hayes problem again?

trail worker · 01-22-2006, 06:25 AM

just moved back to the coast from the wintery mountains of the kootenays, got the bike out for the first ride in months and I'm having problems with my hayes champaignes again (these are the old school ones, probably circa 2000 or 2001).

The problem is that every time I squeeze the lever the brake pads do not retract fully, so I end up with a brake that's always dragging.
Usually I just clean the pistons and surrounding areas with brake cleaner, but this isn't working. I had the problem around 6 months ago when my bike sat for a few months unridden, and after way too much tinkering I took it to a shop to have looked at. they fixed things up but I don't remember what it was that was causing it.

anyways, I have tried cleaning the pistons with brake fluid to no avail, although this has worked in the past for me. This is the same problem, but my easy fix isn't working.

Dantes Inferno · 01-22-2006, 06:32 AM

Piston Seized. PM S_dawg. He had same problem few weeks ago with same brake. I think he fixed em.

S-Dawg · 01-22-2006, 06:33 AM

u could get new pistons all together, there arent to expensive. I just unseized my seized champaignes, havent ridin them yet but they seem to work as well as they did before. guys at dizzy told me to get new pistons cause it will happen again but meh im cheap. wut i did was just pry the pistons out, give them a good cleaning and got all the grit and rustish shit off with steel wool, then got a bleed. if u cant get them out with plyers and a screwdriver used compressed air to shoot those puppies out

switch · 01-22-2006, 07:11 AM

It's about $30 for a set of pistons, so if that's not too much, I'd suggest replacing them.

bunny · 01-22-2006, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trail worker

just moved back to the coast from the wintery mountains of the kootenays, got the bike out for the first ride in months and I'm having problems with my hayes champaignes again (these are the old school ones, probably circa 2000 or 2001).

The problem is that every time I squeeze the lever the brake pads do not retract fully, so I end up with a brake that's always dragging.
Usually I just clean the pistons and surrounding areas with brake cleaner, but this isn't working. I had the problem around 6 months ago when my bike sat for a few months unridden, and after way too much tinkering I took it to a shop to have looked at. they fixed things up but I don't remember what it was that was causing it.

anyways, I have tried cleaning the pistons with brake fluid to no avail, although this has worked in the past for me. This is the same problem, but my easy fix isn't working.

stop being such a cheap bastard (i know you probably prefer frugal) and either buy new brakes or take it to a bike shop.

trail worker · 01-22-2006, 08:12 AM

no deal tammy, these things have done me really well, no need to replace.
and, during the summer I DID take them to the sacred ride in nelson and got them sorted, but that was the first time I had taken my bike in for repairs in probably 5 years, I'd rather struggle with it for a while and fix it, thanks!

01-22-2006, 06:25 AM	#1
trail worker bikes on the brain Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: West Kootenays Posts: 5,771 Rep Power: 8773456	hayes problem again? just moved back to the coast from the wintery mountains of the kootenays, got the bike out for the first ride in months and I'm having problems with my hayes champaignes again (these are the old school ones, probably circa 2000 or 2001). The problem is that every time I squeeze the lever the brake pads do not retract fully, so I end up with a brake that's always dragging. Usually I just clean the pistons and surrounding areas with brake cleaner, but this isn't working. I had the problem around 6 months ago when my bike sat for a few months unridden, and after way too much tinkering I took it to a shop to have looked at. they fixed things up but I don't remember what it was that was causing it. anyways, I have tried cleaning the pistons with brake fluid to no avail, although this has worked in the past for me. This is the same problem, but my easy fix isn't working.

01-22-2006, 06:32 AM	#2
Dantes Inferno Freetard Ricing Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Van Posts: 8,566 Rep Power: 2535732	Piston Seized. PM S_dawg. He had same problem few weeks ago with same brake. I think he fixed em. __________________

01-22-2006, 07:11 AM	#4
switch two foot hucker Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Old Buck Posts: 30,090 Rep Power: 13897290	It's about $30 for a set of pistons, so if that's not too much, I'd suggest replacing them. __________________ It is easy to dodge our responsibilities, but we cannot dodge the consequences of dodging our responsibilities. - Josiah Stamp Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race. - H.G. Wells

01-22-2006, 08:12 AM	#6
trail worker bikes on the brain Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: West Kootenays Posts: 5,771 Rep Power: 8773456	no deal tammy, these things have done me really well, no need to replace. and, during the summer I DID take them to the sacred ride in nelson and got them sorted, but that was the first time I had taken my bike in for repairs in probably 5 years, I'd rather struggle with it for a while and fix it, thanks! Last edited by trail worker; 01-22-2006 at 07:29 PM.

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01-22-2006, 06:33 AM	#3
S-Dawg TALK less RIDE more! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: vancouver Posts: 2,029 Rep Power: 464	u could get new pistons all together, there arent to expensive. I just unseized my seized champaignes, havent ridin them yet but they seem to work as well as they did before. guys at dizzy told me to get new pistons cause it will happen again but meh im cheap. wut i did was just pry the pistons out, give them a good cleaning and got all the grit and rustish shit off with steel wool, then got a bleed. if u cant get them out with plyers and a screwdriver used compressed air to shoot those puppies out

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