Author Topic: brake bleeding (Read 4200 times)

solman · « **on:** June 10, 2007, 05:32:40 PM »

I swapped my rear brake line to a steel braided line. For the life of me, I can not get any pressure out of it. I have been spending hours on it and still nothing. I have done this process on my other bike many times, so I know how to do it. It just does not want to cooperate. Any ideas?

ZenMan · « **Reply #1 on:** June 10, 2007, 05:47:45 PM »

Are you sure there were no blockages in the new line when you put it on?

Do you think you might have installed it incorrectly somehow?

If there's no blockages and it is installed properly, then you might have an air lock. You'll have to find some way to force the fluid through the system. That means sucking or blowing.

If you have a vaccum pump, put it on the open bleeder nipple and pump until you get fluid. Or put a clear hose on the bleeder and suck on it while pumping the pedal. (Yep, you just might get some in your mouth this way.)

Or, apply pressure to the reservoir and force the fluid through. Or rig up a large syringe or turkey baster with a hose and try pumping fluid through the new brake line, then re-attach it to the master cylinder.

Hey, you asked for ideas...

solman · « **Reply #2 on:** June 10, 2007, 05:51:49 PM »

I am getting fluid thru the line and I did get some air out. I may have to break down and get a vacuum pump. I've had problems like this before, but nothing to this extent.

ZenMan · « **Reply #3 on:** June 10, 2007, 05:55:58 PM »

Quote from: "solman"

I am getting fluid thru the line and I did get some air out. I may have to break down and get a vacuum pump. I've had problems like this before, but nothing to this extent.

If you have anything like a plastic syringe you can use it as a vaccum pump... the fluid will probably ruin it, though.

Even a medical syringe with a hose from it to your bleeder nipple, draw the plunger out to suck fluid. (Take the needle off, of course!)

We have a few laying around from giving shots to livestock. You can find them at a feed store cheap... get the biggest they have.

ZenMan · « **Reply #4 on:** June 10, 2007, 05:59:32 PM »

How about one of those syringes you use to fill printer ink cartridges?

Improvise!

Red01 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 11, 2007, 11:47:02 AM »

Go ask the nearest doctors office if you can get an irrigation syringe from them. You can also find them at Cenex or other farm/animal supply sources.

pmackie · « **Reply #6 on:** June 11, 2007, 01:59:09 PM »

Solman

Remember that there are TWO bleeders on the rear. Inside and outside pistons. Make sure you bleed both.

PaulVS · « **Reply #7 on:** June 12, 2007, 01:09:16 AM »

Quote from: "pmackie"

Solman

Remember that there are TWO bleeders on the rear. Inside and outside pistons. Make sure you bleed both.

Yes indeed... there is a front & rear bleeder on the rear... and you need to bleed both.

solman · « **Reply #8 on:** June 14, 2007, 08:24:16 PM »

Yeah, I know about both bleeders, thx. I was about to spend $45 on a vacuum bleeder, but decided to hod off. I am glad I did because I finally got it to build up pressure and bleed the rest of the air out. Once I finally got it start coming out, it just kept coming till it was free and clear. That was the most horrible time I have ever had bleeding brakes. I ran into another problem when I rode it. It was dragging, but I think I got it fixed.

solman · « **Reply #9 on:** June 15, 2007, 11:26:25 PM »

I figured out something on the topic of bleeding brakes. When I rode it for the first time after bleeding the brakes, my rear brake was sticking really bad. I figured out the problem and it turned out to be something simple, but made sense. I pressed the brake down and then bled it. By doing so, it released the pressure and not the piston. The piston stayed pressed against the rotor. So what I did was bled a little bit of fluid and then pushed the pistons all the way out. It works like it is suppose to now.