Does anyone have any contact in Ushuaia for a brake specialist for our 1150gs. The bloody front brake is still seizing and three repairs later and god knows how many more attempts to bleed the brake etc etc etc.. Does anyone have any thoughts?

Cheers
Jules

Hi, I cannot answer your question as I dont know, but I am in Ushuaia, want a ?

I will be doing the bike shops tomorrow looking for a new chain, but will be having drinks at the Irsh bar around 6pm

Cheers
travellingStrom

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www.travellingstrom.com

Wow Jules!
Ya' all move fast! I remember posts from Northern Peru' just a couple weeks ago. Weren't you guys awaiting parts up there? That is blazing fast!

Hope you get the chance to explore some of the interior of Peru' and Bolivia, N. Argentina, S. Chile, just so much to see and do. But if the bikes causing trouble, I know how that can ruin the whole trip.

Seizing brakes could be a number of things. I ain't no BMW expert but have owned a few and ridden many others. I do my own maintenance on Jap bikes no problem .... but not much to do, as they rarely fail!

Do you have ABS? IIRC, BMW claim it's impossible for the ABS to cause this, probably correct. But I would clean and check all connections anyway. Check all fuses, computers, whatever. Make sure system is operating correctly.

Could be water in the system. Add heat = expansion of water and seized brakes. I'm assuming you've flushed pints of brake fluid though already? This would be job one. And make sure it's the right type of brake fluid.
(DOT 3 or 4, or maybe 5 - I'd guess?)

I'm sure you've cleaned the Caliper pistons already? This is big in the UK, but in 30 years of riding in mostly California, I've never done it and never had corrosion!

Make sure the caliper pistons are operating in and out freely and that seals look OK, not torn or out of position.

Could also be a failed Master Cylinder. (Hope not!) Are you able to "bleed" the brakes OK? If not, could be bad Master Cyl. but unlikely.

Make certain the pads are seated in the Caliper correctly with spring clips set correctly so pads do not drag and tabs on pads are right way round.
(yes, I've seen folks put them in upside down!)

One possible move is to remove the calipers, pull brake line off and drain and flush completely with fresh brake fluid. Make sure all water and old fluid are flushed out. Then pump fresh brake fluid through disconnected brake lines. Then hook it all back up, add more fresh fluid and pump through another pint to remove any air.

Pro mechanics use a vacuum ... forgot how that works, I've never done it, but seen it done. Most pro's use this method, doubt they will have that in
Argentina.

Brake fluid is hydroscopic (attracts moisture), needs to be changed every 6 months, especially if riding in humidity and high temps or lots of rain.

Seems your old Bimmer has been a right Pain so far ... was it worn out before you started? Or just now deciding to give up on you? Shame!
Any case, best of luck. There are a few Mec's around down there, but IIRC, there may be some MC guys in the nearby towns, not in Usuhaia. (perhaps Rio Gallegos, or something? Can't recall)

Hey, no worries, Helge Pederson fabricated a whole new drive shaft while down there, of course it broke again shortly after!

Cheers, don't give up!

Mc D

Travelling Strom - awesme - you're here. i know a couple of our Kiwi mates saw you in Cusco. The Irish Bar - Dublin on 9 de Julio? Sure - we'll try catch you at 6pm. We are staying across the way at B&B Martin Fierro, great B&B....even when the pub does not close until 4am each morning.....

BTW I am small and blonde and my man is tall and blonde so you can't miss us..

Cheers
Juliebunny

Mickey D, thankyou - we certainly did see alot on the way down here, it was a long time back now in Nov 22 I think we left Peru north....but the brakes yes...We have done everything possible...and are wondering about master cylinder as well.
ABS - yes we have.
Brake fluide - a million changes.
We have had three changes of line - one totally new one made in Chiclayo Peru and then again in Lima.
Brand new pistons and callipers in Mendoza
Pads and pins are fine.
Seizing of front wheel all thru from Atacama to now. Stop on roadside, leak fluid from the front and then it frees up again...
Thought we had it sussed as no problem from San Julian on the coast in Argentina to now.. and then total seizure the other day here in Ushuaia - now its totally stuffed it seems as the pistons on one side WILL not grab the brake.

Its finding someone who can do something about the pistons now seems to be the issue as there doesnt seem to be anyone here to do this.

Aahahahha love your final comment that he fab'd a new drive shaft and then it broke ahaahahaa LOL - at least we can still laugh - well JUST !! Not happy at the moment thats for sure...

We have never had a problem with the BMW when riding in the States over the last 9 years - totally bizarre eh. From what we read online the issues we have had with back bearing could be a design fault - lots of people with this model/year bmw with back crown bearing issues....just unlucky really - AND overall we have been so fortunate with everything else on our trip - we can't really complain.

Cheers again
Jules

Sounds good Julie, I amy be a bit later than 6 now as I want to go get the photo at the end of the road and it is cheaper to do after hours, from what beemerbird told me anyway But I will be there, it sould like you have some good info above to check your brakes today

Cheers
Richard

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www.travellingstrom.com

Hey Richard

Yes after 8pm is free at the park as well.. good compact dirt road too..
We'll go over round 9pmish......

Lots of info for sure - most things we have already done, and checked so we'll see what else we can do....

Cheers
Jules

There is a motor repairer in town who looks like he could get things going, he is hopefully going to do something for me with my chain.

On the corner of Intendente Manuel Olmo, 900-800 numbers, if that is any help, he opens again at 4pm when I will going to get an oil change as well.

I got told by tourist info the park closes at 6.30, so I will be arriving there around then as it costs $15 to get in otherwise.


Cheers
Richard

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www.travellingstrom.com

Gosh you're kidding.. I"m surprised as we were told 8pm not that long ago but decided to go up in the daytime anyway... Goodo...

Will see you some time later at the pub.... we have a dinner beforehand but will get over there, so will Mark another biker who has arrived in town. He knows you, so be nice to catch up.

Beautiful day for the park as well.

Cheers
Juliebunny

Hi Jules

Watch out for this guy - you have been warned!!!!!!!

Regards, Mick

I would try to get to Rio Gallegos, Lucho (slow but methodical and fair) or the Chilaen guy in Punto Arenas (expensive but good, decent english).

good luck

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India Himal, 3mo,2x; Kazak/Krygyz/Tajik, 3 mo; Kashi-Lhasa, China 219! 6 wk; Nepal, 4 days/trekked 55; Santiago-Ushuia-Cusco, 7 mo; Peru, 3 mo; Chile-Medellin 3 mo; Medillin-Arica, 3 mo

I don´t know diddly about BM brakes, but the symptoms sound familiar. Generally speaking with disk brakes there is a cylinder that is pushed against the brake pad by the brake fluid. the cylinder has an "O" ring that keeps the fluid from seeping out. if the cylinder is mounted backwards (inside out), the O ring becomes too close to the outside edge of the cylinder wall. when the brake is applied, it pushes the "O" ring outside of the cylinder wall, where it becomes jammed and can´t get back in. The brake fluid also leaks out.

something to check...