Bleeding (in both senses of the word) Blue spot calipers.

[jjdugen]

Hi all.
Just come in for a warm up after a wrestling match with a pair of Blue spots. These are noted as being the better made of the OEM calipers.
Mine needed the seals renewing and pistons cleaning.
First, people will say you need the tool to remove the blue anodised centers, you don't. Because these are calipers are cast in one piece, the blue inserts are there because the cylinders are line bored, the outers sealed with an O ringed disk, held in place by the screw in inserts. Don't bother trying to get them off, you will do more damage than good.
Pop the pistons out the normal way. I tie wrap the outer pad to the caliper, working the inner pistons out far enough to grip. Then transfer the brake pad to that side,, tie wrap and then work to outer pistons out. (Just pump the brake lever).
Pistons out and cleaned, new seals installed with brake fluid, nothing else!
Came to bleed the system.
Long story cut short. Because these are a one piece caliper, the back cylinders are coupled to the front side (where the brake line comes in and bleed nipple is located) by a link pipe. This is on the BOTTOM of the caliper. So no matter how much you pump or even reverse bleed, air will be trapped in the top of the rear cylinders. (Nowhere for it to go, it wants to rise, the outlet pipe is at the bottom!)
To get them right, you have to turn them upside down, quite a few times, to get the bubbles from the back cylinders to the front where the bleed nipple allows it out.
Hope this helps anyone having a struggle.

Cheers
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[Taught2BCauti...]

I had a similar problem with a car.

My solution was to take the 1.5vDC motor out of an old electric toothbrush, and fit a crimp connector off-centre onto the shaft, before cable-tying it to the caliper.

Using a wire coat-hanger to hang the caliper in position, and switching on the motor - the vibrations got rid of the air-lock in a few minutes.
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[-]

The link pipe was only on certain models, not the R1/R6 ones, which bleed very easily.

I think it was Thunderace/Cat, maybe Fazer too. Don't the link pipe ones have slightly different sized pistons, top to bottom too?
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[jjdugen]

Mine came off a '99 R1, maybe Yamaha used up stock on the early ones?
____________________
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[-]

[chris-red]

I have them on 02 TDM and have never had an issue.
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[jjdugen]

That could explain why the kit came with a choice of different sized seals. Looks as though sometime in its life this R1 I got the donor front end from had Fazer calipers fitted. Nice to know for future reference, cheers!
____________________
The CBR900RR has been sold. Aprilia Falco worms its way into my heart.
Try Soi 23 on Amazon for a good read.... Self promotion? Moi?