Topic: Yet another "bleed the brakes" story.....

[techy5025]

Well.......

....after spending two days trying to bleed the front brake I finally came
up with a solution.

After disassembling and cleaning the master cylinder and caliper, replacing
the 35 year old brake lines with stainless ones, putting a new kit in
the master cylinder, new pads, etc. ......  I struggled to get all the
air out of the system.

The normal method of loosening and tightning the bleed screw didn't
work.  I decided that the new lines, banjo bolts, and orifice restrictors
did not allow air to be forced out the system from the top to the
bleeder valve on the caliper.  Squeezing on the brake lever did not
compress the air in the lines enough to force the fluid through so all
I was doing was moving air back and forth in the master cylinder.

So what I wound up doing was filling the caliper through the bleeder
valve then tightening it and then never touching it again. Once I had
done that, I squeezed the brake lever two or three times fully, waited
about five seconds, and then just barely moved it...maybe a quarter inch
or so.  Each time four or five air bubbles would come out, and after 15
minutes or so it got really firm and seems to work fine.  I think this
let the air bubbles slowly work up the lines to the cylinder.

For about 14 of the 15 minutes, the lever gave no indication progress
was being made.  Listen learned......be patient as it only takes a minute
amount of air to make the feel totally limp.  I tried several times and
gave up....took the master cylinder apart twice (thought I had assembled
it wrong...or had a bad part) when probably just continuing would have
been successful.

BTW...the Honda service manual that I have (a real one) is wrong in the
exploded view of the master cylinder as it doesn't show one of the seals
assembled over the piston....but in front of it.

I don't remember having this bleeding problem with the old brake lines.
Maybe there's something about the new stainless ones that is harder to
bleed.  They sure give a lot firmer brake lever though....and we all know
firmer is better right! 

So I have really firm brakes but as it has rained for the last four days in
Fla., I haven't "road tested" it yet.  The saga continues...

Sorry for the long post....

Jim

[eldar]

Where did you get your lines and how much?

[techy5025]

Eldar,

I got the lines from Cycle Brakes.   They did not have a pattern, so I sent
them the lines to match.  The stainless ones are smaller in diameter and
have a plastic rather than a rubber outer finish....slightly different banjo
ends....made by Galfer.

They will return your old lines....and give you new banjo bolts and crush
washers.

The cost was $104.60 including shipping.

Jim

[eldar]

Is that a local place or do they have a website?

[Chris Liston]

I don't understand why so many people have brake bleeding issues.  I get mine done in about 10-15 minutes tops.  1 or 2 person job and never have any issues.

maybe I'm lucky.

[dusterdude]

well i used a hand vacuum pump,no sweat at all.

[Steve F]

well i used a hand vacuum pump,no sweat at all.

I too use the vacuum method, and 5 minutes (10 minutes for front AND rear) max.  Just keep the fluid level topped off as you go, and there's no easier job to do on these bikes.  Pumping the lever is a waste of time.

[jimbo]

The method I use is quick and simple.  I remove the banjo bolt from the bottom of the top brake hose.  I then loop the hose back up to the filled bowl of my master cylinder.  Then, I gently pump until the fluid comes out without bubbles.  Of course, watching the fluid level and toping off as necessary.  Then, I replace the hose and banjo bolt and bleed through the caliper.

This is the same bench bleed method I used for old Chevy master cylinders.  I tried the bubble method but it took too long.

[techy5025]

Eldar,

Site is  www.cyclebrakes .com..  They have an 800 number
for ordering.

Jim

[Terry in Australia]

Get a 10 foot length of clear plastic hose, loosen the bleed screw, take the lid off your reservoir, and suck the brake fluid out via the hose. It takes about 10 minutes total. Don't swallow the brake fluid, it tastes almost as bad as English beer! Cheers, Terry.

[74cb750]

Maybe not as bad as English beer, but definitely very, very close to tasting like Aussie beer, non?
michel

[Terry in Australia]

Maybe not as bad as English beer, but definitely very, very close to tasting like Aussie beer, non?
michel

Non! Michel mon ami, je vous dois pour ces verrous de siège, ainsi je ne vous taquinerai pas, mais si vous m'exigez twell de volonté chacun que vous buvez la pisse d'orignaux ! À la votre, Terry.

[mick750F]

Maybe not as bad as English beer, but definitely very, very close to tasting like Aussie beer, non?
michel

Non! Michel mon ami, je vous dois pour ces verrous de siège, ainsi je ne vous taquinerai pas, mais si vous m'exigez twell de volonté chacun que vous buvez la pisse d'orignaux ! À la votre, Terry.

And the Google translation is....

Not!  Michel my friend, I owe you for these bolts of seat, thus I will not tease you, but if you require me twell will each one which you drink the piss of mooses!  With your, Terry.