Honda GL1800 rear brake recall

[JaysGone]

Its official got my notice today.
2001-2012 Gl1800s are being recalled for the rear brake master and secondary cylinders.
They can cause rear brake dragging.
Now if you had the secondary replaced and paid for it yourself. Honda needs your receipts.
Unfortunately for me. It might be another 150 mile ride each way to Cowel Motorsports for the replacements.
I have zero faith in the 2 closer so called Motor Trike dealers near me.
No way would the Honda dealer near me about 15 minutes away have a clue about MTs rear brake bleeding soooooo maybe I will at least talk to that Honda dealer 1st.

[msocko3]

Its official got my notice today. 2001-2012 Gl1800s are being recalled for the rear brake master and secondary cylinders. They can cause rear brake dragging. Now if you had the secondary replaced and paid for it yourself. Honda needs your receipts. Unfortunately for me. It might be another 150 mile ride each way to Cowel Motorsports for the replacements. I have zero faith in the 2 closer so called Motor Trike dealers near me. No way would the Honda dealer near me about 15 minutes away have a clue about MTs rear brake bleeding soooooo maybe I will at least talk to that Honda dealer 1st.

I got a notice about my 12, it won't get done till next spring when I get it back out.

[wehrme]

I'm in kind of a dilemma also. I don't want a Honda dealer messing with my trike, or the Motor Trike installer either.

Brakes work fine and I am 100% sure if I had either work on the recall, I would be back there again and again, and more likely either would screw something else up.

Suppose the dealer would just give me the parts? snicker...

[JaysGone]

I'm in kind of a dilemma also. I don't want a Honda dealer messing with my trike, or the Motor Trike installer either.

Brakes work fine and I am 100% sure if I had either work on the recall, I would be back there again and again, and more likely either would screw something else up.

Suppose the dealer would just give me the parts? snicker...

Maybe because we no longer have the OEM rear caliper. It wont affect the rear discs?? Id like to think that. But then Id imagine our rear system puts more of a strain on things. I haven't heard of one complaint here in the 4 years or so Ive been around.

[Gold Rush]

Maybe because we no longer have the OEM rear caliper. It wont affect the rear discs?? Id like to think that. But then Id imagine our rear system puts more of a strain on things. I haven't heard of one complaint here in the 4 years or so Ive been around.

Jay, there has been at least one and maybe two guys that totally wasted the rear brakes only to find the secondary master cylinder had caused the problem. I remember one where HONDA even paid to repair the trike portion...

[Haste Maker]

Jay, there has been at least one and maybe two guys that totally wasted the rear brakes only to find the secondary master cylinder had caused the problem. I remember one where HONDA even paid to repair the trike portion...

Do you know what trike kit the guy's that had this problem have?

[Baldy_54]

Received my notice yesterday. Wonder if the 05 Honda, with 05 Lehman Monarch II is in need of this recall?

[Gold Rush]

Do you know what trike kit the guy's that had this problem have?

Sorry, I don't remember but I do know it was not a Roadsmith because I made a mental note to myself that it wound not cause me any issue so did not have to watch for the symptoms. If your brakes are delinked then rears are totally independent of the secondary master cylinder so the dragging issue is a non player...

[wehrme]

Maybe because we no longer have the OEM rear caliper. It wont affect the rear discs?? Id like to think that. But then Id imagine our rear system puts more of a strain on things. I haven't heard of one complaint here in the 4 years or so Ive been around.

It possibly could because we still have a linked system, and that secondary would still be connected.

[Doc*]

I got a recall notice several days ago on my 2014. Local Honda Dealer wants me to let them do the replacement but like someone mentioned the bleed is probably different than for a bike so I'm taking mine back to the Honda Dealership that built my Hannigan Trike (I fully trust them) about 115 miles one way but worth it to me. Make a nice ride if I can find a pretty day. Ride Safe. Doc

[FRR]

Doc, read the posting and response of the Hannigan thread that I asked. Like to know your thoughts after you read it. Feel free to send me a PM

[CobraXL]

Jay, there has been at least one and maybe two guys that totally wasted the rear brakes only to find the secondary master cylinder had caused the problem. I remember one where HONDA even paid to repair the trike portion...

That'd be me. Cooked both the rear rotors and calipers on my new CSC kit. Honda picked up the tab for all the CSC parts and required labor to get it back to new.

[Haste Maker]

Sorry, I don't remember but I do know it was not a Roadsmith because I made a mental note to myself that it wound not cause me any issue so did not have to watch for the symptoms. If your brakes are delinked then rears are totally independent of the secondary master cylinder so the dragging issue is a non player...

Thanks..

[Illini_Triker]

got my recall letter today they should put new rotors on mine also as the they are really messed up, put new pads on right before we went to Maggie Valley. taking it in the 30th

[JaysGone]

Jay, there has been at least one and maybe two guys that totally wasted the rear brakes only to find the secondary master cylinder had caused the problem. I remember one where HONDA even paid to repair the trike portion...

Ill take mine in someplace after the new year. Im not in any hurry.
I started to use the Yamaha again. Got my bug back for 2 wheels and the legs feel good enough to do it.
Spent a few days cleaning tuned up and changing fluids. The 10 year old RoadStar runs like a new bike again.

[jaxbobg]

Got the same notice for my 2012 (Roadsmith).
23,000 miles and have never had a problem (fingers crossed).

Called the mechanic who did my conversion at Trike Shop and he told me the conversion did not modify the OEM cylinders, they just add a split to feed two rear wheels instead of one. He suggested just take the trike to a Honda dealer, since all of the basic braking systems are still Honda. Roadsmith system should not be affected if I haven't had any problem.

He did mention that one customer had to have pads and rotors replaced, but didn't specify the cause.

According to Roadsmith we shouldn't be affected by this issue, but to go ahead and verify with a Honda dealer

Apparently each conversion kit has its own way of using the braking system.

[1800 06 Champion Trike]

I got my notice yesterday and mine is put to bed for the winter.
I'll call my Honda dealer on monday and tell him to do it next spring.

[Shimpy]

Its official got my notice today.
2001-2012 Gl1800s are being recalled for the rear brake master and secondary cylinders.
They can cause rear brake dragging.
Now if you had the secondary replaced and paid for it yourself. Honda needs your receipts.
Unfortunately for me. It might be another 150 mile ride each way to Cowel Motorsports for the replacements.
I have zero faith in the 2 closer so called Motor Trike dealers near me.
No way would the Honda dealer near me about 15 minutes away have a clue about MTs rear brake bleeding soooooo maybe I will at least talk to that Honda dealer 1st.

JaysGone, you live just north of Riva in Pompano and I've had good luck with them. I'd give them a call. I now live in northcentral Florida and have a dealer in Ocala that also does trikes. I called them to see it it was needed to be done since Champion told me no since it was no longer linked. I guess this new recall from Honda changed their thinking and the dealer in Ocala said yes it needed to be done......3 hour job. They ordered parts for me and will call me to make a apt to have it done. I'd suggest having it done asap since ALL gl1800's from 01 to 2015 need to be done and there will soon be a hugh backlog.
They told me the brand of trike kit didn't matter........ Most mechanics know how to bleed brakes and your MT brakes shouldn't be a mystery to a Honda dealer.

[Lee H. Mann]

JaysGone, you live just north of Riva in Pompano and I've had good luck with them. I'd give them a call. I now live in northcentral Florida and have a dealer in Ocala that also does trikes. I called them to see it it was needed to be done since Champion told me no since it was no longer linked. I guess this new recall from Honda changed their thinking and the dealer in Ocala said yes it needed to be done......3 hour job. They ordered parts for me and will call me to make a apt to have it done. I'd suggest having it done asap since ALL gl1800's from 01 to 2015 need to be done and there will soon be a hugh backlog.
They told me the brand of trike kit didn't matter........ Most mechanics know how to bleed brakes and your MT brakes shouldn't be a mystery to a Honda dealer.

This might be a little long winded, but please bare with me. I am only trying to make sense of what we know about the brake recall.

Honda's thinking here is simply from a safety and liability standpoint. Mother Honda needs to satisfy the US Government and the consumer by doing something to all of the motorcycles affected regardless of their status as a two wheeler or a trike.

Most of us here here know that the GL1800 has 3 master cylinders and that the recall (this recall) requires replacement of the secondary master cylinder. Previous recalls were for inspection of the secondary master cylinder (to see that it was still there). There was also an adjustment that needed to be checked that is noted in the HONDA GL1800 repair manual. That being said, certain trike manufacturers bypass the secondary master cylinder isolating the front and rear brake systems. These particular models should be OK but still should answer the recall in case HONDA has made an error in the final diagnosis.

Lehman is one of many that until 2014 use linked brakes in their conversions. They should all answer the recall as well.

Mother Honda claims that a brake fluid additive deterioration causing zinc deposits to obstruct the operation of the secondary master cylinder. Moisture absorbing DOT3 brake fluid, when not changed regularly, becomes loaded with moisture lowering the boiling point for the fluid and the additives can no longer protect the system from corrosion within.

After reading up on the properties and attributes of both DOT3 & DOT4 fluids, DOT3 has a lower boiling point than DOT4 but DOT3 lasts longer. DOT4 should be changed every 2-3 years where DOT3 might last 5 years between changes. These intervals will change depending on the rider and the style of riding and the environmental conditions. Brake fluid tests results suggest changes every 2 years or 12,000 miles.

Most people want to get the most for the least. They might use low grade brake fluid and save $3 - $4.00 but lose the lasting benefits of a premium or synthetic brake fluid that might last twice as long. In summary, to eliminate the zinc deposits, the moisture contamination and the degradation of the brake system, I simply suggest using a premium DOT3 or a Synthetic version, and change that brake fluid before it is due.

Honda suggest DOT4 but that can require more frequent changes.

I have seen some mighty nasty brake fluid in my time...

[JaysGone]

JaysGone, you live just north of Riva in Pompano and I've had good luck with them. I'd give them a call. I now live in northcentral Florida and have a dealer in Ocala that also does trikes. I called them to see it it was needed to be done since Champion told me no since it was no longer linked. I guess this new recall from Honda changed their thinking and the dealer in Ocala said yes it needed to be done......3 hour job. They ordered parts for me and will call me to make a apt to have it done. I'd suggest having it done asap since ALL gl1800's from 01 to 2015 need to be done and there will soon be a hugh backlog.
They told me the brand of trike kit didn't matter........ Most mechanics know how to bleed brakes and your MT brakes shouldn't be a mystery to a Honda dealer.

Unfortunately bleeding MTs brakes are a mystery to Riva,,,,,,, as is the whole MT trike. They didn't want to do any repairs 4 years ago to it when I 1st bought it. I did go to Broward Motor Sports in Palm Beach today same distance away as Riva. I talked with the service guy who handles the MT end. Tim. Hes already got 2 other MT owners, me being #3. He doesn't see having any issues but has to talk with the Honda Mothership 1st. They have enough parts for what they have sold and doesn't see getting more being an issue. Honda has to have them on hand to issue a recall Id imagine.
He says Honda put out the notice now because its winter and slow in most of the country. Not at all true at BMS. Very busy place today.
Hes backed up as is. If all goes well they will take care of it sometime in January. Since I commute most days on the trike. Ill be using the Yamaha more till this is taken care of.