Brake Bleeding Tip
they bleed so fast with 2 poeple... have one guy down on the bleeder, 1 guy on the lever... pump 4 or 5 times hold the lever in, crack open the bleeder (wiht hose running into fluid) then close it, release the lever and pump again, and repeat, take about 3 - 5 min to bleed them out...
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
From: Fountain Hills AZ
Here is an old school trick I learned from my Grandfather,,Put a clear line on an oil can squirter ,Fill with brake fluid and install on the bleeder,,Fill from the bottom up,,,Pushes all air out,,I have been using the method for 40+ years and it works great,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,, 
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,390
Likes: 2
From: Western KY
This is a neat idea, and it does work. When I changed bars, and had to bleed my new brake line, I just treated her like an old high school fling....pump and dump baby! Even got the wife involved in it, which she loves. She likes to be involved with the things I love to do. But all the ideas in this thread are good ways to get the job done.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,557
Likes: 235
From: Texas
I tried this tying the lever down when I rebuilt my front brake system and it did not work por caca! Thinking back on how the master cylinder works, I realized that with the lever fully pulled, the piston is fully bottomed out on the pressure stroke and the holes in the bottom of the reservoir are blocked so how can the air get back to the reservoir to bleed out???
I tried the tie down trick, vacuum bleeding, and every other trick I could find but what I did that finally worked was to bleed the reservoir by holding my finger over the line hole and pumping until there was no air coming out, then connected the line with new banjo washers and bled the line by pinching the caliper end between my thumb and forefinger until there was no air coming out, reconnecting it with new banjo washers, then finally bleeding the caliper by opening and closing the bleeder valve. Keep the fluid off of your paint. I also learned that DOT 5 fluid will collect a lot of microscopic air bubbles suspended in the fluid and it may need to set undisturbed for awhile to allow all of the air to collect in larger bubbles before you can bleed it all out and I think this is what is happening when you tie down the handle. I observed that you see the air bubbles in the reservoir when you release the lever, not when you pull it...
I am kinda new with motorcycle maintenance, but I have bled a lot of small airplane brake systems and they are the same...in fact, the part number for the rear master cylinder on my '01 SG crosses over to Cessna and Piper...(I thought that thing looked familiar!)
I tried the tie down trick, vacuum bleeding, and every other trick I could find but what I did that finally worked was to bleed the reservoir by holding my finger over the line hole and pumping until there was no air coming out, then connected the line with new banjo washers and bled the line by pinching the caliper end between my thumb and forefinger until there was no air coming out, reconnecting it with new banjo washers, then finally bleeding the caliper by opening and closing the bleeder valve. Keep the fluid off of your paint. I also learned that DOT 5 fluid will collect a lot of microscopic air bubbles suspended in the fluid and it may need to set undisturbed for awhile to allow all of the air to collect in larger bubbles before you can bleed it all out and I think this is what is happening when you tie down the handle. I observed that you see the air bubbles in the reservoir when you release the lever, not when you pull it...
I am kinda new with motorcycle maintenance, but I have bled a lot of small airplane brake systems and they are the same...in fact, the part number for the rear master cylinder on my '01 SG crosses over to Cessna and Piper...(I thought that thing looked familiar!)
Last edited by skinman13; Jul 25, 2013 at 03:44 PM. Reason: oc with grammar and spelling
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: Maple Shade, SJ
Me, in general...
1. Drain old fluid to remove water/contaminants. DOT5 has water at the bottom; others have water throughout.
2. Russell speed bleeders, front and rear, with hose and catch-can.
3. Lots of fluid, keeping reservoir topped off.
4. Bleeder screw for rear brake is already the highest point of the system.
5. Front caliper gets bled while it is dismounted from the fork slider: a, everything clean and pistons pushed in completely; b, block of wood between pads; c, caliper held in hand, manipulated to guide bubbles toward the bleeder screw.
1. Drain old fluid to remove water/contaminants. DOT5 has water at the bottom; others have water throughout.
2. Russell speed bleeders, front and rear, with hose and catch-can.
3. Lots of fluid, keeping reservoir topped off.
4. Bleeder screw for rear brake is already the highest point of the system.
5. Front caliper gets bled while it is dismounted from the fork slider: a, everything clean and pistons pushed in completely; b, block of wood between pads; c, caliper held in hand, manipulated to guide bubbles toward the bleeder screw.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 30
From: North Florida
One note you do not want the brake pulled all the way in. This covers the feed hole and no place for the air to go.
Yea on the mighty vacuum, never go back to pumping.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,243
Likes: 14
From: Right where I belong!
when I put on my apes I was really nervous about bleeding the brake. I picked up a bleeder kit for a few dollars at an auto part store followed the directions of the back of the package and it worked first time, I was so relieved!
