Yes I did. No change.

 

Given where you are, I'd suggest you rebuild the calipers with new seals and replace the OEM brake lines.

Cleaning the caliper pistons w/o removing them works for most, but if the pistons and/or their bores are especially dirty, the real fix is to remove them, replace the seals, and reinstall the pistons after cleaning everything thoroughly.

The brake lines may need replacement because they will swell--the increased volume of the lines when they swell is where that brake fluid is going when you pump the lever or experience excessive lever travel. You'll notice on the '08 and newer Touring models that a hard plastic brake line is used to accommodate the higher hydraulic pressures of the Brembo system.

Shoot me a PM if you want a great deal on new HD stainless front brake lines to replace the OEM rubber lines on your bike.

Carl

 

Have a 2011 flhx and just had the dealer install my prime apes and all new braided lines. Now the front brake lever feels soft and I have to pull it half way or more to have the brakes engage. I'm guessing I have to bleeding the system?

 

Could you send the link to the fix? I am having the same problem on a 2001 Road King. Both front and rear brakes seem to have a lot of travel before applying. There is no problem stopping...just seems like a lot of slack to get braking action.

 

Superfluous.

 

I was curious so I went out and measured my 2003 Ultra and the lever travel is consistent at 1/2 inch.

I took this bike on as a restore project last summer and I rebuilt or replaced the entire system from the master to the disks (the right disk was warped, so I replaced them both with new take-offs). I used MoCo brand master and caliper rebuild kits, with new pistons for the calipers, ECB Semi-Sintered V-Pads, and Magnum brake lines. It was expensive, more than it cost to do the front brakes on my F-150, but these brakes are perfect...

 

I have just purchase a 2003 FLHRCI anniversary Road King and having exactly the same issue. I have a '96 Road king and the front brake lever is perfect, comes in about 1/2 " and stops perfectly. The 2003, the lever comes back nearly all the way to the throttle and feels like a wet sponge. I sucked all the old fluid out - which was a yellow / green colour? - should be purple if dot 5? Anyhow, open bleeder valves and put compressed air from master cylinder to flush out any thing else. Then filled up with fresh dot 5, bled both calipers and absolutely NO difference. After the reading all of the thread above I'm going to now take off the calipers and try extending the pistons out and cleaning them as to me, it doesn't feel like they are returning home correctly. The guy I bought the bike from did stuff all miles on it and very little maintenance apart from engine/trans oil changes. I feel this is consistent with not riding enough!! The brake lines are pretty rusty and shitty looking, so will be replacing them anyway - but in the meantime, going to try the above ideas and see how I go. Not sure about the advice to buy a new Master cylinder though? Mine looks fine inside.