Mountain Biking - Hayes HFX-9 problem..

i have a P.3, with Hayes HFX-9 Hydros, but lever for the back brake keeps getting REALLY spongey, and i had my LBS bleed it, but within an hour or so, it was already losing power and getting spongey again.

why does this happen? are my brakes totally destroyed or something?


thanks a lot!

-thedopefish

tighten down the limiting screw on them. That'll make it so there's less throw in the lever

It's the lever-reach adjustment that gets messed up. HFX-9's are notorious for it.

Just loc-tite the adjustment in the position you want... but only use ONE drop of loc-tite.. or it'll drip down into the cylinder, and make your lever feel sticky.

The brake isn't messed up... it's just the darned reach adjustment likes to "auto adjust itself" ...

-Matt

I'm having the same problem. I'm taking my bike to the LBS later today.

http://www.hopetech.com/images/new/mono_4_caliper_&_disc.gif

http://www.hopetech.com/images/new/Miini_lever.gif

The LBS guy is rebleeding them. If that does solve it I might drop Hayes all together and go with Hopes.

I have Hope Minis on my bike and they're no easier to maintain than Hayes, and actually are kind of finicky. Some shops won't deal with them since they can be so touchy. When they're working they're great and the overall design of them is pretty simple too. If i were you i wouldn't give up on the Hayes yet and take a look at that lever reach adjustment. I had the same thing

Guys, Hayes are GREAT brakes. The only poorly designed ones are the HFX-9's.

Get yourself a set of Mag's, or Mag Plus's... and you'll never have to look back again.

The HFX-9's are the only "bad" Hayes. Don't let them steer you away from their other systems. The Mags, and the Mag pluses make the HFX series feel like wal-mart quality.

-Matt

It's the lever-reach adjustment that gets messed up. HFX-9's are notorious for it.

Just loc-tite the adjustment in the position you want... but only use ONE drop of loc-tite.. or it'll drip down into the cylinder, and make your lever feel sticky.

The brake isn't messed up... it's just the darned reach adjustment likes to "auto adjust itself" ...

-Matt


All it takes is a 2mm Allen-type wrench. I've experienced this problem and the screw would back out after an hour or two of riding - very annoying and dangerous.

For applying the Loc-Tite, I put a dab on the end of a fat toothpick and transferred it onto the threads.

I also turned the screw beyond its ideal location, applied the Loc-tite and turned the screw to its ideal position to ensure the Loc-Tite got into the mating threads.

All it takes is a 2mm Allen-type wrench. I've experienced this problem and the screw would back out after an hour or two of riding - very annoying and dangerous.

For applying the Loc-Tite, I put a dab on the end of a fat toothpick and transferred it onto the threads.

I also turned the screw beyond its ideal location, applied the Loc-tite and turned the screw to its ideal position to ensure the Loc-Tite got into the mating threads.


Thats exactly how I apply it to mine. They've been staying in the same position for a week now.

-Matt

I've had my HFX-9's for abiut a week now, and ithere dosnt seem to be any problems as of yet, but i've read some bad reviews abou them, does something always go wrong with them?

yeah i have the same problem, feels spongy , prolly need to bleed it again

so, i just have to adfust the screw on the lever and all my problems will be solved?

The LBS is bleeding my brakes, hopefully. I brought it in Monday and they said it would be done Thursday. I hate when the smaller LBS isn't open. They do stuff that day!

It's the limiting screw. Make sure they tighten it for you otherwise the brakes will still feel spongey.

so, i just have to adfust the screw on the lever and all my problems will be solved?

Try that first - it's a no cost fix. Hopefully, that's the problem.