Every time I drive the deuce, I check the brakes by holding firm pressure on the peddle for several seconds to make sure they're holding and not leaking down. I do this every time I start it up and occasionally at red lights, etc.
The other day I was leaving a friend's house with the deuce, pulling a trailer with his truck on it. A couple miles from his house is a steep hill. I stopped at the top of the hill to check the brakes, and they sank to the floor.
I got out to look and there was brake fluid on top of the first rear axle. There was no place to turn around with the trailer so I had to back up about 200 yards to an intersection to turn around, and drove slow back to my friend's house. You can't see it very well in the pic, but there's a pinhole leak about 4" up from the crimp.
I left the deuce there and had him drive me home. I searched SS and the internet for new brake hoses. I wanted to put braided stainless hoses back on it instead of rubber, figuring there would be less chance of failure. One place online that could make them wanted 2.5 times the cost of rubber ones! After some phone calls and driving around, I found a hose shop that had the end fittings in stock and made braided stainless hoses while I waited, for not a whole lot more than rubber.
I replaced the two rear hoses at my friend's house, bled the rear brakes, and drove it home without further issues. I would like to eventually convert to a dual brake system to make sure I'll still have brakes if something leaks/fails again. I just don't like not having a backup system.
The stainless hose is US made. The old rubber one said "Japan" on it.