links to the pdf here in the forum:
bleeding process: https://www.st-owners.com/forums/attachments/st1300-removing-air-from-brakes-pdf.253443/
avoiding the pitfalls: https://www.st-owners.com/forums/attachments/st1300-brakes-avoiding-the-pitfalls-2020-pdf.253636/
You might not be able or comfortable to do the work yourself, but you should be able to educate yourself what needs to be done and then have someone do that for you for a fee. You may need to tell / explain to them what needs to be done and not just assume they know what they are doing.
Does that make any sense and seem doable for you?
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OP
OP
Sadly I'm at the sparsely populated east coast of Canada and there aren't wrenchers near me who can help.
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OP
OP
Did a quick search of Dartmouth MC places....
Perhaps give Cooks Classic Rebuilds a call. They don't seem to be a big dealer, and if you explain what you need perhaps they can help.
Tell them the facts: you have a Honda ST1300 that has linked brakes, and they are binding. The usual culprit is the secondary master cyclinder that's attached to the front brake and if so it will need to be replaced (not a rebuild kit as that usually doesn't work) The bike would also need the front and rear brake fluids replaced and bled. There's a specific bleeding process to that that you can provide the steps as the bike has multiple bleed nipples for the brakes. One of the nipples is underneath the passenger side fairing which needs to be removed as well.
links to the pdf here in the forum:
bleeding process: https://www.st-owners.com/forums/attachments/st1300-removing-air-from-brakes-pdf.253443/
avoiding the pitfalls: https://www.st-owners.com/forums/attachments/st1300-brakes-avoiding-the-pitfalls-2020-pdf.253636/
You might not be able or comfortable to do the work yourself, but you should be able to educate yourself what needs to be done and then have someone do that for you for a fee. You may need to tell / explain to them what needs to be done and not just assume they know what they are doing.
Does that make any sense and seem doable for you?
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OP
OP
I had to edit my last comment because it seemed like I stated that no one on this forum would listen. That was NOT my intent. No one I hire to work for me will listen, except for one plumber.
The bike pros around here won't listen. That, and solely that, is what I mean.
I appreciate everyone's help. Thank you all!
The bike pros around here won't listen. That, and solely that, is what I mean.
I appreciate everyone's help. Thank you all!
OP
OP
So, I dropped my bike off at Cook's for the second time, after having it in once when he just worked on the back brake (change pads, service pistons, and bleed the hydraulic fluid). He runs a small business, only him and his wife, and only him working on the bikes. So, it's a long wait to schedule with him. But in the interim, I sent him several articles from the forum. He read them, and he understands, and he believes me when I say it's a problem that my back brake is binding and getting hot! He seemed excited to have got the information I sent him, because it was like getting instructions to solve a Rubik's cube... Confidence inspiring...!! Stress releasing...!! *thankful*
The other local bike pro-shop around here sent me away saying, "That's normal!" "Brakes get hot!!" "There's resistance to the back wheel spinning... That's normal!" Basically, they wouldn't take or consider the information I was trying to share with them from experts with this bike. They wouldn't trust me when I said the bike slowed down on a hill at 80kph, and that the back brake was binding, and that my fuel mileage was awful. And this was said by the shop owner, one of their veteran mechanics, and another younger mechanic. It falls right in line with what Igofar said about most shop mechanics saying there's no problem when in fact, there is...!! Not to mention names, but Revolutions Per Minute... It is what it is... You make your own bed and lie down in it.
This is similar to one of my own specialty fields. I'm a guitar specialist. And fret-work second to none! I build, repair, maintain, and setup guitars. Yet I get so many guitars coming to me that were botched by other "professionals" - from a local well known specialty store, from solo "guitar techs", and from the big chain.
I've learned in my life that being a professional doesn't comment on the quality of one's work; rather, it comments primarily on the fact that a person makes money to earn their living in that occupation. I used to think that being a "pro" meant you are really good at the task.
Thanks for those who have offered assistance, and for those who have been following this thread, apologies for my stress-filled (and deleted) comments. I got hit really bad with reverse culture shock after returning to Canada just over a week ago from Japan (where I hope to live again).
Cheers mates!
The other local bike pro-shop around here sent me away saying, "That's normal!" "Brakes get hot!!" "There's resistance to the back wheel spinning... That's normal!" Basically, they wouldn't take or consider the information I was trying to share with them from experts with this bike. They wouldn't trust me when I said the bike slowed down on a hill at 80kph, and that the back brake was binding, and that my fuel mileage was awful. And this was said by the shop owner, one of their veteran mechanics, and another younger mechanic. It falls right in line with what Igofar said about most shop mechanics saying there's no problem when in fact, there is...!! Not to mention names, but Revolutions Per Minute... It is what it is... You make your own bed and lie down in it.
This is similar to one of my own specialty fields. I'm a guitar specialist. And fret-work second to none! I build, repair, maintain, and setup guitars. Yet I get so many guitars coming to me that were botched by other "professionals" - from a local well known specialty store, from solo "guitar techs", and from the big chain.
I've learned in my life that being a professional doesn't comment on the quality of one's work; rather, it comments primarily on the fact that a person makes money to earn their living in that occupation. I used to think that being a "pro" meant you are really good at the task.
Thanks for those who have offered assistance, and for those who have been following this thread, apologies for my stress-filled (and deleted) comments. I got hit really bad with reverse culture shock after returning to Canada just over a week ago from Japan (where I hope to live again).
Cheers mates!
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Glad to hear this may on the right track now for you!
just for giggles inspect the old SMC and I'm sure you'll find is rusted/corroded. Take it to the "pro bike shop" and say remember me? Then show them the corroded SMC and ask them if it's normal? I'd love to hear their reply. With just a little curiosity google rear brake sticking you will find many post. Some with the usual stuff then there are many, especially Honda's with SMC fix. They didn't even bother to do that because they know it all.
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Andrew Shadow
Site Supporter
I tried to take a video of my rear wheel spinning after just giving it a shove with my foot. I was going to offer it to you so that you could show these people how freely the rear wheel is supposed to turn despite having a drive shaft. I am sure that I must be getting at least two revolutions, but it is hard to tell. I even put a piece of tape on the tire as a reference mark and tried to video it hoping that the tape would make it easy to see the revolutions. The video didn't turn out to be of any use. I only have a cell phone to use for the video, my digital camera crapped out and I never replaced it.
Somewhere on this site I have seen a video that someone took doing this. Maybe someone can find it and pass it on to you.
Good luck! Hopefully they will be willing to listen to you and get you back on the road soon. Let us know how you make out.
OP
OP
Yeah, you're suggesting to rub the dog-poo in their faces... While an initial impulse and urge suggests that, I'm not so vindictive, plus it's not worth my time. Glad to see your comment though. It's vindicating! And gave me a giggle! ;-)
OP
OP
Thanks for that. I can tell you that after the rear brake pad change, the rear wheel required quite some force to move, and as soon as force was released, the wheel would stop. Absolutely ZERO free-wheeling... Sounds like apples and bananas compared to your wheel.
Sadlsor
Site Supporter
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2020
- Messages
- 4,289
- Age
- 66
- Location
- Birmingham, Alabama
- Bike
- 2008 ST1300A
- STOC #
- 9065
To sun it up -- I trust you now know NOT to take any bike you care about to the "We know everything" shop.
It,s not being vindictive, it's telling them they lost money because they did not do any research, didn't bother to even check anything( I think)...Honda also had a recall on SMC . This is something they should be aware of. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2015/RCRIT-15V700-8061.pdf
Do they have one of these specifically stated for the ST1300?
Sadlsor
Site Supporter
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2020
- Messages
- 4,289
- Age
- 66
- Location
- Birmingham, Alabama
- Bike
- 2008 ST1300A
- STOC #
- 9065
The fact that they resort to the lame "they all do that" and won't even consider the experience on a bike-specific forum (I know -- it's "the internet"), or won't look at an OFFICIAL Honda service manual... it speaks for itself.
Once again, I have little patience for the "I / we know EVERYthing" attitide, who won't entertain an opposing or HELPFUL discussion.
I doubt they will be in business in a couple of years, either way it's no skin off my knees.
Shake the dust off, and move on down the trail.
OP
OP
They are the only non-dealer bike repair/maintenance shop in the area. They do the basics well enough that they'll not go out of business - tire changes, oil changes, simple brakes, etc. But they certainly expressed an indifference to expanding their own personal knowledge.
Anyhow, as you say, I'm just gonna keep moving down the trail... I know who not to hire next.