Brake bleeding/vacuum bleeders
Thread Starter
|
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,933
Likes: 11
From: Kentucky
Brake bleeding/vacuum bleeders
Yesterday I put new brake pads on my softail and, being a mechanical genius, loosened the bridge bolts on the front caliper, which I realized was wrong when brake fluid poured out and I heard the squeal of air sucking into the system. So I needed to bleed the front.
I went to Autozone and got a vacuum bleeder, which everything I read online said would be great.
I tried it and couldn't get a solid attachment to the bleeder valve that would keep it from sucking in air from outside where the tube went over the valve. I used the various attachments that went in and over the valve and the best seal I could get was just sticking the tube on the valve.
Problem is, as long as it sucks in air around the valve, you can't tell if the air bubbles are coming from the brake system or just being sucked in from outside air by the pump. I ended up having to get my wife to pump and hold the lever while I loosened and tightened the valve and did it the old fashioned way.
Am I doing this wrong, or is the highly recommended Mityvac a useleess POS? I'm planning to take it back today, but somebody give me some input and if I'm wrong I'll keep it. After all, a guy who pulled a bridge bolt instead of a slider pin, could be wrong.
I went to Autozone and got a vacuum bleeder, which everything I read online said would be great.
I tried it and couldn't get a solid attachment to the bleeder valve that would keep it from sucking in air from outside where the tube went over the valve. I used the various attachments that went in and over the valve and the best seal I could get was just sticking the tube on the valve.
Problem is, as long as it sucks in air around the valve, you can't tell if the air bubbles are coming from the brake system or just being sucked in from outside air by the pump. I ended up having to get my wife to pump and hold the lever while I loosened and tightened the valve and did it the old fashioned way.
Am I doing this wrong, or is the highly recommended Mityvac a useleess POS? I'm planning to take it back today, but somebody give me some input and if I'm wrong I'll keep it. After all, a guy who pulled a bridge bolt instead of a slider pin, could be wrong.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,842
Likes: 502
From: Northern WV
In my experience the air bubbles come from air leaking past the bleeder threads, possibly at the hose fit as well. Either way it's "outside" the brake system so it wouldn't matter. When I installed Speedbleeders on a bike they came with a heavy coating on the threads and I had none of the bubbles that occurred with the stock bleeders, using the same hose fitting on my MiteyVac.
Thread Starter
|
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,933
Likes: 11
From: Kentucky
I ended up taking the mityvac back to Autozone. The last straw was when I went home and was wiping the brake fluid off of it and the pump handle fell off - the pin that holds it on just dropped out.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,534
Likes: 10
Liberally coat the bleeder/vac tube with grease when bleeding.
Trending Topics
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,473
Likes: 15
From: River City Western Canada
Might be some useful info on the topic
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
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
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 626
Likes: 126
From: Reading, PA
I tighten a small zip tie around the tube to secure it to the bleeder valve. I also direct the tube straight up off the valve, this means rigging things up so that the tube runs upward to the reservoir that is supported on a box or something like that .
I actually made a small stand for the reservoir cause I got so fed up with it tipping over etc.
I actually made a small stand for the reservoir cause I got so fed up with it tipping over etc.
Thread Starter
|
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,933
Likes: 11
From: Kentucky
I just ordered a pair of speed bleeders. Only $7.00 each if you order them direct from www.speedbleeder.com. That's a whole lot less, and looks a whole lot faster and simpler, than using a vacuum pump.