Front brake help!
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Cruiser
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Front brake help!
Hello all,
I have a 98' XL1200C and I have just put some new bars on, which require me to put on a new brake line. Well my front brakes worked just fine before, but I can't get them to bleed now. The only things I changed were the banjo fittings and the line it's self. I changed the banjow washers, tried vaccum bleeding them, and manual bleeding. I can not get my brakes to build any pressure. I know that my master cylinder pumps because I took the banjo bolt out and watched it. So I have even taken to a local shop and they cannot figure it out. Any suggestions?
Thanks
I have a 98' XL1200C and I have just put some new bars on, which require me to put on a new brake line. Well my front brakes worked just fine before, but I can't get them to bleed now. The only things I changed were the banjo fittings and the line it's self. I changed the banjow washers, tried vaccum bleeding them, and manual bleeding. I can not get my brakes to build any pressure. I know that my master cylinder pumps because I took the banjo bolt out and watched it. So I have even taken to a local shop and they cannot figure it out. Any suggestions?
Thanks
RE: Front brake help!
jbarb-
trying to bleed the front brakes on these bikes is a bitccchhh!!! just got done doing it two weeks ago to the G/F's SuperGlide after changing the bars. Here is how I finally got them done:
sorry, but it does take two sets of hands....
- put a piece of 3/16" vinyl tubing over the bleeder valve and open 1/2 a turn
- put other end of tube in a jar with appx. 1/4" of brake fluid in it( under the fluid level in the jar)
- have a bottle of B/F for the person pumping to refill reseviour(sp?)
- start the pumping process!!!!! oh yeah, and this may take about 1/2 hour.
- when the forearm gets sore, take a break and with one hand drink a beverage. with the other hand, smack on the resevivour(again, sp?) for a few moments. watch for air bubbles escaping(bubbles will be small and will make the fluid look milkey) I used a rubber gripped screw driver.
- did I mention keep pumping the brake.!?!?!?!?
- you will know when pressure begins to build....
use a clean and dry glass jar, this will allow you to recycle the clean brake fluid. Also, keep an eye on the clear vinyl tube. When LARGE air bubbles start to appear, ya know your getting somewhere...
if ya need a little more detail, drop me a email......
just remember, not a 5 minute job [:@]
trying to bleed the front brakes on these bikes is a bitccchhh!!! just got done doing it two weeks ago to the G/F's SuperGlide after changing the bars. Here is how I finally got them done:
sorry, but it does take two sets of hands....
- put a piece of 3/16" vinyl tubing over the bleeder valve and open 1/2 a turn
- put other end of tube in a jar with appx. 1/4" of brake fluid in it( under the fluid level in the jar)
- have a bottle of B/F for the person pumping to refill reseviour(sp?)
- start the pumping process!!!!! oh yeah, and this may take about 1/2 hour.
- when the forearm gets sore, take a break and with one hand drink a beverage. with the other hand, smack on the resevivour(again, sp?) for a few moments. watch for air bubbles escaping(bubbles will be small and will make the fluid look milkey) I used a rubber gripped screw driver.
- did I mention keep pumping the brake.!?!?!?!?
- you will know when pressure begins to build....
use a clean and dry glass jar, this will allow you to recycle the clean brake fluid. Also, keep an eye on the clear vinyl tube. When LARGE air bubbles start to appear, ya know your getting somewhere...
if ya need a little more detail, drop me a email......
just remember, not a 5 minute job [:@]
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,067
Likes: 394
From: Edmonton Alberta Canada
RE: Front brake help!
ORIGINAL: ride2tires
jbarb-
trying to bleed the front brakes on these bikes is a bitccchhh!!! just got done doing it two weeks ago to the G/F's SuperGlide after changing the bars. Here is how I finally got them done:
sorry, but it does take two sets of hands....
- put a piece of 3/16" vinyl tubing over the bleeder valve and open 1/2 a turn
- put other end of tube in a jar with appx. 1/4" of brake fluid in it( under the fluid level in the jar)
- have a bottle of B/F for the person pumping to refill reseviour(sp?)
- start the pumping process!!!!! oh yeah, and this may take about 1/2 hour.
- when the forearm gets sore, take a break and with one hand drink a beverage. with the other hand, smack on the resevivour(again, sp?) for a few moments. watch for air bubbles escaping(bubbles will be small and will make the fluid look milkey) I used a rubber gripped screw driver.
- did I mention keep pumping the brake.!?!?!?!?
- you will know when pressure begins to build....
use a clean and dry glass jar, this will allow you to recycle the clean brake fluid. Also, keep an eye on the clear vinyl tube. When LARGE air bubbles start to appear, ya know your getting somewhere...
if ya need a little more detail, drop me a email......
just remember, not a 5 minute job [:@]
jbarb-
trying to bleed the front brakes on these bikes is a bitccchhh!!! just got done doing it two weeks ago to the G/F's SuperGlide after changing the bars. Here is how I finally got them done:
sorry, but it does take two sets of hands....
- put a piece of 3/16" vinyl tubing over the bleeder valve and open 1/2 a turn
- put other end of tube in a jar with appx. 1/4" of brake fluid in it( under the fluid level in the jar)
- have a bottle of B/F for the person pumping to refill reseviour(sp?)
- start the pumping process!!!!! oh yeah, and this may take about 1/2 hour.
- when the forearm gets sore, take a break and with one hand drink a beverage. with the other hand, smack on the resevivour(again, sp?) for a few moments. watch for air bubbles escaping(bubbles will be small and will make the fluid look milkey) I used a rubber gripped screw driver.
- did I mention keep pumping the brake.!?!?!?!?
- you will know when pressure begins to build....
use a clean and dry glass jar, this will allow you to recycle the clean brake fluid. Also, keep an eye on the clear vinyl tube. When LARGE air bubbles start to appear, ya know your getting somewhere...
if ya need a little more detail, drop me a email......
just remember, not a 5 minute job [:@]
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2007
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RE: Front brake help!
ORIGINAL: Mark g
Vacume bleeder!!!!!!!!!!
Get one at your local auto parts store. Your brakes will work fine after being bleed properly
Vacume bleeder!!!!!!!!!!
Get one at your local auto parts store. Your brakes will work fine after being bleed properly
I already tried to vacume bleed them, thanks though
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 748
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RE: Front brake help!
Before trying that, remove the caliper from the fork leg and hold it up higher than the master cylinder. Obviously having a helper is required to do it that way but it should only take about a minute or two to get all the air out.
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
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RE: Front brake help!
Crazy thing just happened this morning. I went out to my bike grabed the front brake lever, and to my suprise it firmed up in like 5 pumps. I guess it just gravity blead itself. So I pumped and blead it to make sure their was no air, and now she works great. Thanks for all the help everyone!
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