Hello. I’m a new rider who recently purchased a ten year old bike. I have ZERO mechanical know how, but decided that I wanted to learn.

So far I managed to take both the front and rear wheels off to get the tires changed and I managed to change the oil. Since I am unskilled, it took a LOT of fumbling through these to get things going…including breaking some nuts (rear axle nut was stuck and I originally only had a 12 point socket) and bolts (overtorqued an oil filter cover bolt despite using a torque wrench) and buying replacement ones.

Since the bike is 10 years old, I know that all of the fluids need to be changed. I feel comfortable attempting the actual change for the brake fluid from my research EXCEPT I don’t want to irreparably damage this area. The front brake works fine, but the sight glass is totally clouded and opaque, so I cannot visually check the condition or level of the fluid.

These are JIS screws and I have purchased replacement screws. Any advice here? Please consider my novice skill level lol.

I bought some screw extractor bits but do not have an impact driver. I have some JIS screwdrivers, a hammer, a regular drill, penetrating oil, and replacement JIS screws.

Thanks!

  • Triumph@fedia.io
    3·
    2 months ago

    Following up on everyone else’s advice: if the threads in the cylinder get messed up, a new brake master is less hassle than trying to repair those with a helicoil, and probably not very expensive, too.

    Edit: oh yeah, you don’t want to take that to a shop. Lots of shops won’t take something even just that old, and independents can be hit or miss on quality, since they know they don’t have many competitors.

    • dingus@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      1·
      2 months ago

      Well my main concern is that I don’t want to fuck up the master cylinder lol. Looks like it’s over a hundred USD and it’ll be more hassle and things I don’t know what I’m doing. It’s actually why I had been leaning towards taking it to a shop (so I don’t damage the cylinder) rather than myself. I don’t even know if the screws themselves are seized or not.

      • Triumph@fedia.io
        1·
        2 months ago

        Year make model? I bet i can find one cheaper than $100. Changing a brake master is pretty easy: remove, replace, fill, bleed. I can walk you through it.

        • dingus@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
          1·
          2 months ago

          It’s a 2017 Honda Rebel 300 (non ABS). The part number seems to be 45510-K87-A01.

          When googling, I do see some websites that sell it for cheaper, but idk how much I can trust these random sellers I have never heard of lol. More also that I don’t want to keep being out for riding for so long! It took me several weeks to get parts together to get the tires replaced. I’m a new rider and want to be able to practice haha!

          • Triumph@fedia.io
            1·
            2 months ago

            Okay, best I could do is get a used one off ebay for ~$50 and a rebuild kit for ~$30. If necessary, that’s the route I’d go myself.