Bleeding master cylinder
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Seasoned HDF Member
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From: Orange County
Bleeding master cylinder
When bleeding the master cylinder, shouldn't fluid come out when the lever is repeatedly pressed?
The reservoir is full and when I pump the brake lever, slow or fast, nothing comes out.
I took apart the front master cylinder on my RK. It all looked good.
The reservoir is full and when I pump the brake lever, slow or fast, nothing comes out.
I took apart the front master cylinder on my RK. It all looked good.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
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You got air trapped in there it sounds to me. Bleed the system. You got a Mighty Vac? You need to draw fluid from the MC to the bleeder, keeping the MC full at all times so you don't reintroduce air into the system. Gravity bleed may also work. Is that the original MC? If so, looking good, and being good, are 2 different things.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
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You'll still have to go through the bleed process after rebuilding your MC. I didn't say it was bad, just that you need to try bleeding it first. I'd start there, if it works, no need to rebuild. If it doesn't, than just trouble shooting 101, and you've isolated the problem.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2011
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From: Olean, NY
When i rebuilt mine it seemed like it took forever to get the fluid going down the line to the bleeder. There's a small cavity in the caliper that needs to fill up as well. I just kept pumping away. Once fluid does start coming out of the bleeder you can bleed it as normal. Also a trick guys do is to fill the res up with fluid, pull the lever in and tie it to the grip. Leave it sit overnight and it'll slowly let the air escape
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
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From: Big ol Titties
You using speed bleeders? If not are you closing the bleeder up between pumps of the brake lever?
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Extreme HDF Member
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From: Big ol Titties
Like Cygnus said you could try tying the lever back overnight, I've had to do that before and have had good luck with it. Another option is to fill the system from the bottom up. Some auto parts stores sell systems to do this or they can be found online.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: appleton wi
I have been through this several times. You pump and pump and nothing happens. Pump the lever and no fluid movement right? You are supposed to open the bleeder when you have pumped it and hold pressure as the lever moves to the bar then close the bleeder. But how can you do this if no pressure is built up. Do it anyway. open the bleeder as you pull in the lever, the close the bleeder when the lever is to the bar. Repeat repeat repeat.
Another way I did it was to use a spray bottle sprayer. use a clear plastic hose that will fit over the pickup tube on the sprayer and the other end on the bleeder. Open the bleeder and pull the lever say half travel, you can use a ty wrap to hold it, and start pumping the spray bottle.
Hope this helps.
P.S. Anyone need an 11/16 chrome front master cylinder? PM me
Another way I did it was to use a spray bottle sprayer. use a clear plastic hose that will fit over the pickup tube on the sprayer and the other end on the bleeder. Open the bleeder and pull the lever say half travel, you can use a ty wrap to hold it, and start pumping the spray bottle.
Hope this helps.
P.S. Anyone need an 11/16 chrome front master cylinder? PM me
Last edited by Russbucket; Feb 3, 2014 at 02:25 PM.
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