Parking Brake Problem

Yesterday early morning (11/8/12) I pulled in to a McDonald's for a quick bite before work. As usual I set my parking brake before getting off. When I came out, started my SWing and released the parking brake, but nothing happened. It did NOT release, and the rear wheel was locked up tight.

Short story, I had it loaded, carefully as possible, onto a flat-bed tow truck and taken to my trusted mechanic. In unloading the SWing, I got on and carefully allowed it to roll backward off the tilted bed onto the driveway. When on solid ground, I found the rear wheel spun free.

My friend ultimately lubricated the parking brake mechanism (more complicated than you would think), but told me I should have tried "rocking" the scoot forward & backward as best I could which might have caused the brake to release. Dunno, but it sounds reasonable to me.

Anyone have a similar experience and/or other suggestions?

Tom G

I had the same problem at my coffee shop.I found that the problem was me.the secret to unlock is to pull very lightly .It can take 1 to3 tries to re for the brake to let go.If you pull to hard on the brake, it will keep on locking on you. It is a panic reflex to pull hard. Practice this at home and you will have no more problem.

Had mine 'freeze' on me.

It was put down to lack of use for me. So as a rule I simple work the lever back and forth a few time when I first walk up to the bike. (Still don't use it much).

Even after adjusting (& rebuilding) the brake several times, it still happened to me enough times that I finally bodged together a short spring & bracket (a la' Burgman) which coaxes the caliper arm to the rear stop.

Yes, this is common to the Silverwing. You just have to "learn" you don't have to set the park brake very hard to hold the Silverwing from moving. It should just be put on very easily and when released do it the same way. Very easily but slowly and definite if that makes sense. . .
It took me a few times to figure it out and it can be very frustrating if you let it get to you.
Old Dave in Western Nebraska

It happened to me recently.I disassembled the handbrake caliper and lubricate its piston by force some grease in to his "nest".I've also lubricate the sliders inside rubber seals.If you want to take caliper off in your hand without removing the muffler, after detaching it by fully releasing the adjuster and removing the two 12 mm bolts you can maneuever(with its cable) it through muffler and engine under right passengers footpeg.You'll have to take off the lever from the caliper to be able to remove the rubber seal which covers the pistons "nest".No trouble since.If your handbrake ever locks again in the future just push calipers lever backwards with a screwdriver

The SilverWing has a parking brake?
I'll have to look for that the next time I uncover mine. This has been a great fall in north Texas. Lots of 70-85 degree sunny days. Great for riding.

When I bought my SW, the parking brake didn't work at all. I.e. the pads didn't touch the disk when the brake was applied.

Since it's an easy job to correct this, I did it myself, just to find the brake would 'stick', like in Tom's case. Rocking the SW did indeed release the brake. So I decided to adjust it one more time, and arranged the lever so, that I have to pull the parking brake lever up three notches before the brake starts working.

Since then no more sticky parking brake, even that I don't use it a lot: maybe two or three time in 1200 Miles, since most of the time I use the centre stand to park the bike.

I made it a habit to use the parking brake. Wind can roll it forward , or hit from behind,and parking on a down grade. I adjusted to 3 clicks and a light re lease and make sure that it rolls free before moving on.

My parking brake clearly needs adjusting, as when I pull the lever it comes up all the way ie through all possible "clicks", and although the brake is applied to a certain extent, I can still move the bike underneath me.

Would someone be so kind as to explain to me exactly what I need to do, where to do it, and what I need to do it to ?? Is it an easy job? What tools will be required?

Thank you

SteVe

Its a very ease job to do ,loosen the jam nut then the canter adjusting bolt can be screw in or out .can be done by hand or twist with plier .the parking caliber is to the right side of the disc connected by the brake cable.screw the canter bolt till snug. try the hand brake and count the clicks, 3 or 4 should do.Adjust to suit,tighten the jam nut. Make sure the wheel spins freely.

For our Austrian friend:

WOW! immediate replies in two languages! Now that's what I call service!

Thank you so much Tinman and Rodenbach!

SteVe

@SteVe:
gerne gemacht
one advise: don't over do it, make sure the wheel spins freely when the parking brake is off!!!