Mityvac

[brassmonkey001]

Anyone in the shropshire area got one I can borrow/hire? I've just put new SS brake hoses on my Dakar and I have a mighty airlock I just can't shift. I don't want to fork out £40 for a tool I'll hardly ever use.
Cheers
Al.

 

[Howard Millichap]

The solution to this problem is to take the caliper off and hold it above the master cylinder whilst bleeding. The air lock will rise up the hose to the nipple on the caliper.

 

[brassmonkey001]

Cheers Howard.
I've already sorted the problem now but you were the only person who suggested holding the caliper up, a few suggested lowering it so the fluid would run down (didn't work). Its a shame I didn't get to try your suggestion but I'm damned if I'm going to put an airlock back in to try it out. Still, theres always next time...

 

[The Mechanic]

Air out of system.

Brassmonkey, try this for an extra firm feelto the brake lever. Zip tie or use strong elastic bands wound around the handlebar and in such away as to put the brake lever under pressure,leave overnight and in the morning any tiny (*ucking small)air bubbles will be forced out of the line back into the reservoir. Release the holding method and try the lever, it should be nice and firm.

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

Now heres a trick for getting air out of fluid.

and a story -

when i was racing we were at brazil GP - , the brake fluid, being 'hazardous' had to be sent out by shipping container ( few years ago now ).

Driver moans about a soft pedal even though the system had been bled a few times. Somebody came up with idea that all the jiggling around at sea had introduced entrained air into the fluid and couldn't be seen until it was under pressure and heat and started to 'boil'.

The solution was to put the fluid into a bottle and seal the lid with a pipe going to a vacuum pump. Everybody was amazed,cos the brake fluid turned into a fizzy bottle of lemonade as the pump pulled all the air out !

The brakes bled and were fine after that .

Phil

 

[notadrop]

Re: Air out of system.

Brassmonkey, try this for an extra firm feelto the brake lever. Zip tie or use strong elastic bands wound around the handlebar and in such away as to put the brake lever under pressure,leave overnight and in the morning any tiny (*ucking small)air bubbles will be forced out of the line back into the reservoir. Release the holding method and try the lever, it should be nice and firm.

Nice one Mechanic
Did this last night....lo and behold a nice firm lever when I removed the cable tie this morning!
Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?