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 Post subject: Brake line?
PostPosted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 10:26 am 

Joined: Fri Feb 07, 2014 11:32 am
Posts: 55
I'm quite thankful for this resource and all the great people. Very useful.

I've STS back a few pages and can't yet discern what the best set up is for upgrading the brake lines on a 1975 S3a (thanks). Is there a specific vendor and line that one buys for the line ... and does it replace the entire unit from caliper to master?

Going to have the swing arm bead blasted and powder coated. What is the best choice for swing arm bearings or bushings if they do need to be replaced?

Also, going to need to replace chain and sprockets. 30-odd years later is there a better choice for the chain size than the stock option from 1975? And gearing for a bike that will be a runner, get 90% street use (few long days) that is 100% stock?

Thanks very much.


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 Post subject: Re: Brake line?
PostPosted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 10:56 am 
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Joined: Wed Jun 08, 2011 10:41 pm
Posts: 3489
Location: Mount Vision, NY
There are a good few vendors who sell parts for the 400s.
Jessbikes
http://www.jessbikes.com/

Reproduction Decals
http://www.diablocycle.com/

Of course there is always ebay for parts.
Good quality brake lines are available from most of them.
As for your swingarm, new brass bushings are also available.
Im not too sure if anyone sells needle bearings for the 400 series frames though.
Check here in the resource site for vendors.

http://kawtriple.com/mraxl/vendaft.html

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 Post subject: Re: Brake line?
PostPosted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 2:19 pm 
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Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2011 7:41 pm
Posts: 677
Location: Indianapolis, In
hailwood1965 wrote:
I'm quite thankful for this resource and all the great people. Very useful.

I've STS back a few pages and can't yet discern what the best set up is for upgrading the brake lines on a 1975 S3a (thanks). Is there a specific vendor and line that one buys for the line ... and does it replace the entire unit from caliper to master?


The answer may depend on what caliper you are going to run. If you want the bike to stop when you say STOP, then I would suggest upgrading to the EX500 caliper. Of course, if you want to be stone stock, then use the factory type lines with the original caliper. With the EX500 caliper I use a SS braided line from MC to caliper with no connections in between. I believe you might find repro lines at Reproduction Decals/Diablo Cycles. This is where I usually begin my parts search.

Quote:
Going to have the swing arm bead blasted and powder coated. What is the best choice for swing arm bearings or bushings if they do need to be replaced?


Good decision to powder coat the swing arm - What about the frame? It will look sorry next to that freshly coated swing arm. The S3 has bronze bushings that I believe you can get or make replacements for. Mine were in good shape after clean up. The bores and ODs were perfectly round with no appreciable wear. I put it back together and pumped it full of grease. On H1 and H2 some people have special tight clearance bushings made to tame the handling. I don't have this problem on the S3. It handles fine.

Quote:
Also, going to need to replace chain and sprockets. 30-odd years later is there a better choice for the chain size than the stock option from 1975? And gearing for a bike that will be a runner, get 90% street use (few long days) that is 100% stock?


I got my sprockets at PBI and stayed with the stock chain and sprocket sizes. I wanted to replace the stock 530 chain for 525 but it was inconvenient. Stock ration is 14/41 and I recommend that you don't fiddle with that since it works well. I used a 530 chain like the original only because I could not find the front sprocket in 525. So I bought the pair of 530 sprockets from PBI. I put this chain on it: Regina ORS2BX 530 X 110 links. It came with both a clip style master link and a rivet style. Life is easier with the clip style and is reliable on this size bike. I believe if you shop around you can find that front sprocket in a 525 size/width. PBI has the rear sprocket in 525 and you can get the chain at numerous places. Please buy a high quality sealed (O-ring or X-ring) chain made by Regina, DID, RK and others. Don't go with cheap no-name chains.

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Thanks very much.

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Rotortech
Indianapolis
1974 S3


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 Post subject: Re: Brake line?
PostPosted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 7:00 pm 

Joined: Fri Feb 07, 2014 11:32 am
Posts: 55
Thanks much rotortech.

I'm interested in finding out more about this EX500 caliper swap/upgrade. Is it a direct swap for the stock carrier/fork, or? Use the stock master?


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 Post subject: Re: Brake line?
PostPosted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 5:51 am 
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Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2011 7:41 pm
Posts: 677
Location: Indianapolis, In
EX500 conversion for the S3 is here: http://www.kawtriple.com/mraxl/caliper/400conv.htm

In the same resource site you will find model numbers for bikes that have this caliper. These are typically found on eBay.

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Rotortech
Indianapolis
1974 S3


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 Post subject: Re: Brake line?
PostPosted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 7:48 pm 

Joined: Tue Aug 13, 2013 10:22 am
Posts: 865
Location: Dayton, Ohio
Hailwood 1965

Do a search on EX500 Caliper........I added some useful info to..........Moo's great invention......Jim sells the Bracket Mount............get the right parts.......I went with a matching EX Master Cylinder.........Speigler here in Dayton custom made my line while I waited 20 minutes at there shop, very nice.

THX Phil


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 Post subject: Re: Brake line?
PostPosted: Tue Feb 11, 2014 10:13 am 

Joined: Tue Aug 13, 2013 10:22 am
Posts: 865
Location: Dayton, Ohio
Hailwood 1965

Follow Rotortechs lead on this, its quite a bit different than the H2 setup now that I looked at the link..........and he is a 400 guy

THX Phil


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 Post subject: Re: Brake line?
PostPosted: Tue Feb 11, 2014 12:11 pm 
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Joined: Wed Jun 08, 2011 5:34 pm
Posts: 2826
Location: Front Royal, VA
I put a EX 500 clutch perch on my S2A so it matched, and it works very nicely.
Image
Image

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 Post subject: Re: Brake line?
PostPosted: Tue Feb 11, 2014 6:13 pm 
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Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2011 7:41 pm
Posts: 677
Location: Indianapolis, In
I still have the stock S3 clutch perch but I have a similar late model MC. The brake line on mine is Spiegler. I ordered it through a dealer to custom length. Best part about the Spiegler lines - rotating ends instead of fixed.

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Rotortech
Indianapolis
1974 S3


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