Topic: Bleeding the brakes - getting good seal

[eigenvector]

I have started using a vacuum bleeder on my brakes - MityVac and on the pickup it worked wonderful.  What I find on the bikes though is that I'm having a terrible time getting a good seal.  At least not one that I don't have to hold and manipulate the whole time.  The nipple on the brakes is pretty small, and the distance between the crown and the nut is short enough that there's not a lot for the line to grab onto.

How do you guys get good worry-free seals when using vacuum bleeders?  I've seen suggestions for using zip-ties to bind the hose on - which I suppose could work.  I personally have tried using grease to fill the gaps between the end of the hose and the crown on the bleeder valve.

[Johnie]

I use the Mity Vac and the smallest hose that comes with it on the 750's. I use a needle nose pliers to spread the hose and then force it on. Never had a leak and creates a tight seal.

[Davez134]

My mity vac came with black rubber adapter hoses of different sizes, which easily create a tight fit over the bleeder. I can send you pictures of my setup in the morning when I get home from work. Do you have those and its still not sealing?

[eigenvector]

Yeah.  I think the biggest issue I run into is the hose that comes with it is basically permanently coiled and harder than a rock which only makes it that much harder to work the pump and turn the bleeder valve (as needed). 

I'm guessing the answer there is to get better hoses.   I didn't find those rubber fittings to be better though.

What I'm reading here is that I just need better lines/hoses.  The ones I got are just too hard.

[Steve_K]

You are are right, the clear tubes do not last forever.  The brake fluid hardens the tube in time.  Get new and all should be good.
Steve

[Johnie]

My clear tubes are still soft. I have the large tube connected to the cup then the adapter to the smaller clear hose. Spread the hose end a bit so I can get it on the bleeder. I wonder if the Vac is coming with cheaper hoses now? If you want a pic of my set up let me know.

[nccb]

I couldn't get my mighty vac to work but more than likely I wasn't using it right. I bought a speed bleeder and it worked wonderfully


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[eigenvector]

On my 750 the speed bleeder worked wonderfully, on the 550 it didn't work well.

I don't think I need a pic of the setup Jonnie (thanks for the offer regardless), like I say it worked well for the pickup truck - but that was before the hoses turned into rocks from the brake fluid.  Dumb me for not flushing them out after bleeding the brakes.  Maybe go with Tygon lines, something that is more flexible than poly tubing.

[Johnie]

Maybe that was the issue. I always flushed all my lines when I was done. They are still soft.

[Some Dude]

Mine are broken off on my calipers front and back.... so on my front brake I just pumped the brake slowly waited for the bubbles to finish doing what they do then repeat. And my back was a bit tricky to figure  out but I found that if I kept the reservoir cap on pumped and held it then slowly opened the cap it had the same effect as the front. I just repeated until the bubbles stopped and they are as good as gold.