Front brake travel survey/query

[wizz]

guys

just wondering how much front brake travel i should be getting, measuring the travel of the end of the lever i am getting 1.5 to 1.75" which is far more than the book suggests. brakes have been bleed so once they do bite they are nice and firm. what sort of brake travel are you guys getting? i have a 1980 cb550f2 by the way Ta   

[hairygit]

Sounds rather excessive to me Have you adjusted the caliper correctly?

[wizz]

no i haven't how do you do that 

[hairygit]

It is done by adjusting the small diameter bolt/locknut which goes through the caliper arm. The fixed pad should be 6 thou from the disc, put a feeler gauge between the pad and the disc, then adjust the bolt/locknut to get the correct clearance. Once you have done this correctly I'm certain you will have much less free play at the lever. This measurement needs to be checked periodically as when the pads wear, the clearance will increase and need adjusting again, but it really is very simple to do  

[Bryanj]

The lever travel is in two parts
(1) free play before the lever touches the piston

(2) play before the brake comes on

Can you split the total you have into the two bits?