Bleeding the front brake
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Fort Rucker, AL
Bleeding the front brake
Following the directions in the service manual, my '06 night train won't build up any pressure nor show much for progress with bleeding the front brake. I just put new black perl magnum front brake lines on it. Anyone have any experience with this and might have an idea of what I'm overlooking? Or does it just take that long to finally get some fluid coming out the bleeder valve?
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 104
Likes: 1
From: Richland, WA
I haven't done this yet to my Night Train but I did a job like yours a long time ago on the 86 I had; I remember it took a lot of pumps to finally get the fluid coming through and then get all of the air out. That's why bleeder tools help cut down the time.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 918
Likes: 5
From: So. Cal
This is what you do.Fill the reservoir leave the cap off.Keep the bleeder valve closed.Now gently ,but quickly barley squeeze the brake handle.Just kind of feather it,you'll notice tiny bubbles coming to the top of the reservoir.The air naturally wants to float to the top.Keep doing it,squeeze,squeeze,squeeze.Pretty soon you'll nootice the handle geting firmer.Keep it up til it's nice and firm,then squirt a little bit out the bleeder the conventional way and you're done.You may have to flickor tap the brake line a time or two with you finger to dislodge any stuck bubbles.Try it It WILL work.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
I'm going to replace my master cylinder today in the front. I bought speedbleeders and it made the rear brake bleeding a cakewalk, hopefully will be the same on the front. Speedbleeders allow you to open the bleeder valve quarter turn and allow you to pump, refill, pump without closing it. Very cheap and worth the money.
speedbleeders.com
Dale
speedbleeders.com
Dale
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 11
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From: Fort Rucker, AL
DR. Greenthumb,
I spent a few minutes slowly feathering the brake, and eventually the air bubbles stopped coming up. I'm not getting any pressure on the brake lever though. It still can go full travel with no added pressure. Do I just need to keep pumping it for like 10 minutes even though no more air is coming up in the reservoir?
I spent a few minutes slowly feathering the brake, and eventually the air bubbles stopped coming up. I'm not getting any pressure on the brake lever though. It still can go full travel with no added pressure. Do I just need to keep pumping it for like 10 minutes even though no more air is coming up in the reservoir?
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
DR. Greenthumb,
I spent a few minutes slowly feathering the brake, and eventually the air bubbles stopped coming up. I'm not getting any pressure on the brake lever though. It still can go full travel with no added pressure. Do I just need to keep pumping it for like 10 minutes even though no more air is coming up in the reservoir?
I spent a few minutes slowly feathering the brake, and eventually the air bubbles stopped coming up. I'm not getting any pressure on the brake lever though. It still can go full travel with no added pressure. Do I just need to keep pumping it for like 10 minutes even though no more air is coming up in the reservoir?
Hope this helps.
Dale
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 55
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just keep the master cylinder full of fluid and keep pumping and bleeding. i did the front brake line on my 03 softail when i added apes, and it took about an hour and half to finally get pressure at the lever. trust me eventually out of nowhere the lever will get hard and you realize you were doing it right the whole time. either that or buy a vacuum bleeder and the whole job will take 5 minutes. you can pick one up front harbor freight for about 20 bucks.
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Joined: Nov 2008
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From: kansas city,mo
I just used one of these on my front brakes, which took all but 5 minutes to do from start to finish. It's a air operated brake bleeder, just hooked it up to my compressor on one end then a little hose to my bleeder valve on the other end. Worked perfectly.
Last edited by BLKnCHRME09Deluxe; Aug 2, 2009 at 05:10 PM.
