Refilling empty brake lines

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

Hi Dudes (and Dudettes),

on my TT600 I currently have a completely empty front brake system. This is because the breakers drained the lines after the pipe that connects into the master cylinder split in 'the accident'.

Does anyone have any specific advice on refilling brake lines from empty? The bike has braided hoses as standard, and so those of you with low spec jap bikes ( Wink

) who have upgraded to braided hoses would have particularly useful input to this.

Anything I need to look out for?

Any way of filling the lines with the minimum amount of air getting in?

Any issues I need to worry about related to fluid absorbing moisture?

Any help appreciated! Thumbs Up

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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.

Big Pete · Spanner Monkey Joined: 18 Jul 2004 Karma :

pour some fluid into the calipers first, then assemble the lines. Fill the master cylinder reservoir, open the bleed screws. Get cup of tea, by the time you return the lines should almost be full. Close the bleed screws. shake the hoses while slowly moving the brake lever, you should start getting bubbles out into the M/cyl reservior. When the bubbles stop, bleed as normal from the calipers. HTH
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MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

But the lines are assembled... Confused

Damn.
____________________
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.

Big Pete · Spanner Monkey Joined: 18 Jul 2004 Karma :

doesnt really matter, just take longer at the cup of tea stage, the calipers will fill by gravity, but it take longer. Alternatively, unscrew the caliper banjoes and fill the calipers, then screw them back in again.
____________________
Trust me, I`m an engineer
GarageOfPower.co.uk

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Some people reccomend filling from the bleed nipple.

I have a fork oil syringe that has been used for this before, if you wanna borrow it I can probably dig it out.

Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

I do it by having something applying suction at the bottom end - my trusty squeezy bottle is always useful here.

I have also done it by forcing fluid in at the bottom using a syringe. The syringe method is more effective, but the squeezy bottle way is generally cleaner.

Important thing is to remember that the air will rise in the lines, but slowly. Brake fluid is thicker than water.

mr.z · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Karma :

The easyest way (i know of) is with a one way valve (motrax do one).

Put your pipe with valve on the bleed nipple, get a pipe long enough to reach back up to your resivoir (secureing it carefully, cable ties and whatever) open the bleed nipple, feed fluid into the resivoir while pumping and wait till the fluid has made it to the pipe going up to the resivoir, when its at the correct level then keep pumping for a while untill theres no bubbles makeing their way up.
Close nipple, take pipes off, use a cable tie to hold the lever down, check in the morning, top up if need.
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