Crazy Front Brake Bleed Technique

[Spindlehead]

This totally worked! Poor Virago hasn't been out in a while. Started with a mushy, mushy pull-to-the-grip lever. Yuck. So, bleed the brakes? no problem... Alas, master cylinder cover screws stripped. Two screw extractors, broken. Order a replacement master cylinder. :( ...

But I read about this trick. Squeeze the brake lever and zip tie it. Leave it overnight. Cut the zip tie in the morning -- holy smokes... PRESSURE. Squeeze and zip-tie again. Leave it through the day. Cut the zip tie in the evening -- holy &^%K... real pressure! Like, good-as-new pressure. Feels firm an hour later. Now, I did order a new master cylinder because I've always wanted one that sits more level than the stock MC, but... WOW. I can't believe that worked so well.

[justaguy]

Not crazy. That is how I finish off all bleeding on bikes.

[Spindlehead]

Well, I am still amazed at how well it worked. I'd read about doing that to get the last little bit of air out of a freshly bled system, but not resurrecting a super slack front brake without turning a single screw or cracking a single fitting. Pretty neato.

[Jackals]

I was impressed the first time I tried it too. I really didn't believe it would do much.

[neilgeswind]

Ever since i replaced my lever i have been riding around with no front breaks. i tried bleeding it a few times but nothing.
if i do want to use the front breaks i have to pump that lever a few times 10m before the stop to have a little bit of preasure.
Now my question is....when i do the trick above, do i have to open the little Nipples on the caliper when the lever is tied up
and leave it through the night....?

[faffi]

Been doing this for decades.

[DarkHart07]

Ever since i replaced my lever i have been riding around with no front breaks. i tried bleeding it a few times but nothing.
if i do want to use the front breaks i have to pump that lever a few times 10m before the stop to have a little bit of preasure.
Now my question is....when i do the trick above, do i have to open the little Nipples on the caliper when the lever is tied up
and leave it through the night....?

No, don't open up the bleeders at all, just pull it tight, and zip tie it near the end of the lever. I guess the theory is that it allows the system to remain open, allowing any air bubbles in the system to rise up through the lines and dissipate in the master cylinder reservoir.

[Spindlehead]

In my particular situation, I found that the effect was short lived. The brake would stay firm for a few hour before starting to soften up and eventually get completely mushed out again. I couldn't get the cover off of my master cylinder to bleed it properly, so I replaced the master with a generic dual disk unit from Mikes XS. Upside was a brand new MC and a level reservoir!

[neilgeswind]

Thank you Darkhart i will try this tonight and leave it for two days. Another question that i just saw pop up above....i have a duel disc and caliper front setup but my
lever and MC is from a bike wil a single disc and caliper. Does that make any difference....?

[HITCAINTGRUS]

Or

http://www.speedbleeder.com/

[cf_indy]

I found that bleeding into a container that has enough brake fluid to cover the end of the temporary bleeder hose works well. When I bled it into a catch container without the end of the hose covered the lever remained mushy.

[car5car]

Explanation:
This is a way for smart (lazy? who cannot read manual?) people to avoid messy bleeding of master cylinder (hose to master cylinder bolt)
The bolt is higher than master cylinder and it can hold air.
When you pull/hold lever, you move bubble down the hose.
Overnight air bubble moves up to bolt again, and when you release lever, it goes into master cylinder.
Read manual how to bleed brakes!

[faffi]

When this thing doesn't work (at least not fast enough) I found an instant way to bleed my single disc brakes (should work just as well for twin discs, but will likely demand twice the effort) - I unbolted the caliper and forced the piston in. This rushed fluid up into the master pump, bringing with it all the air in the process. No more spongy brakes. I got the idea when I could not bleed the brakes the normal way and when the handle-to-the-grip method didn't work.

[Singlemalt72]

Ever since i replaced my lever i have been riding around with no front breaks. ?

What the actual f**k???