Bleeding Brakes

[Poppy Dave]

Anyone got the "Motion Pro Hydraulic Brake Bleeder Tool" ?

If so, are they any good ? Is it worth buying (approx price $35 from the States) ?

Or is it just as easy doing it the 'Old fashioned' way ? 

All, relevant, answers gratefully received.

Take care,


Dave                                                               

[tj189]

only ever done it the old fashioned way so not much of a help actually 

[alans1100]

I have only ever bled the front brakes on my CX500 the "old fashioned way" as you call it. They were simple single pot calipers so bleeding them was no different to a car.

With my ABS/CBS set up I wouldn't know where to start so that's a dealer job for me.........lol

[BigTed]

There appear to be 2 kinds from Motion Pro:

Bleeder
Mini Bleeder - this one has differing sizes

I'm so confused. 

[saaz]

The Motion Pro tools look graet, but I have done it the tradional way for many years (tube into a jar, so when the brake fluid gets above the tube no chnace of air getting back into the system even when doing it yourself).  I have a brake bleeder tube from supercheap that has a plastic one way valve on the end that works a bit better, but not that much.

96 on abs bikes need to follow a certain procedure due to the proportioning valve in the system.

[Diesel]

I was about to put up a post about these....

http://www.speedbleeder.com/

Having done a brake bleed (alone) - I can really see the value of a system like you or I have mentioned. It's a devil of a job - even if everything goes particularly well!     

[Poppy Dave]

I was about to put up a post about these....

http://www.speedbleeder.com/

Having done a brake bleed (alone) - I can really see the value of a system like you or I have mentioned. It's a devil of a job - even if everything goes particularly well!     

Yeah Diesel, I had a look at those but there are a few negative comments about them on the ST-Owners site (can't recall the exact problem) and the ones that had the problems switched to the Motion Pro and gave them good marks.

I'll wait a few days and see if anyone has used them and see what the thinks.

Cheers to all that have responded so far.

Dave                                                                       

[terrydj]

"Want some advice"
If you have a bike that has ABS? just leave it alone. Had me brakes done by a Honda joint and they took forever to bleed the things. Yeah theirs a special series of steps to take and even going straight by the book they stuffed it up a zillion times

[OzRider]

Having done a brake bleed (alone) - I can really see the value of a system like you or I have mentioned. It's a devil of a job - even if everything goes particularly well!     

Agree with Diesel difficult (especially when you have to stand on your head operate the lever and fill the reservoir) but not impossible make sure you follow the manual to the letter and wont be a problem, I didn't the first time and had to do it again, big thing is don't let the system go dry that's the bigee.

[saaz]

I noticed the other day that supercheap has a brake bleeding helper that is essentially a small plastic bottle with a hose attached that ensures that air does not get back into the system while you pump the lever. Achieves the same as immersing the bleed tube in a jar.

[Tipsy]

  py

I always thought the simplest way was a tube from the bleedin nipple into a jar of fluid and when bubbles stop job done,

but then I have been know to have a stubbie or 2

tipsy

[Maverick75]

You guys should try a servo-braked BMW. Bleed nipple at each caliper, six bleed nipples on the ABS block (accessed by removing the fuel tank). Specific procedure for bleeding both control and wheel circuits. Four separate fluid reservoirs. Then at the end hook up to laptop and GS911 for bleed test. Done annually or there's a good probability of a $3500 (parts) bill for the failed brake pump. Used to take me about three hours each time.

I did the bleed on my ABSII ST11 soon after I bought it and shed a few tears over how easy it was.

[Dennisgw]

Hmmm, that puts me off!
Sounds as painful as doing my 80 Series Landcruiser  :(
 

[rjstorrie]

Has anyone bled the brakes on a ABS model of the ST1300? I read the process for the normal brake lines, then got lost when it started talking about the ABS part.

I have a bleeding hose, the fluid, the ambition, cleaning cloths, capture container and 1/2 the know how.

Any tips welcome.
Rob.

[alans1100]

Has anyone bled the brakes on a ABS model of the ST1300? I read the process for the normal brake lines, then got lost when it started talking about the ABS part.

I have a bleeding hose, the fluid, the ambition, cleaning cloths, capture container and 1/2 the know how.

Any tips welcome.
Rob.

Have a look here.....process should be similar if not the same

http://home.insightbb.com/~mmartin36/Bleed.htm

 
Bleeding the brakes on all ST1100 ABS-II (1996-2002).

 This is as follows:

Left front caliper upper bleed valve, using the front brake lever.
Right front caliper upper bleed valve, using the front brake lever

Left front caliper lower bleed valve, using the rear brake pedal.
Right front caliper lower bleed valve, using the rear brake pedal.
Rear caliper front bleed valve, using the rear brake pedal.
Rear caliper rear bleed valve, using the rear brake pedal.

The following sequence from ST Owners for the 1300 has  two extra steps (highlighted)


Brake Lever
 
 1. Left Outer (upper) bleed valve.
 2. Right Outer (upper) bleed valve.
 
Brake Pedal
 
1. Remove and tilt left front caliper 15 degrees (wood shims inserted between the pads will keep the pads from extending while~if pedal is pumped)
 2. Proportioning Control bleed valve.
 3. Rear Brake Center bleed valve.
 4. Right Front Center bleed valve.
 5. Left Front Center bleed valve.
 6. Rear Outer (forward) bleed valve.

[saaz]

From what I have read, really make sure that the fluid level in the master cylinder does not get too low. There is a world of pain if any air gets into the ABS module.

[rjstorrie]

I'm guessing the master cylinder is the fluid reservour on the handle bars?

Rob.

[saaz]

Yes, that's the one.  If air gets down to the ABS module then it could get hard.

I'm guessing the master cylinder is the fluid reservour on the handle bars?

Rob.

[STeveo]

Only give a3 or 4 pumps on the lever before refilling the master cylinder, other wise use a long hose from the bleeder back to the master cylinder and keep pumping round to get air out.


 

[alans1100]

I'm guessing the master cylinder is the fluid reservour on the handle bars?

Rob.

Not forgetting the rear fluid reservoir for the rear barke either.

[alans1100]

Only give a3 or 4 pumps on the lever before refilling the master cylinder, other wise use a long hose from the bleeder back to the master cylinder and keep pumping round to get air out.


 

It's not advisable to re use brake fluid once it's been added to the system......high risk of contamination......

[winston66]

 
WINSTON 66,
this may not be pertinant to the ST's but I recently obtained from E Bay a vacume brake bleading kit for under $30.00 which consisted of ,
A hand operated vacume pump,
A catch jar for the brake fluid,
PVC pipe , various sizes,
A variety of adaptors etc.etc. and some other stuff.
This all came in an unbranded component case and was very well presented.
So far I have used it twice in the last two weeks , Once to bleed the clutch on the Yamaha Royal Star after replacing the slave and rekiting the master,
The speed bleader that I purchased at the same time in order to do the job proved to be usless.
and the second time was today when we bled the brakes on a neighbours Toyota 4 wd.After replacing his rear cylinders and brake shoes.
The kit was quick and efficient and the jobs were completed without any fuss and very quickly.
I can only suggest that you check out E Bay , motor, spare parts,  brake bleaders, to see what is on offer .
Cheers ,
Winston 66, Northampton
 

[Brock]

Good one Winston,

Do you have a link to the bleeder you ordered??

[saaz]

Vacuum bleeders are the way to go (supposedly the clean fluid flushes out the system better), and I have been meaning to get one.  This is the least expensive one I found http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380567728752&ssPageName=ADME:L:CORT:AU:1123 which should be fine for home use.  I have to do the car soon so it will make it an easy job.

[winston66]

 

Winston 66,
 Yes Sazz that is the one. the extra in the price that I quoted was for the postage It works great.
 Brock , the speed bleeder that I mentioned was one that I ordered from the Yamaha parts supplier that I use from the good old USA,
He is Skydoc 17 on the Venture riders forum.
Info on the speedbleeder can be found on www.speedbleeder .com They have several different models the one I got was SBS125L  MBx1.25.
 I think pt. No. 888-879-7016
I think that it did not work because I could not make the seal airtight.( at the clutch bleeder where it replaced the std bleeder )
 However the vacumme pump set up only needs one person and worked great for me.
Cheers .
Winston 66 ,Northampton