Nicki66
Well-Known Member
I have read on here before about bleeding brakes in this fashion, so I thought about giving it a try. I am installing R1 calipers and Galfer braided brake lines, front and rear. I also will change the clutch line.
First off I had the pistons on the calipers all the way compressed into the caliper body when I installed them on the forks. For the bleeding process, I first removed the bleed valve from the caliper and I applied 3-5 wraps of Teflon tape to the threads. Be careful not to cover the holes on the bottom /side holes while doing this. Reinstall the bleeders into the calipers. I only put them in a few turns by hand, and left then loose.
Next I used ??? clear vinyl tubing that is available at Home depot and I cut two pieces about 5 ft long. On each piece of tubing, I attached one end of the hose to the end of the bleeder valve that sticks out of the caliper.
Next I opened the lid of the master cylinder and I let gravity push the brake fluid down and through the clear tubing that is attached to the bleeders. Do this until the tubing is half way full.
Now with the tubes half full, I stuck them through the side of a plastic coffee can that I had drilled two small holes into. This can is hanging from above and is above (about 24??) the level of the master cylinder that is on the handlebars.
So now the clear vinyl tubing has fluid in it, let it sit for a minute and it will seek the same level or elevation as the master cylinder.
Now slowly apply pressure to the front brake lever and you will see the brake fluid push into the tubing. You will also see air bubbles come out. Hold the brake lever for about 10 seconds and slowly release. I would wait 10-15 seconds and pull the brake lever again. Repeat this process many times. Be certain to keep an eye on the level of fluid in your master cylinder as you will be pushing fluid into the coffee can. You want to make sure that you don?t run low on fluid. I found that if I did a pull/release sequence about 10 times and let it sit for 5-10 minutes that the fluid that is in the clear tubing will settle back into the master cylinder until it seek the same level again. Once the level is the same, you can top off the master as needed.
I would also ?flick? the brake lever to try to bounce out any trapped air by the master cylinder out. You might see some small, microscopic bubbles come out. This is good, let the come out before pulling lever again.
The time frame that I bled my front brakes was about 6 hours. I would pull the lever a few times and then let it sit. Come back and pull again, then let it sit again. Etc?
Once I was unable to get any more air to come out through the bleeders into the clear tubing, I tightened up the bleeder valves and pumped the brake lever slowly. With doing this I am now pushing the pistons of the caliper against the rotor. By now you should start to feel a ?pedal or lever?. If necessary, top off the fluid again. I then opened the bleeders again and repeated the bleed process again until NO air was expelled through the clear tubing.
Once you are satisfied that the air is gone, close the bleeders. You can now remove the coffee can from it hanger and set it on the floor. Once the can or open end of the tubing is lower than the bleeders, you can pinch the tubing from the bleeders and let it drain into the can. You should have almost no mess and there is very little waste of brake fluid using this process.
With me changing my front calipers, all three front brake lines, clutch line, and my rear brake line, I only used 16 ounces of brake fluid using this process on all of the. Brakes and clutch all worked perfectly.
Good luck and happy bleeding.
First off I had the pistons on the calipers all the way compressed into the caliper body when I installed them on the forks. For the bleeding process, I first removed the bleed valve from the caliper and I applied 3-5 wraps of Teflon tape to the threads. Be careful not to cover the holes on the bottom /side holes while doing this. Reinstall the bleeders into the calipers. I only put them in a few turns by hand, and left then loose.
Next I used ??? clear vinyl tubing that is available at Home depot and I cut two pieces about 5 ft long. On each piece of tubing, I attached one end of the hose to the end of the bleeder valve that sticks out of the caliper.
Next I opened the lid of the master cylinder and I let gravity push the brake fluid down and through the clear tubing that is attached to the bleeders. Do this until the tubing is half way full.
Now with the tubes half full, I stuck them through the side of a plastic coffee can that I had drilled two small holes into. This can is hanging from above and is above (about 24??) the level of the master cylinder that is on the handlebars.
So now the clear vinyl tubing has fluid in it, let it sit for a minute and it will seek the same level or elevation as the master cylinder.
Now slowly apply pressure to the front brake lever and you will see the brake fluid push into the tubing. You will also see air bubbles come out. Hold the brake lever for about 10 seconds and slowly release. I would wait 10-15 seconds and pull the brake lever again. Repeat this process many times. Be certain to keep an eye on the level of fluid in your master cylinder as you will be pushing fluid into the coffee can. You want to make sure that you don?t run low on fluid. I found that if I did a pull/release sequence about 10 times and let it sit for 5-10 minutes that the fluid that is in the clear tubing will settle back into the master cylinder until it seek the same level again. Once the level is the same, you can top off the master as needed.
I would also ?flick? the brake lever to try to bounce out any trapped air by the master cylinder out. You might see some small, microscopic bubbles come out. This is good, let the come out before pulling lever again.
The time frame that I bled my front brakes was about 6 hours. I would pull the lever a few times and then let it sit. Come back and pull again, then let it sit again. Etc?
Once I was unable to get any more air to come out through the bleeders into the clear tubing, I tightened up the bleeder valves and pumped the brake lever slowly. With doing this I am now pushing the pistons of the caliper against the rotor. By now you should start to feel a ?pedal or lever?. If necessary, top off the fluid again. I then opened the bleeders again and repeated the bleed process again until NO air was expelled through the clear tubing.
Once you are satisfied that the air is gone, close the bleeders. You can now remove the coffee can from it hanger and set it on the floor. Once the can or open end of the tubing is lower than the bleeders, you can pinch the tubing from the bleeders and let it drain into the can. You should have almost no mess and there is very little waste of brake fluid using this process.
With me changing my front calipers, all three front brake lines, clutch line, and my rear brake line, I only used 16 ounces of brake fluid using this process on all of the. Brakes and clutch all worked perfectly.
Good luck and happy bleeding.
