Bike disc brake question

[thermidorthelobster]

I've splashed out and got myself a recumbent bike.  Very exciting;  I came to an agreement with somebody on eBay and got what I considered to be a good bike for a fair price.  I'm hoping it will become my daily commute to work, if I can learn to ride it without weaving all over the road.

Now, I'm not up to speed on all this modern technology like hydraulic disc brakes.  My back brake works fine but the front one doesn't apply properly even when pulled as far as it will go.  The brakes are Magura Julie.  I've read the manual but there doesn't seem to be any adjustment;  the bike doesn't look like it's done enough mileage for the pads to be shot.  Is it just a matter of topping it up with a bit more brake fluid?  And if so, am I likely to need the official maintenance kit to fill it, or will a small plastic syringe do the job?

[Boggert]

My advice would be take it to a bike shop and have it serviced. I had a mate and he had a problem with his Hope disc, could he fix it, not a chance, If i remember there is a bleed nipple and a small fluid reservoir on some and they are easier to bleed. However I don't know that make, perhaps its different.

[strapping young lad]

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=208

[L90OOK]

Dave

Are you taking it to Norway?

J

[thermidorthelobster]

Wasn't planning on it, it'll take up too much room.  Would have liked to have taken the paramotor though :)

[diggerdog36]

I used to be a bike technician, I had Julies on my bike and I swapped to Louises because I couldnt work with Julies.  They are a nightmare to bleed, you will need the proper kit, as its bled the wrong way round!!

[Hightower]

I had Julies on my bike and I swapped to Louises because I couldnt work with Julies.

Is it me, or does all this sound a bit perverse . . . . . .  :shock:

[diggerdog36]

It does when your Wifes called Julie and your Ex was called Louise!! My Mrs still thinks im talking in code when I say im not happy with my Julies but my Louises are leaking fluid and need bleeding :shock:  :shock:

[thermidorthelobster]

I went along to the local bike shop who assured me that the brake pads needed changing.  I wasn't convinced by that as I thought they were supposed to be self-adjusting, but I bowed to their greater expertise.  Of course, they were wrong;  it's the same as before.

I'm not sure if they actually need bleeding, because there doesn't seem to be an airlock;  it's more that the brake lever hits the handlebars before it's totally got the disc in a vice-like grip.  It's certainly a possibility, but I think I'm going to try the easy solution of just topping them up before I go that far.  Although, I don't have any fluid, because the bike shop assured me I wouldn't need any.

I was hoping I could bleed them with a vacuum pump...  Oh well!

[DFR]

the julies are self adjusting so if they have come to the end of their reach then possiblility that there isnt quite enough fluid in them. Another reason is the lever is set to close to the bar, the adjustment in the lever, 2mm hex key I think, wind it out a bit and it will give you more reach but wont hit the bars so soon.
If they need bleeding then the lever will feel spongy and may be none existant when warm.
If you want to bleed them Magura brakes require mineral oil not brake fluid, if you havent got the kit then find a bike shop that knows what there doing with Maguras and get them to sort them for you.
hope this is of some help

[thermidorthelobster]

Yes Dom, it is - thanks very much.  What mineral oil would you recommend if I don't want to shell out for the Magura branded stuff?

[L90OOK]

How much room does the paramoto take?
I am taking my bike...there should be loads of room.

[DFR]

go to any car accesories shop or Halfords and buy the own brand stuff as it will do just fine, you'll never get through a litre of it anyway!

this may be of some use to you

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250138548263

[Bush Tucker Man]

Digressing slightly, my old Pace Research had the Magura rim brakes. they were bled at home & I just used a syringe (with a small o-ring as a seal) to do it

Yes Dom, it is - thanks very much.  What mineral oil would you recommend if I don't want to shell out for the Magura branded stuff?

Again, the rim brakes used Citroen hyro-pneumatic suspension fluid (bought in litre bottle at main-dealer)

What do the modern brakes use??

The Trek 6000 I bought a couple of weeks ago has Avid 'Juicy 3'
What would fluid that use if it needed bleeding?

[diggerdog36]

Yes Dom, it is - thanks very much.  What mineral oil would you recommend if I don't want to shell out for the Magura branded stuff?

If I remember rightly, the Magura stuff is called Magura Blood and is very expensive, I used Venoil VO 500, I have loads spare but....remember that riddle you came up with.........

[DFR]

all other brakes that I know less Shimano XT and Magura use dot 3/dot 4 brake fluid.

Venhill Engineering did the UK warranty work and held spares for Magura so they were selling it along side, think they used to do hose upgrades etc as well. Magura blood was just mineral oil in a fancy bottle, that marketing for you.

Not to sure on the more recent Magura range but the disc and the rim brakes are bled with a syringe, not the easiest thing to get right firtst time, a bit tempremental

[thermidorthelobster]

It's Magura ROYAL Blood apparently.  Hence no doubt worth the extra they charge for it...

The PDF manual I found on their website details blowing new fluid in from the disc end, then sucking it back, and blowing it through again.  This suggests to me that in fact just using my vacuum bleeding kit would work fine;  all I have to do is keep the reservoir topped up.

Might have a bash tomorrow, but I need to check the bleed fitting first.  My guess is that the bleed nipple is actually contained in the Magura bleeding kit, rather than being integral with the brake assembly.

Looking around on the Web, various people suggest using virtually any mineral oil, or even vegetable oil, as a cheap alternative.

[thermidorthelobster]

Nipped down to a better local bike shop and got the bleeding kit;  annoyingly though, I was missing the special spacer tool which apparently comes with the brakes in the first place.  Took 3 goes before I managed to find the right thickness of cardboard to use instead  :twisted:  but seems a bit better now...

Just hoping I've not got too much mineral oil sprayed around now, don't want to contaminate another set of bloomin discs!

[DFR]

contaminated discs and pads are a pain in the arse, if the pads get contaminated take them out and heat them over a gas burner or cooker until the oil burns out of them, (doesnt take much) or your missus goes mad for the dodgy smell in the kitchen. Dont use car disc brake cleaner that you can by as it contains an amount of oil to stop rusting, then you'll be back at square one. Discs I usually rub down with a bit of wet and dry.
Old credit cards work well as disc spacers.