Brake sticking and bike lifting

I have a 2nd gen 1986 vfr 750 which the brakes seam to be rubbing a bit. The bike has some resistance to being pushed or driven. I do not know if its the front or rear brakes as I have no centre stand and therefor cant lift the bike off the ground. Anyone have any ideas as to how I can lift one tire off the ground at a time to figure out which caliper is the problem?

Work is at a stand still right now so I am on a very limited budget. So buying a bike stand is out of the question. I have new tires I need to have installed as well so getting at least one tire off the ground at a time is a must.

Can I pull out the pads and squeeze the lever so the pistons come out part way then spray them down with brake cleaner followed by a lubricant with Dot 4 fluid before pushing them back in to see if there is some gunk causing them to be stiff possibly?

 

Do not pull the lever with the caliper off the rotor. It will push the cyclinders right out. You can use a floor jack with a flat board across the top to lift the bike, may take a couple tryies to get it at the right balance point. Be carefull not to drop her. Put it right on the exhaust, it won't hurt it. The headers are very strong. Another method I used in the past was lifting by a couple ratchet tie downs using the rafters in the garage.

I've read that our master cyls have a hole in the bottom that if plugged will cause the front brakes to stick. Might check that out. Good luck

 

Thanks for the great advice. I was worried about damaging the exhaust. (Although a good excuse to buy aftermarket hehe).

Haven't heard about this hole that could be plugged. Ill have to see if I can find any information on that.

 

YOU can lift the bike enuf to get either wheel up by a clean-and-jerk motion toward the sidestand, pulling the tank into your chest, but you'll need a friend to spin the wheel. (Right hand lifting the frame just above the clutch)

a quick ride without touching the brakes should reveal a warm or hot rotor on the sticking brake...

Someone should write up a guide to lifting both wheels on VFRs without centrestands and without roof rafters.

It took me lots of effort to figure out how to do it sucessfully, and it's still a PIA.

 

Im contemplating lifting by the exhaust with a board but still am worried about damaging it. Anyone else have any ideas. The rafter idea is good, but I dont have rafters to use.

 

I dont actually have rafters either. I used the access to the attic, with a 2x6 across the opening. It is pain lifting these things without pit stands, well worth the money when you can afford them. Kneedraggers.com has good prices on them.

 

Thanks. I have always wondered how the pit stands work. How do you get the bike up onto them? Looks like you need two people to do it.

 

Nope, Only takes one person. I just throw a 2x6 under the kickstand to level out the bike steady the bike with one hand and press down on the handle. Her she is with both ends up. The jack isn't supporting anything. Have to figure something else out when I do the rear shock though.

 

I believe your front brakes are similar to mine(83). The caliper slides on pins. Those may need to be taken out and cleaned. They get gummed up and won't let the caliper release after you let off the brake.

 

I use a engine picker to lift my bikes with 4 tie downs when i need to get the wheels off.

 

I do the same thing as Relic Rider, I use my engine hoist if I need both wheels off the ground. For the back wheel, you can put a set of jack stands under the swing arm to hold the rear up.

Robert

 

NOW just think: some blokes have no engine lift, no fancy rear stand, no steering stem stand, no rafters, no convient tree, and no centrestand.

SO how would u lift the bike with both wheels up??

 

Exactly what I was thinking. I dont really have too much access to jack stands or anything mentioned to help me out at the moment. Ill be taking my bike to my sisters in Markdale who has a garage. I think ill have to do the rafter lift from there. Unfortunately living in military baracks does not provide a good place to work on a bike.

 

Would you happen to have the resource that you read this from? Its something Ill look into, but I dont know where you got it from. Thanks

 

STAY tuned, lads, cuz i'll soon be posting some photos and directions how to safely lift your VFR with both wheels up.....using no rafters or special equipment.

 

Ok. I am staying tuned.

 

I have a customer's '86 VFR in my shop now that will be getting a front end rebuild, and i'll take photos of lifting and securing method.

 

I read it in a post here about someones front brakes locking up. If I remember right it said there was a hole in the bottom of the cyl that may or may not be covered by a rubber flap. The purpose of the hole was to let fluid bleed back into the cyl when you let off the brake lever. If plugged it would cause your fronts to stick. I haven't had to work on mine yet so I have not seen it with my own eyes yet.

Squirrel man seems pretty well versed on our bikes maybe he can gives us the benefit of his wisdom.

 

Looking forward to it.:thumbsup:

 

Thanks. I think I just might drain the brake fluid. Clean out the master and flush with some new Dot 4 fluid. See if there is a hole in there that just might happen to be blocked. While Im at it Ill pull the calipers apart and clean then. Better call the dealer for a seal kit.