How do I....

[Matthie]

...get my brake to 'bite' after refilling my system completely? The system was emptied, filled, bled, made air bubble free and then sealed back up. The pistons are pushing against the brake pads (not with much power), but the brake handle still has no resistance.

Any ideas?

Cheers,

M
____________________
***Previous: GPR50, FZ750 *** Current: Monkey bike, yella SV 650 ***

Tutton says: I hate random hardons, they are so weird...

[MarJay]

[Matthie]

[prawny1]

Its good to periodicaly tighten the bleed nipple up and pump the lever a few times when bleeding brakes, it helps build the pressure up in the caliper and expell all the air also try to make sure the bleed nipple is at the highest point possible so that any air floats towards the nipple instead of getting trapped (airlocked) in the caliper.

Some scoots have the bleed at the bottom of the caliper which means you have to take the caliper off to bleed them.

[pa_broon74]

Undo the bleed nipple while pulling the lever in making sure to close the nipple before letting the lever back out.

Always keeping the res topped up. Bit of a two man job, makes it easier I find anyway.

Basically what marjay said too, you think its done but its not, you need to keep bleeding for a bit longer.


____________________
Didn't catch anything.

[Matthie]

yeah thats what i was doing, pumping, holding in, undoing the bleed nipple, closing nipple, pumping....

Takes forever!
____________________
***Previous: GPR50, FZ750 *** Current: Monkey bike, yella SV 650 ***

Tutton says: I hate random hardons, they are so weird...

[Carl Howell]

Why did you empty it? I just keep bleeding until I see the colour of the fluid change.

Make sure the pipe is submerged in fluid then once there are no bubbles in the pipe you can leave the nipple open and pump all day.

[philone]

[quote="Matthie"]...get my brake to 'bite' after refilling my system completely? The system was emptied, filled, bled, made air bubble free and then sealed back up. The pistons are pushing against the brake pads (not with much power), but the brake handle still has no resistance.

Any ideas?

Cheers,

the seals in the mastercylinder could have gone .is can happen when the cylinders bleed dry how old is the bike?

[Gazdaman]

Master cylinder seals are possible, but I must say unlikely. Much more likely that it's just poorly bled.

Go to Halfords and buy one of their bleeding tools. It's just a one way valve. You put it on the bleed nipple, loosen it, and just pump and pump whilst topping up the fluid.

Bingo.

Gaz

[Charlie]

Using the the one way value is good, helped me bleed my brakes a couple of times. Well worth it.
____________________
Past: Honda x8rs, Honda City fly, Honda Hornet 250, Honda VFR750, Yamaha xt600e.
Current: Honda CBR929RR & Yamaha XT660Z Tenere

[MarJay]

[Matthie]

I got it bleeding and got loads of air out (I do have the proper tube ect just got it sealed properly this time). The pads do push up against the disc just with very little pressure. I can hold the brake fully in and walk it forward with a little effort and thats on the max setting with the allen bolt to adjust the brake lever (if you know what i mean )

Do I just keep bleeding? I have put about 1/2 a 500ml bottle of fluid through already.
____________________
***Previous: GPR50, FZ750 *** Current: Monkey bike, yella SV 650 ***

Tutton says: I hate random hardons, they are so weird...

[Carl Howell]

It shouldn't need that much fluid. You are doing something wrong or something is knackered.

[tutton]

If its still getting air out after 250ml of fluid then you have air getting in system.

First, see the lever at the bottom of the master cylinder, unscrew it (the nut) and take it out and have a gander at the seals, do they look broken/split? if fine put the lever back in but put it in at an angle and then bleed the fook out of it again.
____________________
Past: '05 Peugeot XPS '99 Aprillia RS125 '94 FZR600R
Current: '02 ZX636 A1P '51 CCM R30

[st3v3]

Failing Marjay's suggestion maybe try:

Open nipple fully;
keep brake fluid going in;
pump the brake non stop, so fluid is constantly squirting out(maybe into a clean container to re-use it) but keep an eye out that it isn't getting too low in the master cylinder bit.

As you're filling and pumping and there's a nice amount of pressure built up with constant squirt-age, tighten up the nipple AND still pump for another couple. Should be nice and effective, so then top the master cylinder up to the "max" mark, put it all back together and it's a good job well done.
____________________
Roger wrote: Women don't get damp for clingy puppies. Get some better happy pills, hit the gym & buy a medallion the size of a dinner plate. Job done

[DEN MONKEY]

Might be worth trying this trick too

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oA3HIVkup94
____________________
meh

[Wil]

It sounds to me very much like you need to remove the caliper and move it about, turn it upside-down etc to make sure there are no air bubbles trapped inside.
____________________
'07 Triumph Speed Four

Aw look, a baby driving a car. And look, there's a dog driving a bus!

[MarJay]

It could also be that air is trapped in the top banjo above the master cylinder. I find this mainly happens on twin line systems, but it does happen on a single line system occasionally.

Just have everything tight, squeeze the lever a little, then undo the banjo a bit with the lever pressure constant. When it spurts out fluid, tighten the banjo before the lever reaches the bar. This will get rid of any air trapped in the banjo.
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[veeeffarr]

Leona Lewis hates doing this job as well; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sF84pIhP5UM

[Matthie]

[Matthie]

Fixed it

Did both banjos how you suggested MarJay and the brakes went solid instantly.

Did my back brake in like 5 minutes after
____________________
***Previous: GPR50, FZ750 *** Current: Monkey bike, yella SV 650 ***

Tutton says: I hate random hardons, they are so weird...

[calum17]