HELP - Bleeding Front Brakes - Fat Boy
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 440
Likes: 13
HELP - Bleeding Front Brakes - Fat Boy
Hey gang,
I was bleeding the brakes on my 04 Fat Boy this weekend. Embarrassingly, I admit the fluid had not been changed since the bike was new (now 18.7K miles). The back brakes went smoothly. Drained down the master cylinder till almost empty...opened valve - pump brake - close valve, repeat....added fresh fluid and bled out the old...sort of a rinse/drain method to avoid completely emptying the MC and getting air in the lines.
Unfortunately, I screwed up the front and drained the MC to the point where I got air in the line. I have added fresh fluid to the front MC at least 3 times and let the lines bleed down slowly by gravity (without working the brake handle), topping off the MC before the level gets too low. I used a Mighty Mite initially to try to drain/bleed the front brakes because of the awkward reach from the brake lever to the drain valve on the front caliper. My problem now is I can't get the front brake handle to pump-up and develop pressure. It's pretty much limp when moved in either direction....maybe a little resistance when the handle is moved very slowly. The lines seemed to be free of air when I did the gravity bleed down. Could air be trapped in the lower end of the MC or in the calipers?
The manual doesn't give specifics on bleeding and what to do in this case. I've bled brakes on autos before....assumed the procedure is basically the same.
Any advice on what to do??? Much appreciated...
Regards
I was bleeding the brakes on my 04 Fat Boy this weekend. Embarrassingly, I admit the fluid had not been changed since the bike was new (now 18.7K miles). The back brakes went smoothly. Drained down the master cylinder till almost empty...opened valve - pump brake - close valve, repeat....added fresh fluid and bled out the old...sort of a rinse/drain method to avoid completely emptying the MC and getting air in the lines.
Unfortunately, I screwed up the front and drained the MC to the point where I got air in the line. I have added fresh fluid to the front MC at least 3 times and let the lines bleed down slowly by gravity (without working the brake handle), topping off the MC before the level gets too low. I used a Mighty Mite initially to try to drain/bleed the front brakes because of the awkward reach from the brake lever to the drain valve on the front caliper. My problem now is I can't get the front brake handle to pump-up and develop pressure. It's pretty much limp when moved in either direction....maybe a little resistance when the handle is moved very slowly. The lines seemed to be free of air when I did the gravity bleed down. Could air be trapped in the lower end of the MC or in the calipers?
The manual doesn't give specifics on bleeding and what to do in this case. I've bled brakes on autos before....assumed the procedure is basically the same.
Any advice on what to do??? Much appreciated...
Regards
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 77
Likes: 1
From: Long Beach
brakes
I just went through this after installing 18" apes. Bleed it from the banjo fitting at the master cylinder. Leave the top off the top of the master cylinder as your doing this to add fluid gradually as the air and fluid bleed from the banjo fitting. Pump the brake lever 5 times and barley crack open the banjo fitting repeat till all air is out of system. Be sure to have a rag handy so you dont get brake fluid on your paint.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 440
Likes: 13
LBC,
Thanks for the info. I was wondering about that banjo fitting and if I needed to bleed from that location.
So I'm guessing I bleed at the banjo fitting first, and then tighten the banjo fitting and finish bleeding the line at the caliper.
Can you tell me what size torx socket fits that banjo fitting?? I need to pick-up one on the way home.
Lastly I assume the banjo fitting is normal thread....counterclockwise to loosen and clockwise to tighten.
Do you know the torque value for the banjo fitting?
Thanks LBC
Regards
Thanks for the info. I was wondering about that banjo fitting and if I needed to bleed from that location.
So I'm guessing I bleed at the banjo fitting first, and then tighten the banjo fitting and finish bleeding the line at the caliper.
Can you tell me what size torx socket fits that banjo fitting?? I need to pick-up one on the way home.
Lastly I assume the banjo fitting is normal thread....counterclockwise to loosen and clockwise to tighten.
Do you know the torque value for the banjo fitting?
Thanks LBC
Regards
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 440
Likes: 13
Hey Fast Hoss,
I'll give that a try tonite. If that doesn't work I'll try bleeding from the banjo bolt at the master cylinder like suggested earlier.
I talked with an auto mechanic today who said I may have ruined the "cups" in the master cylinder....he said this after I told him I partially drained the MC 3 times by gravity with no luck...
Feedback appreciated...
Regards
I'll give that a try tonite. If that doesn't work I'll try bleeding from the banjo bolt at the master cylinder like suggested earlier.
I talked with an auto mechanic today who said I may have ruined the "cups" in the master cylinder....he said this after I told him I partially drained the MC 3 times by gravity with no luck...
Feedback appreciated...
Regards
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Tourer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 253
Likes: 2
From: sin city nevada
man same problom hear im starting to think in my mind do i really need a front brake anyone know where i can get one of thous syringe to feed from calber to top?that ant 30 dollers
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Tourer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 253
Likes: 2
From: sin city nevada
ok this dident work for me do u need to leave the cap off resovor or anything or have it all closed up?
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 93
Likes: 2
From: South Carolina
go to walmart buy a meat marinade injection syringe, then go over to the pet department get some clear tubing in the fish tank section. Install the tubing on the end of the syringe. You might have to use a cig lighter to heat up the tubing so it will fit. Remove MC cover plate. And slowly inject the new brake fluid into the brake caliper pushing air and new fluid upwards into MC. Bleed accordingly. The whole setup should cost less than 10 bucks. Hope this helps