New to Morini - Front Disc Brake

[ipaulog]

Hello to all,
I have plenty of experience dealing with other Italian bikes of the 70's but this is my first time working on a Morini.
The bike in question is an unmolested 1979 350 Strada. It has sat indoors for quite some time and it is being prepared for riding. It belongs to my other half.
I won't ask too many questions all at once but my first job is to make the front brake useable. It has to be the most wooden feeling front stopper I have come across. Any suggestions or links to sites where it is dealt with would be gratefully received.
Thanks in advance,
Paul.

[EVguru]

Fit the master cylinder from a 250. Not that expensive from NLM.

[ipaulog]

Fit the master cylinder from a 250. Not that expensive from NLM.

Thanks for the suggestion. Can you tell me the different sizes of the 250 and 350 master cylinders.

[unreal]

Or try a Brembo 13 ps as fitted to many Guzzis, because they had cross linked brakes the front brake only works on one disk.
I've just fitted one on my strada project and it work well, I had tried it on the twin disk of my K, horrid!
And personally I prefer the design and you can cheaply get adjustable levers if reach is an issue.

Simon

[ipaulog]

Or try a Brembo 13 ps as fitted to many Guzzis, because they had cross linked brakes the front brake only works on one disk.
I've just fitted one on my strada project and it work well, I had tried it on the twin disk of my K, horrid!
And personally I prefer the design and you can cheaply get adjustable levers if reach is an issue.

Simon

I'm a Guzzi owner and familiar with this Brembo master cylinder but I thought I'd try to get to grips with the existing setup first.
So far I have replaced the original hose with an s/s item, cleaned everything and flushed and replaced the fluid. It still feels like an on/off switch but I haven't used it on the road yet as I have other things to do first - namely change the timing belt.

Cheers, Paul.

[EVguru]

The Grimeca lever is adjustable as standard!

As I recall, the stock single disc mastercylinder is 16mm, whilst the 250 version (which has the same wheel, disc and caliper) is 14mm. The twin disc cylinder is 19mm and again a bit wooden. I tend to put on a 16mm.

You've got to be a bit careful comparing cylinders as the lever ratio varies too, but Brembo and Grimeca tend to be very similar in design.

Don't ignore the pads. Old Asbestos Ferrodos work well and the soft Newfrens from NLM, but EBC pads for example are very poor on Chrome.