Topic: No Bleed Nipple (that'll catch a few Googlers)

[SteveD CB500F]

Went for a ride on Jim Shea's '76 F1 on Sunday - nice and smooth (now I want a 750 too...)

The front brake caliper has no bleed nipple (that I could see). The caliper looks identical to those on my 500 and 550 - that's with the brake pipe central, rather than offset as on other 750's I've looked at.

Q1: Did the (UK) F1 have this sort of caliper?
Q2: If so, has the PO broken/filed/filled/painted the bloody thing?
Q3: If so, good UK source for replacement?

1st pic is what I expected
2nd pic is what is fitted

[dusterdude]

verrrry interesting

[Bob Wessner]

What is that brass fitting with the cap on it just in front of the brake pipe?

[Einyodeler]

You beat me to it ,Bob.
Yes that`s the bleed nipple under the cap,mine`s the same

[Gordon]

I was thinking the same thing, but figured that's just an example picture and the one he's talking about doesn't have the bleed nipple.

[dusterdude]

good eyes bob

[SteveD CB500F]

Cut it out you lot ...

The pic is an example (filched of eBay) for "illustrative purposes".

Now answer the question...

[dusterdude]

its ok steve,we all have our days 

[mick750F]

   I can't imagine a caliper not having a bleeder. How would it be filled to begin with? I'd remove the paint where it's supposed to be. Odds are you'll find where it was. Can't imagine why someone would conceal rather than replace unless they were just a fool...or perhaps concealing to sell, hoping a potential buyer wouldn't see a missing bleeder as opposed to a broken one. As for replacement...davidsilver?

Mike

[Jonesy]

When I bought a CB360 for my wife, it had the same (lower picture) caliper. The bleeder screw was busted clean off. (I'm starting to think this caliper style had a penchant for doing this...) I got a nice used one off eBay pretty cheap, and they come up often.

I think the 750A also used that type of caliper.

[SteveD CB500F]

So to get back to the original question - did the F1 come with this caliper?

If we need a replacement, we should try to find the correct part (as opposed to replacing something that was wrong in the first place)

[Mark M]

Steve, can't help with your missing bleeder, but the F1 has the unfinned caliper shown with left right apartures for hose/bleed rather than the earlier fore/aft arrangement.
I've got a cople sitting arround doing nothing, would need a good clean up and possably even pistons. Yours for the postage, let
me know if you want one fished out for a better inspection.
Mark 

[SteveD CB500F]

Thanks Mark. As this is Jim's bike, I'll pass on the message.

Dave - it seems that it WAS standard on the F1 - but wasn't the disk bigger?

[Jim Shea]

I looked on a F1 parts manual and it seems that the bleed nipple should be where it is shown in Steve's photo(un finned one), so somehow it has been removed!!
I also checked on David Silver web site, I could not see a replacement??
Mark, if you could find one that is OK that would be great and I will sort out the postage. Do you know what diameter the disk is on a 76 F1?
Cheers,
Jim.

[TwoTired]

Oh, I suppose no one wants to hear this.  But, I just can't help myself...

The single caliper SOHC4's can be bled without the nipple at the caliper. Proper positioning of the bike components, and a bit of patience will allow all the air to exit at that small hole in the master reservior.

Cheers,

[Einyodeler]

I got this caliper as part of a CB500 parts box off of e-Bay , it had new seal and piston installed but the bleed nipple was broken off and JB Welded shut.When I got the `72  it didn`t have one so I used it for a couple of weeks until I found another,now it`s on the `73 ex-parts bike.

[mick750F]

Oh, I suppose no one wants to hear this.  But, I just can't help myself...

The single caliper SOHC4's can be bled without the nipple at the caliper. Proper positioning of the bike components, and a bit of patience will allow all the air to exit at that small hole in the master reservior.

Cheers,

Party pooper

Mike

[Bob Wessner]

Proper positioning of the bike components, and a bit of patience will allow all the air to exit at that small hole in the master reservior.

TwoTired,

Interesting, can you go into a little more detail? It might come in handy some time, you never know. Thanks.

[TwoTired]

Proper positioning of the bike components, and a bit of patience will allow all the air to exit at that small hole in the master reservior.

TwoTired,

Interesting, can you go into a little more detail? It might come in handy some time, you never know. Thanks.

http://sohc4.us/?q=node/50
Wrote it up years ago, it's in here under brake bleeding.  I've been told it's a crock of sh*t and a waste of time.  But, it works for me.
Cheers,

[Bob Wessner]

Thanks, good detail. I had a M/C reanodized this past summer and will get an "opportunity"  to try this out when I do the swap.

[SteveD CB500F]

 I remembered your posts about brake bleeding via the MCc, Lloyd.

As Jim has never done this before, I thought it would be better starting from the "book" method (sorry Jim, I don't mean to patronise, but you should at least try it both ways.

DSS doesn't have replacement parts, and looking at the prices, I'm not so sure that isn't a bad thing.

Cut a deal with Mark on his parts and we'll fix up that front caliper (yes, I am volunteering)

[bryanj]

The F1 caliper looks the same as the 500 one and the piston seal is the same but i think the two bolts are farther apart, not 100% sure so tell me if i'm wrong. The 750 disc is a bigger diameter with the caliper further up the slider than a 500. These bleed nipples are VERY prone to snapping and basically should always be warmed up with a plumbers butane torch and sprayed with WD40 before putting a spanner anywhere near them (Just like Fiats). I will bet if you look closley the bleeder has been sheared of and filed down--DO NOT TRY AN EASYOUT it wont work and will probably shear in there to make it worse!!

[Clyde]

An F1 caliper piston is definitely bigger than the K1-K6 and I think the 500 piston diameter is the same as the K1-6. I do not believe the 500 seal will fit the F1 although it will fit the K1-K6. An F/F1 caliper looks similar to the 500 caliper but is bigger allround.
My F/F1 brakes are noticeably better than the early K due to the better area ratio
K7/K8's also used the F/F1 caliper

[Mark M]

Jim,
I will have a good rummage at the weekend, the discs are the same size - at least all the discs I have come accross so far have all been the same, I havn't actually checked the part numbers.

The bleed is a smaller size than the earlier K ones so is much more prone to sheering. very like my Kawasaki ones which snap off if you just think about bleeding the brakes 

[mcpuffett]

ok just my 2 penneth, i have 2 750 f1's, my daily rider is a 76 and should have the caliper in the bottom picture, but i had the same problem, i sheered off the bleed nipple and tried drilling out the nipple but with no look, dave silvers does'nt have the bodies for the caliper ,so i sourced a earlier k caliper and modified the arm with a file coz the k caliper has a different outline to the f caliper ,also the k caliper has a bigger bleed nipple and is less likely to snap off,and i have had no problems with this modification,  JIM stafford show is on this weekend and there is a stand just inside the gate usually called ( ON ALL FOURS) he may have one also there are a lot of other auto jumble stalls there you may be lucky? hope this helps    mick.(750 f1 guruish lol).