Motorcycle Repair: brake calipers, regulator rectifier, 1984 honda magna

Question
I have a 1984 honda magna 700. I'm going to rebuild the front brake calipers and my clymer manual says that special tools and expertise are required. I have rebuilt calipers before and didn't need anything special. It seems like a straight forward procedure. I was wondering what your input on this is? Also I'm trying to find a replacement "hitachi style" electrical connector for the regulator/rectifier wiring and am having a hard time finding one, any ideas on that? Thanks.

Answer
Russ, if you are experienced with caliper rebuilds then it shouldn't be any mystery to you. Bleeding motorcycle brake systems can be challenging to novices who don't have a vacuum bleeder or other specialized tools to clean and bleed the systems at home.

Clymer's books have to have disclaimers in them to prevent inexperienced people from screwing up their brakes and having an accident. Some of the Honda's back then had TRAC anti-dive forks, that were partially integrated with the braking system, but not hydraulically like the system that Suzuki (or was it Kawasaki?) used back then.

Honda has an electrical repair kit and parts listed for repairs like the one you describe. You may have to find a sharp Honda parts guy to dig up the correct info for you.
Other option is to solder the wires together with a piece of heat shrink tubing over the joint. Also, check with any local automotive alternator/starter repair shops for a throwaway regulator with good connector and cut off the wires and resolder it all together again. Or they may have new connectors, too!

Bill Silver