Mountain Biking - hayes hfx9

right im havin a problem with my hayes hfx9's couple of weeks ago i had them re tightened then a few days later they come real loose again and now they are ridicously loose dont start brakin the bike until the lever is about half an inch from the handlebar, im wondering how to tighten them up im never to hydro's and never tightened them up before so if ya wanna help out you'll have to tell me what to adjust here n there, thanks in advanc :D

Do a search. Its a common problem :)...use loctite.

right im havin a problem with my hayes hfx9's couple of weeks ago i had them re tightened then a few days later they come real loose again and now they are ridicously loose dont start brakin the bike until the lever is about half an inch from the handlebar, im wondering how to tighten them up im never to hydro's and never tightened them up before so if ya wanna help out you'll have to tell me what to adjust here n there, thanks in advanc :D

This is a very common issue with the Hayes. I've had the adjusting screw loosen on me during a long ride - very annoying and dangerous.

For this procedure, you'll need a 2mm Allen wrench and a few drops of a thread locking compound, like Locktite "blue" - (I think the product number is 242). Most "multi-tools" have a 2mm Allen wrench, but often hard to use because of clearance. You can go to a hardware store and buy a single, 2mm wrench for like 50 cents.

Locate the adjusting screw, which is by the pivot of the brake levers. The screw essentially sets the amount of travel needed to activate the hydrualic plunger to activate the brakes. Turn the screw clockwise and the levers grab the brakes quicker.

My trick is to expose as much screw thread as possible by turning the screw counterclockwise, place a drop of Locktite onto the thread, turn the screw clockwise until the levers are set to my preference. Basically, that's it. And let the Locktite set for the recommended period, like 24 hours.

A second trick is to dab the Locktite onto the end of a toothpick and then dab that onto the threads. It's easier to place the Locktite onto the screw without getting it onto undersireable areas, like the pivot.

Good luck.

so i basically just take the little rubber bit off, unscrew it some and cover in some loctite then screw back ?, look forward to your reply, thanks

so i basically just take the little rubber bit off, unscrew it some and cover in some loctite then screw back ?, look forward to your reply, thanks

Mine doesn't have a "rubber bit". When I look at my adjusting screw, all I see is the head of the screw (Allen head). The head is exposed. It's a fairly small screw head.

I'm going to take a pic of mine...I want someone to edit the photo with paint and mark WHICH screw...BRB

its the screw in the lever body look down the inside of the lever itself.

pix...someone please mark...maybe this can be added to the mechanics section or something?

that screw?

that screw?

Yup, that's the one I'm talking about.

I noticed your Cygo HIDs. I'm looking into HIDs and am using JET halogens at the moment. You like the Cygos? Speaking of, I'm heading for a night ride now!

Cygo :D I like mine alot, I posted a pic of how it projects....I also just adjusted my brakes, I so did not know that screw was there....rock on.

I have trouble with bloody brake modulation screws too!!!
I have Dice Wiplash hydros on front and rear, the front modulation screw is the only one that is a ***** to me.
I found some super old loctite that is obversly not to strong seing it doesnt hold the threds for too long mayb 2 weeks? Maybe Time to go to the hardware and buy some blue? Loctite is so FU&^ing expensive! Like $20 AUS. Their is some at school in the technology area :P . But its red meaning the screw wound neva budge again...

cya kid

Actually, I used the red on my transmission pan bolts and it came loose, if you read the labeling it said will come loose with hand tools...you could use the red stuff if you wanted to.

try plumbers tape if loctite is unavailable or too expensive