How do i adjust the rear brakes on a v-star 650?

Adjust the master cylinder piston rod longer or shorter thats it, longer rod less travel. !!!!

There are usually two ways to go about adjusting the rear brakes, both involve getting the rear wheels off the ground on jack stands. Look for a small oval shaped rubber plug near the top on the brake backing plate where the brake line goes, there is a star adjuster wheel inside, with screwdriver rotate the wheel upward, there will be a clicking noise, ecah click tightens the brake, rotate the wheel while doing this until the wheel has a slight drag while rotating then stop. The other whay is to remove the wheel and the brake drum, then adjust the star adjuster a little at a time until the brake drums just fits over the brake shoes.

need more info---did you have brakes worked on, did it happen all of a sudden???

thay are pad's if it's a drum style brake if it;s a disk brake it will need pad's

1. Raise and support the rear of the vehicle on jackstands.
   
2. Remove the wheels and tire assemblies.
   
3. Remove the brake shoe adjusting slot cover from the rear of backing plate.
   
4. Insert a thin tool through the adjusting slot and hold the adjusting lever away from the star wheel.
   
5. Insert an adjusting tool and back off the star wheel by prying downward with the tool.
   
6. Remove the center hub dust cover, nut, washer, brake drum, hub and wheel bearings.
   

To install:

1. Inspect the brake lining and drum for wear.
   
2. Inspect the wheel cylinder for leakage. Service as required.
   
3. Remove, clean, inspect and repack the wheel bearings.
   
4. Install the brake drum and tighten the hub nut to 20-25 ft. lbs. (27-34 Nm), then back off the nut until bearing pressure is released.
   
5. Retighten the nut finger tight, align the cotter pin hole and install the cotter pin.
   
6. Adjust the rear brakes as described in the beginning of this section.
   

Removing the rear drum adjusting hole cover plug

The adjuster is just like on a car with drum brakes. It can be adjusted with the wheels still on the truck, but if yours is out enough that it doesn't work, an inspection is warranted. Axle seal failure is common and will soak the shoes.

Jacked both rear wheels off ground, and while slowly spinning wheel, tighten the star-wheel adjuster until you just hear and feel brake drums rubbing, then loosened slightly.
There's a plastic dust cover about 1/4" X 1" that you remove, and use a drum brake adjuster tool.

The driverside access hole is below axle, easily accessable. To tighten driver side rear parking brake, turn star-wheel adjuster down.


The passengerside access hole is found above axle, and difficult to see. Removed pass side wheel and used an inspection mirror.
To tighten passenger side rear parking brake, turn star-wheel adjuster up.

Good luck and hope this helps. Oh and the other thing to is that if you do smell axle fluid around the wheels and see oil leaking from the drum area. Then you have a axle wheel seal and or bearing gone bad too.

under the left side of the gas tank you will see i black knob/screw at the end of what looks like a hose. the knob faces the rear of bike. that adjusts the idle. its real easy to find and the only adjustment you can make to the carbs.