bleeding brakes
Thread Starter
|
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,666
Likes: 133
From: TEXAS
bleeding brakes
can someone tell me how to bleed my front brakes on my 80 ironhead. I replaced the master cylinder with a new one, filled it with fluid and tried to bleed it and am not having any luck. I have a single caliper set up.
please explain it to me like i have never seen a wrench before because i am doing something fundamentally wrong.
I tried using my small hand vacuum pump and got it to pull a small amount of fluid through but not much.
also tried doing it the more traditional way and got no where
please explain it to me like i have never seen a wrench before because i am doing something fundamentally wrong.
I tried using my small hand vacuum pump and got it to pull a small amount of fluid through but not much.
also tried doing it the more traditional way and got no where
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,016
Likes: 277
From: East Tn Foot of The Dragon
I assume the lever is soft? Turn your handlebars so the MC is as level as possible. Fill MC and pull lever back to handlebar and tie off with a zip tie overnight. Cut off zip tie. Try to bleed after setting overnight, it will likely bleed well.
1. What I had to do on my 1980 was to dismantle each line at both ends and blow spray can brake parts cleaner thru the lines, especially thru the 3-way connector under the steering stem.
2. This is not mine but it works for another forum member ...
I turn the front wheel all the way to the left so I can fill the master cyl. as full as possible (WITH SILICONE FLUID), let set a few minutes then open the bleeders on both discs until I get a steady drip of fluid, then close them.
Then I pump the brake SLOWLY several times until I feel a little resistance in the lever. Wait a minute then it pumps up to to nice hard feel. Works every time.
3. I'll try to post more info tomorrow
2. This is not mine but it works for another forum member ...
I turn the front wheel all the way to the left so I can fill the master cyl. as full as possible (WITH SILICONE FLUID), let set a few minutes then open the bleeders on both discs until I get a steady drip of fluid, then close them.
Then I pump the brake SLOWLY several times until I feel a little resistance in the lever. Wait a minute then it pumps up to to nice hard feel. Works every time.
3. I'll try to post more info tomorrow
Thread Starter
|
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,666
Likes: 133
From: TEXAS
here is what i have tried
I filled the master cylinder up and put a plug in it and pumped it slowly untill it was nice and firm, some bubles coming out the top of mc when i did this and the lever felt good
then i put master cylinder on the bike
disconnected the line at the caliper, blew conpressed air thought the line and it was coming out good, the line goes from the mc to the TEE under the lower tree, the tee has a plug in one side and then another line goes to the caliper, everything seems to flow good through here
i took the caliper off and took the bleeder off and blew air back and forth between the line hole and the bleeder hole, seems to flow fine
put the caliper on the bike and push fuild through the bleeder untill it comes out the hole for the line, with a little sriringe type thing with a hose on it, this took alot of pressure but it flowed though, but mostly it made a mess
put it all back together and try bledding it and doesnt seem to work
so i have the bleeder closed with the mc cover off and the lever tied down and i take some time to clean the shop because it is a mess.
now i release the lever and slowly pull it a bunch of time while tapping on the line and fitting and bubbles are coming up but it is not building any pressure
I do this routine 1/2 dozen times with a few minutes in between and bubles are coming up each time but still no pressure
I filled the master cylinder up and put a plug in it and pumped it slowly untill it was nice and firm, some bubles coming out the top of mc when i did this and the lever felt good
then i put master cylinder on the bike
disconnected the line at the caliper, blew conpressed air thought the line and it was coming out good, the line goes from the mc to the TEE under the lower tree, the tee has a plug in one side and then another line goes to the caliper, everything seems to flow good through here
i took the caliper off and took the bleeder off and blew air back and forth between the line hole and the bleeder hole, seems to flow fine
put the caliper on the bike and push fuild through the bleeder untill it comes out the hole for the line, with a little sriringe type thing with a hose on it, this took alot of pressure but it flowed though, but mostly it made a mess
put it all back together and try bledding it and doesnt seem to work
so i have the bleeder closed with the mc cover off and the lever tied down and i take some time to clean the shop because it is a mess.
now i release the lever and slowly pull it a bunch of time while tapping on the line and fitting and bubbles are coming up but it is not building any pressure
I do this routine 1/2 dozen times with a few minutes in between and bubles are coming up each time but still no pressure
Thread Starter
|
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,666
Likes: 133
From: TEXAS
here is how i am trying to bleed it , maybe doing something wrong
mc cover off
pump the lever several times, hold lever down, open bleeder, close bleeder, release lever
repeat
when i do this fluid is coming out of the bleeder, then i close it before it stops flowing out
mc cover off
pump the lever several times, hold lever down, open bleeder, close bleeder, release lever
repeat
when i do this fluid is coming out of the bleeder, then i close it before it stops flowing out
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,760
Likes: 3,756
From: Cape Cod
sometimes a bithc to bleed from dry!!!
try the gravity method........ya gotta keep an eye on it......but .......
Put a hose over bleeder valve to another container
Fill MC..........
open bleeder valve.......
let it sit for awhile.......let gravity get some fluid down the line.....you should see fluid in hose to the container.......
refill MC as necessary....once you feel confident there should be enough in the line......
close bleeder and try the pump/open bleeder/close bleeder process.
try the gravity method........ya gotta keep an eye on it......but .......
Put a hose over bleeder valve to another container
Fill MC..........
open bleeder valve.......
let it sit for awhile.......let gravity get some fluid down the line.....you should see fluid in hose to the container.......
refill MC as necessary....once you feel confident there should be enough in the line......
close bleeder and try the pump/open bleeder/close bleeder process.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,666
Likes: 133
From: TEXAS
well it finally worked
I just left the level tied back and would go joggle the lever and pump the brakes a few times, then all of a sudden it just started pumping up. from there it bleed just fine
I just left the level tied back and would go joggle the lever and pump the brakes a few times, then all of a sudden it just started pumping up. from there it bleed just fine
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
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
The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025
Verdad Gallardo
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,016
Likes: 277
From: East Tn Foot of The Dragon