How do I remove/lube foot brake pedal on 83 interstate?

dafox999 · Apr 4, 2014

Hey gang ... well, got her running. It's stopping that seems to be the problem. I haven't ridden her in a while, and took her out today (1983 1100 Interstate) after getting the #4 carb to work. When it came time to stop, the foot brake was like the rock of Gibraltar. Wouldn't budge. My front brake has always been a bit soft/weak, so I had to do a mighty fast hard right at about 30 mph into a driveway, and then a hard left down the sidewalk with the front brake at full squeeze so I didn't plow into the stopped cars. Whew.

Anyhoo, some time ago, I found the return spring on my foot brake to be a bit too worn to completely return the pedal, so I jammed a 1/2" bolt between the frame and the spring to give it a little more torque. Seemed to do the trick. Well, now, after a bunch of WD40 and working the pedal up and down, it will move down and stop, but is too sticky to return. I don't have a lift, and it's hard to see how/if I can pull that spring/pedal and lube it all.

Anyone know? Didn't find a youtube on it.

WalterM817 · Apr 4, 2014

Gonna need a hammer a large punch and a good pair of diagonal cutting pliers to get it off . Access on a table type lift would be nice.
I just kept lubing the heck out of it and working it to get it off. It's had thirty years to seize up so it ain't gonna be easy. I can't remember what else I had to pull to get everything to clear but it's pretty straightforward. I did it 2 years ago so I can't be too specific.
I do recall lubing it for a week or two every time I walked past it to make it a bit easier. Wound up cutting the cotter pin ends then punching the pins out. Emery cloth is your friend after it's off. I just polished it up real well inside and out then reinstalled with a liberal coating of wheel bearing grease. I figured it'll seize up in about 20 years and by then it probably won't be my problem. Anyway it's a tough job just because of the access. Good luck!

dafox999 · Apr 4, 2014

first .. thanks pal. Second .. damn .. was hoping for an easier response that had something to do with pulling a pin and doing some 30 degree turn on a thermobuboulator. Crap. This sounds hard.

Steve83 · Apr 4, 2014

You might get lucky - if the cotter pin comes out easily! Then there's a large washer, disconnect the master cylinder (either remove the small cotter pin, washer and clevis pin, or loosen the locknut and unscrew the master cylinder rod), and working the pedal up and down while prying it away from the frame. If it moves up and down, it'll come off.