Joined: Sat Mar 01, 2014 2:18 pm Posts: 36 Location: Carlsbad, CA
scooters and mods: 13 zuma 125 - stock
front brake partially engaged
My front brake on my Zuma 125 has been strange lately... i have not touched the scooter in any way to make this happen but the other day i noticed that there was 0 free play in the front brake (there had been before) and the front brakes were ultra sensitive. My brake light appears to be always on (or always off - doesnt flash as you pull either front or rear brake) so it feels like it knows the brake is partially engaged but the scooter won't start unless you engage the brake a little bit more. also, i put up the center stand and tried to rotate the front wheel (off the ground) and it spun but immediately stopped when my hand left it instead of partially continuing as he has done in the past.
Weather is pretty much always the same here in San Diego except it was unusually humid recently but my scoot is kept in a garage
Thanks in advance
_________________ Zuma 125 - mostly stock dual headlight, koso afterburner-like tail lights, smoked clear lenses on the front/rear turn signals, carver surf rack, milk crate, Simota air filter, green wrap on matte black panels, c3 mirrors
Tue Jul 28, 2015 12:26 am
ZUMIKE
Gold Member
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2010 6:56 am Posts: 14281 Location: San Diego, CA
scooters and mods: FA$T Zuma 155cc
Re: front brake partially engaged
stock brakes, stock hose? may want to drain the fluid try new fluid make sure caliper piston isnt caked up with grime
if that doesnt fix it your rubber line may be swelled up inside reducing the flow and making it stiff feeling probably faster and cheaper to have a line made then ordering from yamaha, I know in san diego there is a shop that will make them for around $15 on the spot
aftermarket brakes with steel lines are like this because the line does not flex at all, because of the steel braiding
the brake light always on could just be your lever and the swtich sometimes I see scooters at high speeds, because they vibrate more brake light flashing because the lever is moving setting off the switch most times the light stuck on is loose rear brake because its cable operated
_________________
2010 Zuma 155cc BWS X Digital Gauges<>Clear Smoke BWS 125 Turn Signal Covers<>Billet Bar Ends<>Front Brake Rotor 260mm<>Razor Cam Covers<>NCY Breather Assembly<>Polini EVO Clutch Bell<>Anodized Orange Dipstick<>RRGS Front and Rear Shocks<>Dual 5000K HID's 35w High/Low Beam<>Black Adjustable Brake levers<>Halo Led's<>TST 2 Stage Variator 9gL 10gS <>NCY Oil Cooler<>Yamaha Skid Plate<>NCY Contra Spring Bearing<>1000 Rpm RRGS Contra Spring<>Yoshimura Exhaust<>NCY Direct Ignition Coil<>Lightweight Cooling Fan<>Koso Cable Clamps<>High Lift Cam+Lightened Cam Sprocket<>Underseat Storage Bag<>Stage 6 (Koso) Clutch<>Accel Handlebars<>Koso Brake Light<>Lightweight Swingarm<>RRGS 4 Pot Caliper (PH80)<>Stainless Braided Brake Line<>Lightened F|ywheel<>OEM Headlight Screens<>Zubiku Wing<>Air Horn<>9 inch stretch<>Koso High Flow Filter/Cover<>RPM 10 Spoke Wheels<>Digital Camo Vinyl Wrap<>SEP Cvt Covers
Tue Jul 28, 2015 7:19 am
zuma125nr
Scooterologist
Joined: Sat Mar 01, 2014 2:18 pm Posts: 36 Location: Carlsbad, CA
scooters and mods: 13 zuma 125 - stock
Re: front brake partially engaged
ZUMIKE wrote:
stock brakes, stock hose?
Yes, stock everything brake/engine related and around 4,500 miles... i'll try draining the fluid and adding new fluid like you said to see if that does the trick first. Thanks Mike
_________________ Zuma 125 - mostly stock dual headlight, koso afterburner-like tail lights, smoked clear lenses on the front/rear turn signals, carver surf rack, milk crate, Simota air filter, green wrap on matte black panels, c3 mirrors
Tue Jul 28, 2015 8:33 am
ZUMIKE
Gold Member
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2010 6:56 am Posts: 14281 Location: San Diego, CA
scooters and mods: FA$T Zuma 155cc
Re: front brake partially engaged
if you havent drained out any fluid yet make a note on the level it is in the reservoir you want to keep the new fluid at that level too, because thats one way for you to know when your pads are low the fluid will read low in the window if you put too much in, the day you replace your pads all the extra fluid will dribble out getting all over the bike if you dont pay attention
once you drain it there is a super easy way to bleed it
just fill it up, keep the top off and work the lever you should start to see a mist or big bubbles coming out, top off with fluid if it gets too low
you can also flick the lever fast to get more mist out then you know when its good when you feel the pressure build up
thats it, no need to go to the bleeder screw or anything just do all the work up top on the lever
_________________
2010 Zuma 155cc BWS X Digital Gauges<>Clear Smoke BWS 125 Turn Signal Covers<>Billet Bar Ends<>Front Brake Rotor 260mm<>Razor Cam Covers<>NCY Breather Assembly<>Polini EVO Clutch Bell<>Anodized Orange Dipstick<>RRGS Front and Rear Shocks<>Dual 5000K HID's 35w High/Low Beam<>Black Adjustable Brake levers<>Halo Led's<>TST 2 Stage Variator 9gL 10gS <>NCY Oil Cooler<>Yamaha Skid Plate<>NCY Contra Spring Bearing<>1000 Rpm RRGS Contra Spring<>Yoshimura Exhaust<>NCY Direct Ignition Coil<>Lightweight Cooling Fan<>Koso Cable Clamps<>High Lift Cam+Lightened Cam Sprocket<>Underseat Storage Bag<>Stage 6 (Koso) Clutch<>Accel Handlebars<>Koso Brake Light<>Lightweight Swingarm<>RRGS 4 Pot Caliper (PH80)<>Stainless Braided Brake Line<>Lightened F|ywheel<>OEM Headlight Screens<>Zubiku Wing<>Air Horn<>9 inch stretch<>Koso High Flow Filter/Cover<>RPM 10 Spoke Wheels<>Digital Camo Vinyl Wrap<>SEP Cvt Covers
Tue Jul 28, 2015 10:31 am
zuma125nr
Scooterologist
Joined: Sat Mar 01, 2014 2:18 pm Posts: 36 Location: Carlsbad, CA
scooters and mods: 13 zuma 125 - stock
Re: front brake partially engaged
So this has popped up again unfortunately... last time, i took it to a mechanic who replaced the master cylinder, replaced fluid, and bled the brakes and the problem was solved.
This was 6 months/800 miles ago so i'm sure the master cylinder shouldn't be the issue here
I noticed it after replacing my handlebars - not sure if that could have anything to do with it though...
I have owned the scooter for 3000 miles and never replaced the brake pads so i need to do that anyway (heard some squeeling recently)
everything is totally stock and i live near the ocean (scoot is garaged but still gets corrosion) so i am hopeful that cleaning the caliper piston does the trick - is there a walkthrough on what this process involves? what product(s) should be used to clean?
Planning on doing that when i replace the brake pads and will also replace the brake fluid again as well as bleed the brakes per mikes suggestion above... thanks
Here is a video of the resistance i'm currently getting
Here is how it used to be
_________________ Zuma 125 - mostly stock dual headlight, koso afterburner-like tail lights, smoked clear lenses on the front/rear turn signals, carver surf rack, milk crate, Simota air filter, green wrap on matte black panels, c3 mirrors
Sun Jan 31, 2016 8:56 pm
zuma125nr
Scooterologist
Joined: Sat Mar 01, 2014 2:18 pm Posts: 36 Location: Carlsbad, CA
scooters and mods: 13 zuma 125 - stock
Re: front brake partially engaged
Update: first i swapped out the brake pads for new pads and pushed the piston in with a c-clamp... once the brakes got pressure again, it was the same old issue and the rotor would get pretty hot after just riding down the street and back
Then today, i drained/refilled the brake fluid and bled the brakes... still no dice so i took off the caliper, pressed the brakes a few times so the piston was all the way engaged, hit it with some brake cleaner, and used the c-clamp to push it back in and it seems to be doing MUCH better now. rode up to the grocery store and the rotor was warm but not hot.
I am hopeful that any rubbing currently is just from the new pads not being fully seated yet... time will tell... thanks everyone for the help
_________________ Zuma 125 - mostly stock dual headlight, koso afterburner-like tail lights, smoked clear lenses on the front/rear turn signals, carver surf rack, milk crate, Simota air filter, green wrap on matte black panels, c3 mirrors
Sun Feb 14, 2016 8:35 pm
Eskimo
Newb
Joined: Mon Jan 18, 2016 1:41 pm Posts: 24 Location: Danville, PA
Re: front brake partially engaged
zuma125nr wrote:
still no dice so i took off the caliper, pressed the brakes a few times so the piston was all the way engaged, hit it with some brake cleaner, and used the c-clamp to push it back in and it seems to be doing MUCH better now. rode up to the grocery store and the rotor was warm but not hot.
If you do this again, you can also use an old toothbrush and scrub the gunk off the piston before pressing it back in. New pads has the piston retracted more than usual, so any gunk that's stuck to the piston can prevent it from retracting properly.
_________________ Rich in PA '14 Zuma 125 in orange - Enviromoto 155cc w/street cam, Yoshimura exhaust, & KOSO tailights. '07 R6 race bike '06 KTM XC-W 200 2T braap bike '04 Aprilia Tuono street bike
Tue Mar 22, 2016 5:31 am
zuma125nr
Scooterologist
Joined: Sat Mar 01, 2014 2:18 pm Posts: 36 Location: Carlsbad, CA
scooters and mods: 13 zuma 125 - stock
Re: front brake partially engaged
I got a new piston for the front caliper and replaced the seals and that did the trick... scooter now gets a good 5mph more on top speed and no longer make the squeeling noise at low speeds... a world of a difference
Much better now and parts were less than $15 from partzilla
_________________ Zuma 125 - mostly stock dual headlight, koso afterburner-like tail lights, smoked clear lenses on the front/rear turn signals, carver surf rack, milk crate, Simota air filter, green wrap on matte black panels, c3 mirrors
Sat Mar 26, 2016 7:12 pm
zuma125nr
Scooterologist
Joined: Sat Mar 01, 2014 2:18 pm Posts: 36 Location: Carlsbad, CA
scooters and mods: 13 zuma 125 - stock
Re: front brake partially engaged
tl;dr version: check to make sure the lever itself is not corroded first - VERY easy fix and I think it was my issue
Just an update since my last post... I kept doing the same thing every time this became an issue and part of that process was bleeding the brakes. As it turns out, after ALL of that time, i think the main problem was corrosion on the brake lever/screw to hold it in place. I bet when i was bleeding the brakes, it loosened it up so it worked for a few months. anyway, I finally took off the lever in august, saw the rust, cleaned it, lubed it with grease, and it has now been good for 6 months
_________________ Zuma 125 - mostly stock dual headlight, koso afterburner-like tail lights, smoked clear lenses on the front/rear turn signals, carver surf rack, milk crate, Simota air filter, green wrap on matte black panels, c3 mirrors
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