Need help!! Front brake bleeding
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 301
Likes: 12
Need help!! Front brake bleeding
I just installed a new harley brake line kit and new front pads on my 98 Electra glide and have spent an hour trying to bleed the brakes, is there any tricks? It’s really pissing me off. Thanks
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 319
Likes: 139
From: Seattle
Assuming you keep getting bubbles/lever soft? Get out what you can then use a small bungee or tape or whatever you have handy and tie the lever back to the grip as tight as you can. Let it sit over nite and any air in the line should work its way back up the line to the MC.
FPV
FPV
Last edited by FPV; Feb 20, 2018 at 04:27 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 793
Likes: 23
From: AZ
If it is not to late for you look into these:Russell Performance Speed bleeders. One of the few best inventions I have installed on the bike. You can bleed front and back in less than an hour all by yourself. even keeps the lines air bubble free.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
I've been bleeding Harley brakes for over 40 years now. All we need is the patience of a saint! I've tried various super duper devices over the years that are supposed to solve bleeding in a blink, with mixed success, none of them providing nirvana.
Bleed by the book. In other words forks fully to the left, bike on the jiffy and bleed the left caliper first, followed by the right one. If the brake is spongey stop bleeding, simply gently operate the lever. No need to apply any pressure, just watch the tiny port in the bottom of the reservoir and you can expect to see bubbles come back into the fluid.
If necessary take FPV's tip above and repeat the gentle lever operation the following day. Think calm thoughts.....
Bleed by the book. In other words forks fully to the left, bike on the jiffy and bleed the left caliper first, followed by the right one. If the brake is spongey stop bleeding, simply gently operate the lever. No need to apply any pressure, just watch the tiny port in the bottom of the reservoir and you can expect to see bubbles come back into the fluid.
If necessary take FPV's tip above and repeat the gentle lever operation the following day. Think calm thoughts.....
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,172
Likes: 377
From: Georgia
I've found that bleeding motorcycle brakes, no just HD either, to be a huge PITA.
Mr Brown is right, patience is key but I have found that speed bleeders make the process much easier. Well worth the few dollars they cost.
Mr Brown is right, patience is key but I have found that speed bleeders make the process much easier. Well worth the few dollars they cost.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,463
Likes: 2,990
From: Charleston, SC
Pick up a Big syringe and a little clear tube from harbor freight/tractor supply.
Open your master cylinder.
Fill the syringe full of brake fluid.
Attach the syringe to your left brake bleeder.
Open the bleeder and push fluid up the lines to the master cylinder.
Then do the right side. Then the left side again.
Remove excess fluid from the master cylinder while doing the procedure.
Open your master cylinder.
Fill the syringe full of brake fluid.
Attach the syringe to your left brake bleeder.
Open the bleeder and push fluid up the lines to the master cylinder.
Then do the right side. Then the left side again.
Remove excess fluid from the master cylinder while doing the procedure.
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2010
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HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,186
Likes: 2,412
From: USA
squeeze the brake lever.
crack the fitting at the master cylinder.
Listen to the crackle/pop of air escaping.
tighten fitting.
release brake lever.
repeat until no more air come out (about 10 times).
now bleed at the caliper in the normal fashion.
you' ll be done in 10 minutes.
crack the fitting at the master cylinder.
Listen to the crackle/pop of air escaping.
tighten fitting.
release brake lever.
repeat until no more air come out (about 10 times).
now bleed at the caliper in the normal fashion.
you' ll be done in 10 minutes.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,934
Likes: 308
From: coastal sc
I changed lines on front of mine a couple of months ago. I also wanted to change the brake fluid. so I opened the bleed screws on both calipers and kept adding fluid until it came out of both sides clean. at this point I closed the right side then the left side. squeezed the handle very easily to prevent brake fluid from coming out of reservoir on to paint pulled lever 3-4 times easy. topped it off and put the cover on. I now have great front lever feel and she stops great. metal lines are way more responsive than the rubber hoses were. good luck and patience does help.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,203
Likes: 7
From: Bedford , Pa
Get a siringe from tractor supply 60cc and push fluid from the caliper up towards master cylinder. Take cover off master cylinder suck out some fluid and then push it from bottom it gets rid of all the air in the line this way
