Hel Brake Hoses

[kevbuck]

Just fitted the hoses I got off ebay. all the parts were there they went on ok and they look good..

But how the f*$* do you bleed the twin hoses at the front. I have been at this for over two hours (it only took 1 to fit them). I can`t feel any resistance on the lever at all. if I tighten the bleed nipples and pump I cannot even feel a build up of air. if I loosen the nipples I can see air bubbles comming out but nothing else. The fluid I have put in does not seem to be going down

Heeeeeeeelp

[Flamin_Squirrel]

Might be worth investing in a bleeding kit - £5 from halfords. Or, get someone to help you as it's easier with two people.

When you pull on the lever, the bleed nipple must be open, but it must be closed again before you release - are you doing this? (which is why its handy to have two people, one to open/close the nipple, one to operate the lever)

You must also bleed both sides before you'll get resistance... but if you're only getting air out and not brake fluid, something isnt right.

Also, make sure you keep the fluid resevoir filled up. If air gets in at the top you'll have to start all over again.

[Santa Claus]

Ahhh, i had this trouble on the sleight one year. Now this may seem stange but bear with me.

Obtain a good length of windscreen washer hose, the clear stuff. I'd recommend about 6-10ft. Attach it to the bleed nipple put the other end in your mouth and start to suck :shock: , whilst undoing the nipple. As the fluid comes out you can see it flowing up the pipe. Close the nipple whilst still sucking, empty tube, repeat until fewer bubbles are present in the tube. Do the same for the other side.

This will at lest get fluid into the lines. The continue to bleed the claipers one at a time using a Gunson one man bleed kit from Halfords or such like.

Once done and you have some feel in the lever, cable tie your lever to the handle bars over night and you should have a good feel in the lever.

I hope this helps. Now i'm off to beat up some elves :twisted:

[rukus]

Ahhh, i had this trouble on the sleight one year. Now this may seem stange but bear with me.

Obtain a good length of windscreen washer hose, the clear stuff. I'd recommend about 6-10ft. Attach it to the bleed nipple put the other end in your mouth and start to suck :shock: , whilst undoing the nipple. As the fluid comes out you can see it flowing up the pipe. Close the nipple whilst still sucking, empty tube, repeat until fewer bubbles are present in the tube. Do the same for the other side.

This will at lest get fluid into the lines. The continue to bleed the claipers one at a time using a Gunson one man bleed kit from Halfords or such like.

Once done and you have some feel in the lever, cable tie your lever to the handle bars over night and you should have a good feel in the lever.

I hope this helps. Now i'm off to beat up some elves :twisted:

don't forget that dot4 removes paint so what it'd do to the inside of your mouth is unthinkable!! don't empty the hose then stick the contaminated end in you gob! :shock: :shock: :shock:

[Viney]

Ahhh, i had this trouble on the sleight one year. Now this may seem stange but bear with me.

Obtain a good length of windscreen washer hose, the clear stuff. I'd recommend about 6-10ft. Attach it to the bleed nipple put the other end in your mouth and start to suck :shock: , whilst undoing the nipple. As the fluid comes out you can see it flowing up the pipe. Close the nipple whilst still sucking, empty tube, repeat until fewer bubbles are present in the tube. Do the same for the other side.

This will at lest get fluid into the lines. The continue to bleed the claipers one at a time using a Gunson one man bleed kit from Halfords or such like.

Once done and you have some feel in the lever, cable tie your lever to the handle bars over night and you should have a good feel in the lever.

I hope this helps. Now i'm off to beat up some elves :twisted:

don't forget that dot4 removes paint so what it'd do to the inside of your mouth is unthinkable!! don't empty the hose then stick the contaminated end in you gob! :shock: :shock: :shock:

As long as you dont swallow :shock: :lol: I have used the above method and it is/can be very effective.

[Scoobs]

It is a bugger to bleed the brakes. Takes ages for the "bleed" to start, but when it does, it takes seconds. Took me about 25 minutes of lever pumping to get it going and then about 30 seconds to complete.

Try removing the banjo bolt and make sure the caliper is filled with oil. Make sure the reservoir is filled with oil. I then started pumping the lever with my hand over the top of the reservoir. I have got a one way bleed valve so you don't have to keep opening and shutting the bleed nipple. Don't know why it takes so long.

[Scoobs]

Obtain a good length of windscreen washer hose, the clear stuff. I'd recommend about 6-10ft. Attach it to the bleed nipple put the other end in your mouth and start to suck :shock: , whilst undoing the nipple. As the fluid comes out you can see it flowing up the pipe. Close the nipple whilst still sucking,

Tried this. Couldn't suck anywhere near hard enough to draw the fluid through. My ears started to bleed! :shock:

[kevbuck]

Thanks for you advice. there was two of us and we were using a bleed kit but still nothing. I think it will be the wiper hose next or the hammer.

there seem to be no resistance at all in the lever. we thought it might have been a blocked nipple but we are getting no pressure at all, air or fluid.

[Scoobs]

Thanks for you advice. there was two of us and we were using a bleed kit but still nothing. I think it will be the wiper hose next or the hammer.

there seem to be no resistance at all in the lever. we thought it might have been a blocked nipple but we are getting no pressure at all, air or fluid.

Exactly what I was experiencing!

[Viney]

It is a bugger to bleed the brakes. Takes ages for the "bleed" to start, but when it does, it takes seconds. Took me about 25 minutes of lever pumping to get it going and then about 30 seconds to complete.

Try removing the banjo bolt and make sure the caliper is filled with oil. Make sure the reservoir is filled with oil. I then started pumping the lever with my hand over the top of the reservoir. I have got a one way bleed valve so you don't have to keep opening and shutting the bleed nipple. Don't know why it takes so long.

OIL :shock: Dont you mean Fluid...young man

[Scoobs]

It is a bugger to bleed the brakes. Takes ages for the "bleed" to start, but when it does, it takes seconds. Took me about 25 minutes of lever pumping to get it going and then about 30 seconds to complete.

Try removing the banjo bolt and make sure the caliper is filled with oil. Make sure the reservoir is filled with oil. I then started pumping the lever with my hand over the top of the reservoir. I have got a one way bleed valve so you don't have to keep opening and shutting the bleed nipple. Don't know why it takes so long.

OIL :shock: Dont you mean Fluid...young man

:oops: Yeah :oops: Who ever heard of brake oil #-o

[rukus]

It is a bugger to bleed the brakes. Takes ages for the "bleed" to start, but when it does, it takes seconds. Took me about 25 minutes of lever pumping to get it going and then about 30 seconds to complete.

Try removing the banjo bolt and make sure the caliper is filled with oil. Make sure the reservoir is filled with oil. I then started pumping the lever with my hand over the top of the reservoir. I have got a one way bleed valve so you don't have to keep opening and shutting the bleed nipple. Don't know why it takes so long.

OIL :shock: Dont you mean Fluid...young man

:oops: Yeah :oops: Who ever heard of brake oil #-o

But, BUt... oil is good for brakes... stops them squeaking!

Please see my damaged fairing for sale in the for sale section :shock: :lol:

[curium]

During my 15k service they changed the oil, coolant and brake fluid and bled the systems within an hour.

...but i had to pay them :cry:

[Viney]

Obtain a good length of windscreen washer hose, the clear stuff. I'd recommend about 6-10ft. Attach it to the bleed nipple put the other end in your mouth and start to suck :shock: , whilst undoing the nipple. As the fluid comes out you can see it flowing up the pipe. Close the nipple whilst still sucking,

Tried this. Couldn't suck anywhere near hard enough to draw the fluid through. My ears started to bleed! :shock:

I have had more practice...bugger, there goes my reputation :lol:

[Scoobs]

Obtain a good length of windscreen washer hose, the clear stuff. I'd recommend about 6-10ft. Attach it to the bleed nipple put the other end in your mouth and start to suck :shock: , whilst undoing the nipple. As the fluid comes out you can see it flowing up the pipe. Close the nipple whilst still sucking,

Tried this. Couldn't suck anywhere near hard enough to draw the fluid through. My ears started to bleed! :shock:

I have had more practice...bugger, there goes my reputation :lol:

What reputation was that then Viney :wink: :lol:

[Junior]

I don't see the sense in risking swallowing brake fluid. Why not just get a good sized length of rope (preferable nylon), pump the lever till you get resistance, then use the rope to tie the lever in the squeeze position (a slip knot would work best) When you undo the bleed nipple, simply pull harder on the rope, and the lever should go all the way to the bar. Once it is there, close nipple and repeat. (dont foget to keep the rope tight till it is done) Just another approach.

( I must disclaim the above by saying that I haven't actually tried this. Just seems like it might work. )

[kevbuck]

Done it!!!!!!!! took res cap off this morning watched bubbles rising for a few mins topped it up. pump three times fluid comes out of nipple. 10 mins late both sides done. thanks for all your help.

Helpful hints in sv manual suggests to leave over night if no feeling at lever after pumping to allow air to rise into res. it must have been doing it all night and i got to see the last few bubbles.

Too slippery outside to test put note on handle bars to remind me when it comes out of hibernation.

[BaggaZee]

So the top was off the reservoir all night? Isn't this a really bad idea with brake fluid? :shock:

[Scoobs]

So the top was off the reservoir all night? Isn't this a really bad idea with brake fluid? :shock:

It is a really bad idea as brake fluid is hydroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture. This can cause corrosion within the braking system and also boil when it gets heated. This causes air in the system which is compresable causing at best a spongey lever or at worst no brakes.

However, it sounds like the cap wasn't left off over night.

[Cloggsy]

So the top was off the reservoir all night? Isn't this a really bad idea with brake fluid? :shock:

It is a really bad idea as brake fluid is hydroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture. This can cause corrosion within the braking system and also boil when it gets heated. This causes air in the system which is compresable causing at best a spongey lever or at worst no brakes.

However, it sounds like the cap wasn't left off over night.

Bugger... That'll be an empty & re-fill job then Kev :roll:

[northwind]

I might love to meddle with my bike, but I hate bleeding brakes... It's just such an all-round sod of a job. So frustrating, and even once it's one I'm never sure if it's perfect or just alright. Hate it, hate it. Might get one of those suction bleeder wossnames for next time.

[kevbuck]

Noooooooo res cap was on all night, took it off in the morning to try to bleed again and noticed bubbles still rising. filled res back up put top on and bled until fluid with no bubbles in came through.

[snoopy]

Ah yes Dot 4 fun. Last time I did this got some on my carbon-look yolk protector. That was the end of the carbon yolk protector :(

[BaggaZee]

Noooooooo res cap was on all night, took it off in the morning to try to bleed again and noticed bubbles still rising. filled res back up put top on and bled until fluid with no bubbles in came through.

Ah! :-#