Trying to bleed front brake

Energy One
stlmikie

stlmikie

I wish I had more money.
So I put new handle bars on the bike. I put a new brake line on as well. I'm trying to bleed the brake now and I can't get any pressure built up what so ever. I got some bubbles. Now I have no bubble at all but still no pressure. Where have I gone wrong? Up till now I've not had any problems with the brakes. Ever.
 
erldawg

erldawg

Guru
Try taking the cover off master cylinder fill with fluid and open bleeder and let it gravity bleed a bit. Close the bleeder and pump it up for the conventional bleed.

I'm sure you know that Brake Fluid will eat your paint so be careful...
 
stlmikie

stlmikie

I wish I had more money.
I'll give it a shot. Thanks Erldawg. Keep en coming if you ha ve any more suggestions. Please.
 
B

bigdogtech01

Well-Known Member
erldawg said:
Try taking the cover off master cylinder fill with fluid and open bleeder and let it gravity bleed a bit. Close the bleeder and pump it up for the conventional bleed.

I'm sure you know that Brake Fluid will eat your paint so be careful...
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Its always a good idea to cover your paint no matter what...but, DOT 5 will not harm your paint like DOT 3 and 4. DOT 5 is silicone based, the others are Glycol based. Never mix DOT 5 with 3 or 4.

As far as pumping up. Try puting your finger over the return hole while pumping it a few times. The return is the smaller hole down inside the master Cyl. The one that lets the bubbles out. If you can't gain any pressure that way, you might have to force the fluid up from the Brake Caliper bleed screw, into the Master Cyl. To do so you will need the tool to do this. Cost around $25 at most bike shops.
 
Little-Boo

Little-Boo

Well-Known Member
Troop Supporter
Mickie you can also close the bleed at that caliper and take the cover off the master cylinder make sure it is full and pull the handle nice and easy so that it won't squirt all over. Keep doing that till you build pressure you will see lots of bubbles as it builds pressure. Once the handle gets stiff you can bleed at the caliper to catch any bubble that didn't make it out the master cylinder.

Good Luck

Carlos
 
mobsta

mobsta

Well-Known Member
Don't need anything but a cheap oil can.Put a hose on it that fits tight and fill with brake fluid,hook other end to bleeder on caliper.Open bleeder slightly and squirt fluid back up to the master as already stated.Oil can works great and inexpensive.Just my 2cents.
 
big dog jr

big dog jr

New Member
I had the same problem and after about an hour I couldn't get pressure or all the air out I realized that the crush washer on the banjo bolt was not sealing totally and letting air back into the line. Make sure the brass crush washes are facing the right way and are very tight. It took a while to figure out due to it wasn't leaking fluid because it wouldn't build up pressure.
 
G

gonebroke

Member
The guys are correct! Reverse bleeding is always the preferred method, plus no mess if you are have patience Ron :up:
 
CCRainman

CCRainman

Well-Known Member
I have used a big syringe with a hose attached to it to reverse bleed. This is really inexpensive and a great way to bleed.
 
stlmikie

stlmikie

I wish I had more money.
Got it with the mighty vac. The issue was my blessed valve had a little slop in it so I was pulling air around it.
 
Scottie

Scottie

Member
Are the brass crush washers unidirectional?

big dog jr said:
I had the same problem and after about an hour I couldn't get pressure or all the air out I realized that the crush washer on the banjo bolt was not sealing totally and letting air back into the line. Make sure the brass crush washes are facing the right way and are very tight. It took a while to figure out due to it wasn't leaking fluid because it wouldn't build up pressure.
Click to expand...
 
awg

awg

Guru
Well I got a clear hose put it on the bleeder screw and sucked the fluid through. Being a clear hose you know when to stop. I to could not get any pressure any other way. I tries pumping the brake lever....I left the bleeder opened and let it drain. Only thing that worked for me was what I mentioned above.
 
BWG56

BWG56

Guru
I have left it sit overnight and then removed the master cylinder cover and just tapped the lever and watched the tiny bubbles come out.
 
W

WideOpenRider

New Member
Copper Crush Washers

big dog jr said:
I had the same problem and after about an hour I couldn't get pressure or all the air out I realized that the crush washer on the banjo bolt was not sealing totally and letting air back into the line. Make sure the brass crush washes are facing the right way and are very tight. It took a while to figure out due to it wasn't leaking fluid because it wouldn't build up pressure.
Click to expand...
Thanks, Steve! I'm going to try that. The copper crush washers that I paid close to $3/pc for at a local dealer were more anemic than the ones I replaced and I was a little skeptical about them sealing sufficiently.

P.S. I see we are basically neighbors in the world of Big Dog owners. Maybe we can ride sometime :)
 
07bigdog

07bigdog

07BIGDOG
Little-Boo said:
Mickie you can also close the bleed at that caliper and take the cover off the master cylinder make sure it is full and pull the handle nice and easy so that it won't squirt all over. Keep doing that till you build pressure you will see lots of bubbles as it builds pressure. Once the handle gets stiff you can bleed at the caliper to catch any bubble that didn't make it out the master cylinder.

Good Luck

Carlos
Click to expand...
I agree with Carlos. This is the only way that works for me. I also replaced my crush washer.
 
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