Help with front brake line please
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 114
Likes: 1
From: Boston, Ma
Help with front brake line please
Hey everyone, looking for any help at all. I have a 2005 883xl, over the last few days I have been working on replacing the stock handlebars with some mini bucks, I have a manual, and have been doing most of the work myself. I replaced all the cables (clutch, throttle, idle, and brake) with the braided ones.Over the last two days I have been trying to bleed the front brake line (single disc) I have been squeezing the handle to build up the hydraulic pressure, then holding it in while unscreweing the bleed valve, then tightening the bleed valve before releasing the brake lever. I have gone thru almost 3/4 of the bottle of brake fluid trying to build up pressure in the brake. I get a clear stream from the bleeder valve yet the lever is never getting any tension on it at all. I have tried to do this with the reservior cover both on and off just to see if I get any different results. I have also double and triple checked my banjo bolt connections and made sure all my washers are installed correctly. Yet nothing is helping. Does anyone have any suggestions on what else I can try to do? Do I need to do anything to the brakes themselves?Any replies will be greatly appreciated as I am about to rip all my hair out!!! thanks in advance.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,688
Likes: 4
From: Crisfield, MD
RE: Help with front brake line please
Are you using a tube on your bleeder valve if not go getsome 5/16"clear tubing (or at least a close sz. match) and run it off the valve into a cup of brake fluid on the floor while your pumping. It'll take a little while normally to build pressure but the tube in the cup of fluid will prevent air from re-entering the line and help build up a little backpressure. Make sure you've got fluid fully in the line by leaving the lower banjo loose first then tighten it and open the bleed valve.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,114
Likes: 29
From: Vancouver B.C. Canada
RE: Help with front brake line please
Here is my suggestion.
1. Crack the caliper bleeder screw open.
2. Top up the brake fluid.
3. When you see fluid comes out from the bleed screw, close it.
4. Open the bleeder, hold the brake lever slowly all the way.
5. Close the bleeder, let go the brake lever.
6. Repeat step 4 a few times until you see clear fluid.
Once you get the pressure, you should be fine. Give it a try!
1. Crack the caliper bleeder screw open.
2. Top up the brake fluid.
3. When you see fluid comes out from the bleed screw, close it.
4. Open the bleeder, hold the brake lever slowly all the way.
5. Close the bleeder, let go the brake lever.
6. Repeat step 4 a few times until you see clear fluid.
Once you get the pressure, you should be fine. Give it a try!
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,272
Likes: 10
From: Orange VA
RE: Help with front brake line please
This is always a pain. Gravity does not cooperate and the air bubbles seem to defy you and rise to the top no matter how many times you try bleeding. A lot of time and frustration later you have a headache and a spongy, useless brake lever. There is an alternative. I suggest taking advantage of gravity and letting the air flow the way it wants to; up.
They make kits and specialty syringes (looks like the turkey flavor injector but with a hose instead of a needle) for this (see back of J&P catalog for one example) but they are pricey; in the $30+ range. You can DIY for a fraction of that. Here's what I used and it works great. Total price was under $10.
Step1...
Get a pump oil can (similar to pictured) at a home improvement center for about $4-6. Then get a bit of 5/16" ID clear flexible hose. Fill the oil can about 1/2 way with brake fluid. Attach one end of the hose to the oil can spout.
Step 2...
Attach other end of the hose to the bleeder valve. Open the valve a 1/2 turn or so to allow fluid to flow through. Remove the master cylinder cover if it is not already.
Step 3...
Slowly pump oil can to push fluid into caliper and up hose. Air will naturally be pushed up the brake line by the fluid. Watch master cylinder for fluid. Once you fill the master cylinder about half-way, tighten the bleeder valve.
Step 4...
Remove the hose from the oil can and route to an acceptable container to catch excess fluid. At this point you should have good lever pressure. You might have one tiny air bubble right at the bleeder valve. Bleed once to get rid of that.
Step 5...
Remove the hose from the bleeder valve. Top off master cylinder to specs. Attach master cylinder cover. Clean brake fluid from bike parts to prevent damage to finishes or paint. Test brakes. Ride.
[IMG]local://upfiles/5927/95A00BA743FE4DEE82377DA083F6D531.jpg[/IMG]
They make kits and specialty syringes (looks like the turkey flavor injector but with a hose instead of a needle) for this (see back of J&P catalog for one example) but they are pricey; in the $30+ range. You can DIY for a fraction of that. Here's what I used and it works great. Total price was under $10.
Step1...
Get a pump oil can (similar to pictured) at a home improvement center for about $4-6. Then get a bit of 5/16" ID clear flexible hose. Fill the oil can about 1/2 way with brake fluid. Attach one end of the hose to the oil can spout.
Step 2...
Attach other end of the hose to the bleeder valve. Open the valve a 1/2 turn or so to allow fluid to flow through. Remove the master cylinder cover if it is not already.
Step 3...
Slowly pump oil can to push fluid into caliper and up hose. Air will naturally be pushed up the brake line by the fluid. Watch master cylinder for fluid. Once you fill the master cylinder about half-way, tighten the bleeder valve.
Step 4...
Remove the hose from the oil can and route to an acceptable container to catch excess fluid. At this point you should have good lever pressure. You might have one tiny air bubble right at the bleeder valve. Bleed once to get rid of that.
Step 5...
Remove the hose from the bleeder valve. Top off master cylinder to specs. Attach master cylinder cover. Clean brake fluid from bike parts to prevent damage to finishes or paint. Test brakes. Ride.
[IMG]local://upfiles/5927/95A00BA743FE4DEE82377DA083F6D531.jpg[/IMG]
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,272
Likes: 10
From: Orange VA
RE: Help with front brake line please
Whoops...correction. The brake bleeder syringe I mentioned was found in the Custom Chrome catalog (2007, Page 19.41). It's pictured here. It runs something like $34 which was more than I wanted to spend so I used the oil can solution instead.
[IMG]local://upfiles/5927/B16FF1583CFB4022A5DC3CB46FAB6831.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/5927/B16FF1583CFB4022A5DC3CB46FAB6831.jpg[/IMG]
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 114
Likes: 1
From: Boston, Ma
RE: Help with front brake line please
Thanks everyone for the quick replies. I will give it another shot tonight, I had been using the clear tubing, but didn't have it in a can of any sort with the fluid in it. I'll keep plugging away and post tomorrow to let you all know how it worked out.
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