Bleed front brakes

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Jan 4, 2017 | 02:34 PM

#11

cencal

Thread Starter

Intermediate

Joined: Dec 2016

Posts: 41

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From: Fresno, Ca.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisj49

Two ways I have read to fix this - pull the lever 100's of times until the air is worked out, or tie the handle back overnight. I have never tried the second fix, but have used the first one on 2 bikes and it fixed the problem.

I tried both of these as well. nada

I have the pump and more fluid coming from Amazon. Should be here a few hours. Gotta love next/same day delivery.

Hopefully, this cures it.

Jan 4, 2017 | 02:38 PM

#12

IdahoHacker

Club Member

Joined: Jul 2014

Posts: 11,460

Likes: 3,554

From: Idaho

I'd find a service manual as well. It will save you a lot of grief.

Oh, and watch a few Youtube vids before you try something new. It's amazing how helpful they are.

Jan 4, 2017 | 02:56 PM

#13

btaksier

Novice

Joined: Dec 2016

Posts: 17

Likes: 5

From: San Diego,CA

I had a similar issue and could not get any pressure to build after I swapped my front brake line. I ordered a generic syringe and PUSHED the brake fluid up from the bleeder valve. Worked like a champ and took one try.

Jan 4, 2017 | 03:08 PM

#14

Mother

Road Captain

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 735

Likes: 30

From: Orlando, FL

Quote:

Originally Posted by btaksier

This is the way I've done it on bikes as well. Work from the bottom up.

Jan 4, 2017 | 03:11 PM

#15

btaksier

Novice

Joined: Dec 2016

Posts: 17

Likes: 5

From: San Diego,CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mother

This is the way I've done it on bikes as well. Work from the bottom up.

only issue I had was the hose between the syringe and bleeder valve would pop off. A couple hose clamps solved that

Jan 4, 2017 | 04:17 PM

#16

lh4x4

Extreme HDF Member

Joined: Dec 2007

Posts: 13,402

Likes: 941

From: Illinois

There is one possible answer. Being an 03 maybe at some point it was changed to dot 4 and when the dot 5 was added it jelled up. It may take a vac bleeder and lever pressure to pull it out.

I have changed all my early HD's to DOT 4 so that I do not need to carry both types and make sure that I don't need to check what I'm using. I have changed the covers to read DOT 4.

Jan 4, 2017 | 11:08 PM

#17

Deucedog

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Dec 2005

Posts: 3,302

Likes: 274

From: Milton, Delaware

Quote:

Originally Posted by btaksier

Yep, me too. I bought a large (big enough to hold the same amount of brake fluid as the master cylinder) syringe from a medical supply store and some plastic tubing. Empty the master cylinder of the old fluid. Put the tubing on the syringe, fill the syringe and the tubing with new fluid, put the other end of the tubing on the bleeder valve. Open the bleeder. Now push the new fluid up thru the brake line into the master cylinder. Do not pull back on the syringe as you could pull air into the line.
**NOTE: Make sure you do not overflow the master cylinder! Brake fluid eats paint big time!

I've bled brakes successfully several times this way.

Jan 5, 2017 | 12:48 AM

#18

cencal

Thread Starter

Intermediate

Joined: Dec 2016

Posts: 41

Likes: 0

From: Fresno, Ca.

Well I got it using the pump. Still do not have the front brake feel that I want as the lever has too much play in my opinion. However, I have never had a big bike before.....just enduro/dual sports and dirt bikes. SHould not really matter.

I guess I will get use to it. May like it better.

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Jan 5, 2017 | 06:43 AM

#19

Mother

Road Captain

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 735

Likes: 30

From: Orlando, FL

Now that you have some pressure this is the good time to zip tie the lever overnight or even for a couple days. Go out every few hours and tap on things from the bottom up with the handle of a screwdriver just to encourage any leftover bubbles to work their way up.

Jan 9, 2017 | 05:11 PM

#20

Skeezmachine

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Oct 2009

Posts: 2,054

Likes: 26

From: Florida

Quote:

Originally Posted by cencal

Man, I have never used a vacuum bleeder before after doing lots of brakes (non on a Harley).

I have pumped that lever like 1000 times and still nothing. Frustrating.

I guess I will go get a vacuum bleeder tomorrow

I once changed the master cylinder on my Bones and simply removed the old one, installed the new one, filled it with fluid and pumped it to get it to bleed. Took a lot of pumps but eventually it worked.

Last year I completely changed out my master cylinder, brake line and removed, cleaned and reinstalled the caliper. Once I added brake fluid all the pumping in the world, leaving the line open over night, and every other home-brew kit in the world could get my line bled. I bought one of the less expensive vacuums from Harbor Freight and had the job done in 5 minutes. I guess it all depends on how much of the systems goes empty before simply pumping the lever doesn't work but apparently there is a limit.