Motorcycle Repair: 86 Aspencade rear brakes, cast aluminum wheels, caliper piston

Question
Just bought this bike. Has been sitting three years. Rear brake pedal is loose/soft all the way to the floor.Plenty of fluid. Tried to bleed but no pressure ever developed. Will buy a manual over the net but until then I suspect it's the pump action of the plunger or something hydraulic related? Don't know how to get to the plunger unit for inspection. Any suggestions what this sounds like? The brake was fine before he put it away three years ago.

John

Answer
John, you may be in for a ride with this problem.  As you notice below in the links, Honda had a “unified” braking system that liked front and rear brakes together. First thing, of course, is to determine that the master cylinder can provide hydraulic pressure, which may be unlikely after sitting for 3 years. Brake fluid will draw in moisture from the air, send it to the caliper piston where the piston seal swells and locks up the piston and brakes. Even when that doesn’t happen, moisture can lay in the master cylinder and pit the cylinder bore, causing loss of pressure.

http://www.ottawagoldwingriders.homestead.com/History.html

1983. Constant refinement, a Honda doctrine, continued for '83 as cast aluminum wheels replaced the ComStars throughout the Gold Wing line. Unified braking was introduced too, applying the rear brake and one of the two front discs using only the foot brake pedal.

http://www.goldwingfacts.com/forums/forum1/4682.html

http://www.goldwingfacts.com/forums/forum1/11843.html

Go to either BikeBandit or PartsFish sites and view the online microfiche photos of the parts and some of the related items you will need to access and replace/repair.
Just follow the mastercylinder reservoir line downwards until you see the mastercylinder assy. It will be linked to the rear brake pedal, as well.

Bill Silver

They are always running and working fine when you park them, aren't they?????  :>)