Master Cylinder Rebuilding

Good video with lots of detail, for sure a real help if you've never been in one before.
Agreed often the old parts are "fine"
A worthwhile addition to your shop is a double end scribe or pick.

scribe pick.jpeg


I mention it here cause it's perfect for grubbing out the gunk that has accumulated in the end of the bore over the years. after you get the dust boot out. (you can grab it with a small needle nose and tug and pull it, that rubber is amazingly tough. Use your scribe, work the corner all around the circlip, use the pick to "pop" the eyes loose before you go in with the circlip pliers. If you get the clip loosened and even free enough to spin, the pliers work will go MUCH easier. A long nose micro needle nose will remove the circlip if you have it loosened ahead of time. Doesn't hurt to use a bit of brake fluid on a q-tip to help lube the parts for removal.an air gun also helps get the gunk out, wear glasses!
NO steel, brass, or abrasive brushes in that bore, it's soft aluminum! wad papertowel shove it in push out from the other end repeat as needed. You can make a shop hone with a wood dowel. it doesn't have to be snug a bit smaller than the bore is fine. grab your hack saw and cut a long slit in the end of the dowel saw down a couple inches. Now you can slot a bit of FINE (1500, 2000 grit) wet or dry paper in the slot and wrap it around the dowel. this makes a quite serviceable brake hone. Carefully work the bore a bit I prefer to work wet with a bit of water. Don't use a drill or strong force, just light spin clean up of gunk and any light scratches from dragging out the old stuck parts.
Bob never drill the relief port, it is a VERY fine hole. The factory uses a center drill and just broaches the tip into the bore, they do not use a "fine drill bit" to make the hole. A fine wire will often work to clear the hole. I sharpen a piece of stainless steel safety wire on the bench grinder for fine hole clean out. Some aftermarket MCs have been found with the hole not drilled sloppy tolerences the center drill doesn't QUITE go deep enough. The brake will not relieve pressure without the hole open! 1/16" inch is HUGE, you want a much smaller hole, wheat drill bits can be found. Bob has it right; if you have to clear / drill the hole, go back one more time and hone that bore, so you KNOW no sharp swarf will cut the rubber seals!
 
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Regarding the ‘72 XS2 master cylinder. There is a bronze bushing that the brake lever pivots on, it has internal threads and it appears to be pressed into the master cylinder.
9FA43B2A-36C0-45FC-9B8C-D3E84DEBFA15.jpeg


I tried to run a bolt all the way through it and tap it up and out from the bottom with a small punch.
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But it wouldn’t budge. It took a while for me to realize that the bushing does not go all the way through to the bottom. It’s only pressed through the top and extends just long enough for the clutch lever to pivot on.
DF7CFCCC-ABF3-48A8-AE75-A039E4A979B4.jpeg

The bottom of the housing is threaded and the bolt that holds the clutch lever on goes through this bronze bushing at the top and the middle, then screws INTO the bottom of the master cylinder housing. No wonder I couldn’t get that bushing to move when I had the bolt all the way through. As soon as I backed the bolt halfway back up, I easily tapped it up and out with a small punch.
07023A32-3894-4593-B47B-35061E58782E.jpeg

I hope this helps someone else in the future.
 
Sometimes you need the searching skills of a sensei master (2m) ;)
Master Cylinder Rebuilding

Haha! I even read that prior to starting. My mistake was thinking that the bushing went all the way, top to bottom.
I didn’t realize the master cylinder itself was threaded on the bottom. Weird design if you ask me.
 
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I'm about 100% certain I did exactly what you did, stopped trying to beat it out just before disaster...............
 
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I just started rebuilding my FBMC. Using a modified dental pic I managed to coax the retaining clip out. The insides are a complete icky mess.

This thread is spot on. The tips on cleaning, going with one long stainless line, and the pics are invaluable. Will follow up with a rebuild of the brake caliper at the same time.

Thank you to the contributors of this fine forum.
 
blow up of an early master cylinder with lever parts.

full


This is a 72-73 M/C with the brake light switch held on by the lever bolt.

72-73 Internals in assembly order
View attachment 29008

Hey everybody, I have the same master cylinder, same internals. I got leaking on lever and I haven't found same looking overhaul kit/seals yet..
Bore is 16mm, so does it matter if the piston is slightly different?

would these work:
https://www.mikesxs.net/yamaha-xs650-rebuild-kit-for-08-6009-oem-1a0-w0041-00-00.html
(this one is meant to be for https://www.mikesxs.net/yamaha-xs65...nder-oem-366-25850-02-00-366-25850-02-00.html which is also with 16mm bore)

or this: https://www.heidentuning.com/xs650-...rebuild-kit-front-brake-16mm-bore-detail.html

if not, what would work?
I am really lost at the moment and would appreciate help, because I don't have a car and only way to move is my bike.

Thanks!
 
My :twocents: strip down and overhaul what you have. If I am careful most times the MC can just be carefully stripped, cleaned, and reassembled, no parts needed.
 
If you do need to replace the internals, the OEM Yamaha kit is available:
https://www.partzilla.com/product/y...?ref=a0ded9d3014b423d7060de1c88dff64ec08c9317
Or, searching the part # on eBay, this one is cheapest and it comes with red rubber grease:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Master-Cyl...ysAAOSwC85cCgoB:sc:USPSFirstClass!78753!US!-1
EDIT -- just saw you are in Finland -- other kits mat be cheaper for you.
EDIT AGAIN -- just saw the pic you posted of your piston in the next post. See my post #71 for correct kit information.
 
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Well that piston is also different looking, but it doesn't matter, just have to be sure it is 16mm?

My piston looks like this and it has corrosion, so I think it should be replaced. The bore looks okay.
The seal on top of the piston after the pin, was broken, now it is destroyed. so I need a new one.
IMG_20190816_170114.jpg

so the "1A0-W0041-00-00" kit fits this model? I just try to find the same kit from europe.

thanks.
 
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Thanks for all the help and the detailed pics! I’m swapping my 1980 XS650 Special to a front master from a ‘77 Standard. I bought a gnarly ‘77 Standard front master off eBay and a rebuild kit from Mike’s XS... Late Model Standard front masters are a pain in the ASS to find these days! The reservoir I have for it is a bit sun-rotted (ugly, but should work for now), and I wanted to use one of the spare reservoirs I have for a Special, thinking it’d bolt straight up... No luck there! Even the round part at the bottom of the reservoir are different sizes! Damn! Anyone know where to find these reservoirs!? :wtf: If not, I’ll probably just troll eBay and start stockpiling them...
 
You're going through an awful lot of trouble and expense for a MC that is best replaced with a slightly smaller one. It took some patience and searching, but I finally scored a couple (11mm and 1/2") for my two 650s. Both were used units from other Yamahas and cost me less than $20 each. Neither required a rebuild, just a thorough cleaning. Combined with cheap stainless lines (free and $5), my front braking is much improved.
 
Yeah, but:
1. I just love working on bikes. Always have.
2. I’m broke.
3. It seemed like the best “plug-n-play” route, even if that means I have to rebuild it.
4. Like I said/implied, I’d assumed they used the same reservoir.
5. I’d rather refurbish an old Nissin master cylinder and know I did it right than go with one of the more “questionable” master cylinders that were in my price range.
 
The ones I'm using are original Yamaha units, probably Nissin, just slightly smaller than the stock one. They work much better, giving better "feel" and modulation. The Japs made good disc brakes back then, they worked fine. They just hadn't figured out the ideal size ratios between the MC and caliper piston sizes they were pushing to give the best "feel" and modulation. I ran my stock 14mm MC for many years and can't complain, it worked just fine. But, reading here on the site, I found out slightly smaller is better, so the "hunt" began. I didn't want to spend lots of money because, as I said, I felt my original worked just fine. It took a while watching eBay for good deals to come along, cheap but in reasonable shape, but they eventually did. Now, after using them, this is part of my "must do" list on any of these I'm fixing up. You go with another Yamaha MC because then your brake lever, brake light switch, and reverse thread mirror will swap over.

Just put this on your "future mods" list. There's lots of other things that usually need doing 1st, things like steering bearings, swingarm bushings, charging system "tweaks", suspension upgrades, the list goes on. It usually takes a couple seasons of "riding and wrenching" to sort one of these.
 
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"Special" master cylinder angle is very suitable for these adjustable clubman type cafe handlebars.
The adjustability in rotation and angle both of these handlebars has proved to be fun.
The "Special" style master cylinder will work well with these handlebars with bar and mirrors.
:cool:
May have learned and gotten lucky right here because of this master cylinder thread leading to experimenting.
-R
 
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Where are you guys getting your rebuild kits? I got a “cheap” one from Mike’s XS for the “Standard” Late-Model front master...

I’m not trying to slag anyone off here? But either they sent me the wrong part, or it was a cheap knock-off. Piston, seals, etc looked completely different. Any advice? Also, a new O-ring for the Standard reservoir would be nice.
 
Guess you're finding out just what a waste of time and money it is to try and refurb the original 14mm MC, lol. Yamaha still sells the rebuild kit but it's very expensive ($75). That's why I never rebuilt one, instead opting for (better working) smaller used units from other Yamahas.
 
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