Brake lever installation

I ordered a brake lever for my yamaha 650 maxim. Hand brake. Now when it arrives i have to install it. There is no option for me. i can't ride it without the front brake to the mechanic plus he will take about two weeks to do the job.a tow costs 100 bucks. Any tips or tricks on how to do this. It looks easy enough but looks are deceiving. The haynes manual has no info for the installtion specifics. Any advice would be appreciated. I want to ride asap. I am going through not being able to ride withdrawels. It is really bad. thanks fireitup

Fire, my you're up awful early!! Anyway, you should only have to back off on the adjusting screw, (mark the position or count the threads visible), remove the pivot bolt, wiggle out the lever and remove the cable end from the lever handle. To reinstall just reverse the process, inserting the cable into the lever, put the lever back into position, install the bolt, and then tightenn the adjusting screw back to where it was or until all of the slack is taken out of the lever. If you go too much the brake will grab all of the time, not enough and the lever will wiggle back and forth. Just make mental notes of what kind of movement the lever has before starting. Now with all that said, I sure hope it works, I never did one on your style bike before but I believe the principle is the same regardless. (I just did one on my Yamaha 125) Good luck!

You are both up too early!
In the old days, we either did not have a front brake, or did not use it if there was one so if you do have to take it somewhere, just use your back brake and a little caution

I was thinking the same thing Reese. I can't count the number of "bobbers" I've ridden with no front brake. I don't worry much about a street bike with no front. But I won't touch a dirt bike with out a front break.

It's been a long time since I saw a Maxim up close. Doesn't it have a Hydrolic (sp) break?? My 84,85 and 86 Viragos did.

Wondered the same thing about the front brake, cable or fluid line...have no idea

front brake lever

voodoochild, Thank you very much for the explaination. It will help me so much. The lever did not arrive today. Hopefully tomorrow. I am wanting to learn how to do this stuff myself. i know how to change the oil on it, plugs, filters, i got a good air filter. the kind you clean. it was expensive but worth it. i can do small maintenence and am reading about all the other stuff just to gain concept on how it all works then put theory into practice. I love doing the mechanics on it. I appreciate your help. very much. i went to sleep early last night. put in a long day at work so early to bed early to rise. sometimes. fireitup

no brakes

ReeseSS, I have no back brake on that bike. The back brake is good only for putting the tail light on. It cannot be ridden without that front brake. The 650 maxims are known for lousy brakes. there is a little bit of front brake lever left at the place where it broke but i can't take any chances i don't think. Now i may go out and try it. fireitup

Oh crap! See what I get for adding my .02! I probably sent her in the wrong direction with my post. After I left for work, I thought about it and it was my CLUTCH lever I replaced. Boy am I dumb! I hope she didn't tear the damn thing apart and is cursing me right now! (And actually, I barely use brakes or the clutch on my dirt bike.....it's usually wide open and just slammin gears anyway! ) Man, I hope she ain't pissed

Hey Reese, I'm up at 5am every day.....You know, time to make the doughnuts as they say. Plus it's the only time I have to myself without the kids!!

Also

ReeseSS, The front brake has a master cylinder. Disk brake. there is a cable and a caliper and piston. Is all i know, just learning. thanks fireitup

Yeah I thought so. Been a while since I played with any "Metrics". IIRC just pull the pivot screw and replace. Piece of cake.

I believe it would be the back brake I would concern myself with, but thats me.

Kenfuzed, It is a replacement of the stock hand lever. The lever came in the mail. Dennis Kirk. as soon as i have daylight before or after work i will go for it. i hope i don't have to bleed the brakes never thought of that one. Well guess i will be learning that one too. I have been so busy working its always busy in the kitchen at the holidays. i am free on monday. i didn't see anything on it in the haynes but i will check again. thanks fireitup

pictures

Thanks chuck. i will do that if i have a problem. i may have time in the early am before work to get to it. Thanks again fireitup

back brake

Hi ironhorse, I brought the brakes in for servicing early in the season. And thats how they were serviced. No back brake. I have read about that model having lousy brakes. After i get the front brake fixed i am going to learn and check on the back brake myself because i can't screw it up any more than the mechanics do. and i can screw it up for free. cause they charge me big bucks for **** up work. I am so fed up with it. I am going to learn and do it myself. they put a turn signal on for me and they didn't even tighten it down right. How idiotic is that? one mechanic i went to he adjusted my idle screw for me. on a cold engine..Those are the only two shops around here i can get to. and they are no good. I can't trust them.at 80 bucks an hour it isn't right. They charged me fifty six dollars to change my oil. i figured it out myself for the next one. thanks for your help fireitup

I hate to say it fire, but being a woman they think you don't know any better and they are willing to take advantage of you. Hell, they take advantage of me when I don't know any better either!! You're better off learning to do your own work anyway. It will make you feel much better to know that the work is done right, and the pride of doing it yourself. Just keep asking questions, (Of course don't listen to me since I messed you up on the brake lever thing), and you will do fine. It will also help you to "get in tune" with your bike, and help you to recognize problems. Good luck! (Sorry again about the bad info on the lever!)

very impressed with your drive I'm glad you take the time to learn, I rely on my back brake as the get me out of a spot brake and the front for general use. of course it was not untill i got my 06 that I had front brakes ( dirt bikes excluded) as for problem with bad mechanics go back and crawl up their ass swinging :fight: I bet you get the respect you deserve after that. if not remind them of your influance on others and walk out.