Brake Oil Change

amtak · 28th August 2008, 10:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sankar

Is the colour of the brake fluid Yellow? That's what my Karizma has.

Well, it's easy to find out when the brake fluid level gets low. If reservoir is full the metal disc behind the viewing window will be red or yellow as per the colour of oil. Once the level starts to come down you can see the metal disc in steel's colour. Isn't it easy to spot the colour difference?

That is exactly the problem here. It is as good as transparent! Its neither green nor red or yellow

. That's why I had that small oil "box" opened to see if its over or not. Will post a pic in a day or 2 to make it even more clear.

bblost · 28th August 2008, 10:52

amtak while getting this done it might also be a good idea to check the wear and tear on your brake shoes.

amtak · 28th August 2008, 12:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by bblost

amtak while getting this done it might also be a good idea to check the wear and tear on your brake shoes.

True. But Would it go haywire on a bike which is just 2.5 months old?

bblost · 28th August 2008, 13:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by amtak

True. But Would it go haywire on a bike which is just 2.5 months old?

No I am sure it would not be worn out so soon unless something drastic is done.

My disc brake pads lasted well over 4.5 years and an estimated 60k+ kms.

amtak · 28th August 2008, 13:32

In that case I needn't worry. My bike has just completed 1100 Kms so far! avoided riding it in monsoon. Now all it needs is some rust removal!

black12rr · 30th December 2008, 10:55

Where to buy KBX dot4 brake oil for bikes in bangalore? .I searched was not able to get one .

Spitfire · 30th December 2008, 17:31

Castrol is good enough. 85 bucks the tiny bottle.

I have a DIY brake line bleeding technique somewhere, i will try and dig it up. Used to bleed the brake line on my 01 HH CBZ. Was quite easy, but messy.

bhojraj · 1st January 2009, 14:18

As other member informed , KBX dot 4 will do the job perfect

Sankar · 1st January 2009, 16:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spitfire

I have a DIY brake line bleeding technique somewhere, i will try and dig it up. Used to bleed the brake line on my 01 HH CBZ. Was quite easy, but messy.

Spitfire, that would be very useful for many! proper brake bleeding is a procedure most bike service centres fail to do upto satisfaction.

Raccoon · 17th August 2010, 17:17

The brake fluid in my CBX-x was over 2.5 years old, so decided it was overdue for change. What transpired has left me fuming.

When I gave the bike for servicing (Prathamesh Motors, Bhandarkar Road, Pune) I asked what they use and how. I learnt they buy big bottles of brake fluid (DOT 3) and use it according to need. No guesses regarding how long a big bottle will last them! When questioned, they had no concept at all about brake fluids being highly hygroscopic and that once a bottle is opened, it should not be stored even if capped properly. In fact one the mechs (who actually seemed like quite a nice guy, compared to the mechanics I'v seen at Automark Motors, Kothrud; who are in short, simply appealing) even told me they were not told anything of the sort during training. So they use it like any other oil... in fact they even refer to brake fluid as brake oil, which is of course technically quite incorrect.

So after getting to know all this I asked if I could bring my own bottle, to which they readily agreed. So next day I go with a bottle of KBX DOT 3 (could not find DOT 4 readily, and really didn't have time to hunt). Now the way they replaced the fluid was really amazing!

The mech simply, opened the master cylinder, sucked out brake fluid with a syringe and then topped it up using a tiny bit from my bottle!

When I pointed out that this is no good, as the old fluid has to be bled from the bottom, I was told that nobody does that as it is too time consuming and this was the standard procedure they use on all bikes and they have never had any complaints.

Well, I guess I got nothing more to say, except that Hero Honda service has absolutely gone to the worms.

So beware dudes, do not expect anything to be done right behind your backs. Not even critical stuff like this. Your safety is in your own hands.

28th August 2008, 10:52	#17
bblost Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 11,008 Thanked: 15,356 Times View My Garage	amtak while getting this done it might also be a good idea to check the wear and tear on your brake shoes.
	() Thanks

28th August 2008, 13:32	#20
amtak Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai - The city of Sea Link!!! Posts: 2,915 Thanked: 900 Times View My Garage	In that case I needn't worry. My bike has just completed 1100 Kms so far! avoided riding it in monsoon. Now all it needs is some rust removal!
	() Thanks

30th December 2008, 10:55	#21
black12rr Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ridin earth now Posts: 1,278 Thanked: 339 Times	Where to buy KBX dot4 brake oil for bikes in bangalore? .I searched was not able to get one .
	() Thanks

30th December 2008, 17:31	#22
Spitfire BANNED Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Panaji - Goa/Bangalore - Karnataka Posts: 3,312 Thanked: 774 Times	Castrol is good enough. 85 bucks the tiny bottle. I have a DIY brake line bleeding technique somewhere, i will try and dig it up. Used to bleed the brake line on my 01 HH CBZ. Was quite easy, but messy.
	() Thanks

1st January 2009, 14:18	#23
bhojraj BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Ban galore Posts: 42 Thanked: Once	As other member informed , KBX dot 4 will do the job perfect
	() Thanks

17th August 2010, 17:17	#25
Raccoon Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Poona Posts: 1,851 Thanked: 116 Times	The brake fluid in my CBX-x was over 2.5 years old, so decided it was overdue for change. What transpired has left me fuming. When I gave the bike for servicing (Prathamesh Motors, Bhandarkar Road, Pune) I asked what they use and how. I learnt they buy big bottles of brake fluid (DOT 3) and use it according to need. No guesses regarding how long a big bottle will last them! When questioned, they had no concept at all about brake fluids being highly hygroscopic and that once a bottle is opened, it should not be stored even if capped properly. In fact one the mechs (who actually seemed like quite a nice guy, compared to the mechanics I'v seen at Automark Motors, Kothrud; who are in short, simply appealing) even told me they were not told anything of the sort during training. So they use it like any other oil... in fact they even refer to brake fluid as brake oil, which is of course technically quite incorrect. So after getting to know all this I asked if I could bring my own bottle, to which they readily agreed. So next day I go with a bottle of KBX DOT 3 (could not find DOT 4 readily, and really didn't have time to hunt). Now the way they replaced the fluid was really amazing! The mech simply, opened the master cylinder, sucked out brake fluid with a syringe and then topped it up using a tiny bit from my bottle! When I pointed out that this is no good, as the old fluid has to be bled from the bottom, I was told that nobody does that as it is too time consuming and this was the standard procedure they use on all bikes and they have never had any complaints. Well, I guess I got nothing more to say, except that Hero Honda service has absolutely gone to the worms. So beware dudes, do not expect anything to be done right behind your backs. Not even critical stuff like this. Your safety is in your own hands.
	() Thanks