Skip to main content

Project Z750 part 16

The piston puller has arrived. it looks like a pair of pliers, but works opposite so that when you press the handles the "nose" of the pliers expands. the idea is that you put the nose into the piston, grip very hard and turn and pull the piston so that it comes out.


the theory is great, but actually using one isn't. in use you are trying to grip as hard as you can, and at the same time trying to pull the piston out of the caliper (as well as maybe turning it if it's stuck like mine).

it took a herculean effort to get one of the pistons out, I was gripping as if my life depended on it, trying to twist the piston and pull it out of the caliper. when it turned (a little) it gave me renewed hope of getting both pistons out, and eventually the piston was out, so just one more left.

so now on to the fifth and final brake caliper piston. I put the piston puller tool into the caliper, gripped with all my might (no laughing please) and twisted. Well something moved, but it wasnt the piston, it was just the tool twisting round inside the piston. oh well, I guess I'm getting used to it all going wrong.

I tried this until my arm hurt from gripping the tool so much, and then gave up for the day. This piston was stubborn (or maybe just really comfortable, and not wanting to come out of it's little home).

Next day, I tried again. Tool inside piston, grip, twist and pull. Nope, nothing. this piston was stuck fast. I decided then that the tool I bought (which was cheap) wasn't going to work here, so it was out with the mole grips, a scrap of leather over the end of the piston, grip and pull.

The first few times I tried, the mole grips just slipped off the piston, but eventually, I tightened them up enough so that the piston started to move. Finally, I'm getting somewhere.

eventually the piston came out. Of course it was ruined, but I knew that using the mole grips was going to damage it.

I now have three calipers and four pistons needing cleaning (I wont bother trying to clean the fifth piston as it is the damaged one).


Labels:
Location: Bristol, UK

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Triathlon Training in the new year

So, my 2019 training has got off to a good start. I'm running regularly and my knees seem to be holding up. I've got a training plan to get me to a middle distance triathlon in September and I am managing the run distances I have set myself. I need to find some longer cycling routes to work and ones with a few hills too, but that shouldn't be a problem. my weekly cycling distance is okay, I just need to move to get my ebike to be doing less of the work. last week I did use my normal commuter bicycle and managed the whole four days as well as my runs, so that was a really good sign. Swimming won't be an issue, I have always found that to be the easy part of a triathlon (not that I'm fast, but I can keep going, and I did manage to swim the distance within the cut off time when I tried the ironman 70.3 last time) The main worry about going longer is my knees. I've got a 10K booked in late January which will test my knees out and I'm hoping that they hold ...
Post a Comment
Read more

First race of 2019

As I am aiming for a middle distance triathlon in September, I want to make sure that I can complete it before shelling out the (rather high) entry fee. my main concern is that my knees cope with the run section which will be 21 Km (a half marathon). In the past, I have had a bit of trouble with my knees playing up. I thought it was because I had run too much (increased my training too quickly, too many races close together, that sort of thing). So for the last 8 months, I have been trying to acclimatise my knees by running around 5km three times a week To take stock of how my knees are with running, I decided to enter a 10K race. The race I entered was the Bristol Race For Chocolate 10K. It sounded like a fun race and was on 27th January, which would give me plenty of time to train for my main race in September. I wanted a 10K as it is just under half the distance of my target middle distance and if my knees cope with that then I have plenty of time to increase the distance...
Post a Comment
Read more

Wales 500 Post 2

Day -1 (of the rally) So, tomorrow, Patrick and I will be riding up to set up our campsite ready for two days of (not quite off) roading. I've got my camping gear packed, but I've been getting confused about how to pack things that I will want whilst riding vs stuff to leave at camp. Then I realised that I've never done that before. whenever we've gone on a trip we've always stayed a night and then moved on to the next place. Only once have we set up and stayed in the same place for more than one night, and that was at Assen to watch the MotoGP. Guess I'll get it sorted today. I think I've got everything I need, except a way to pump up my tyres if I have a puncture. I have a puncture repair kit, but no pump. hmmm, will have to think on that. I think I will be taking a rucksack so that I can carry stuff out on the rides with me, but I may try to attach it to the back of the bike instead of wearing it as it might get too hot. Today is wet and rainy...
Post a Comment
Read more