Hitchcocks Forum

Got bike(efi) out for first time today after a couple of months in garage and found front disc locked on!Any suggestions without having to strip unit down?

Let go of front brake lever? Seriously, my guess is that moisture has stuck the pads to the disc, as happens with my car after washing it and not using it for a day or two. I'd try using engine power to break the bond between the pads and disc. That's what I do with my car. After that a few applications of the brake clears the surface rust. This is assuming that the front brake lever operates normally and that the brake was fine before storage.

Hold small block of wood on caliper, give it a sharp tap with hammer. (Not a joke.)

If you can free it off it'll be fine in the short term but a strip down is in order longer term. They don't get better.

Take a strong grip of the Calliper and gently apply a fore and aft rocking motion to ease the pistons back into the bores enough to release the disc.

I can vouch for Papasmurf's suggestion. I heard it from a genuine proper motorcycle mechanic. It works, but the effect tends to be temporary. Strip and clean.

It depends why the front brake is locked on. If the bike was put away and the brake has not been applied, then it is likely that the pads have stuck to the disc through corrosion. If the brake has been applied and has stuck then it has to do with the hydraulics i.e. caliper piston(s) stuck. Clouting the caliper won't help much with the former scenario.

If it's still got indian brake fluid in it flush that rubbish out with nice DOT.4 and bleed it. It will have absorbed water, brake fluid is hygroscopic. The system only holds an eggcup of fluid so you can replenish the lot in no time. Put the hose off the bleed into a bottle so you can see and trap bubbles

The brake fluid has expanded and put the brake on, it absorbs water from atmospheric vapour. The indian brake fluid really is rubbish.

Don't go whacking it with a hammer, you'll have to relieve pressure at the bleed nipple. Whilst you're there bleed the old stuff out and flush it out new. Don't drain the lot out, you'll get a lot of air in the system, flush it out. Sorry, keep thinking of stuff ..