Parking Brake

I was having a hard time getting parking brake to release sometimes took 5-6 good pulls to release it. Ratchet wasn't releasing at handle. Pulled right pocket out and sprayed a little lube in there all back to normal.
Anyone else ever have this problem?

My 2004 Swing trike in Idaho started locking up when applied. Had to use a screw driver to move the pads back enough to travel home from shopping. Ran out of time and removed it. Brought it back to Hawaii when I returned in June of 2020. I need to repair it before returning to Post Falls Idaho next year. I'll update this post after I repair it.

That sounds like a sticking caliper but not the same thing I was experiencing. Rebuild or replace that caliper and and it will be good.

Lube it, retention cable. And if that don't work swear at it

usually from not regular use!

I use it almost every time I ride so that's not the case. A little lube up in there at handle end worked perfectly today.  300 hundred miles in central PA. very nice rolled 30K.  and got cut off on highway 2 miles from home but saw it coming or predicted it might happen and swerved into next lane. Gave him the  middle finger salute.

One must remember....SilverWings are now old bikes....and everything may not work perfectly.

Well said John. I think that applies to most of us riders too

I had my parking brake sticking on my 08 SWing. The regular brake pads are in good shape and they work great. I'd pull the handle to park and it wouldn't release when I wanted to leave. I kept a long screwdriver under the seat to use to release the parking brake. I ordered a new parking brake caliper and pads for it from our local shop for a couple hundred bucks. I sprayed the cable and caliper down with WD-40 but that didn't seem to help at first. After a couple of days it started working like normal. I guess the WD-40 soaked in enough. That was about 2 months ago and it's been working normally since. I called the shop and cancelled my order along with the trailer I reserved to haul it to the shop with. I guess old SWings get old and creaky along with their OLD owners...

The parking brake on my '08 SWing also won't release. I have to make sure I don't pull it all way. When I go to release it, I pull parking brake lever 1 "click" and release immediately. Sometimes it takes 5-10 attempts before it is 100% disengaged. I'll see about lube/WD40 it.

Pull the right pocket out. See that long spring and nut but more toward front is a pivot point with a little spring that's hidden that's what needs lube. Ratchet is there between those I've had no issues after lube.

ultralight wrote:

The parking brake on my '08 SWing also won't release. I have to make sure I don't pull it all way. When I go to release it, I pull parking brake lever 1 "click" and release immediately. Sometimes it takes 5-10 attempts before it is 100% disengaged. I'll see about lube/WD40 it.

ultralight that's what I did back in August. See my comment above. It took a couple of days before it would release but now as of today it's been working great with no problems. I took the right "glovebox" out and sprayed the cable pretty good then sprayed the caliper good with WD-40. Like I said it took a couple of days for it to soak in but since it's been working like new. Just keep your long screwdriver handy for those few days.

My parking brake was virtually useless when I bought my 2001 SW.

I did a topic on this called 'Parking Brake'. Do a search under that topic which is headed by my good self. It may give you some insight. It's a weird but very effective feature of the SW. I use it all the time.

That's assuming you haven't checked out the topic already

Guess I'm one of the lucky ones... have used mine many times and haven't had it stick (yet)...