I wrapped up my bike for winter storage yesterday, changed all the brake fluid while I put new brake pads in. When I bled the front brake, nightmare! I do have a shopvac bleeder, tried it for 15 mins, still spongy brake. Use gravity bleed, start getting a little but half way on the brake lever, driving me nuts. No matter what I've tried, no luck. Finally I discovered something, when you bleed the front brake, you usually turn the wheel hard to the left because of the reservoir overflow, correct? That's the problem, I looked at the caliper bleeder screw, when the wheel is cranked all the way to the left, the bleed screw isn't sitting at the top of the caliper, air could still be trapped in there. I ended up filling the reservoir, closed the lid, turn the wheel all the way to the right so the bleeder sat high, cracked the bleed open, see tons of bubbles coming out. Gravity bled again for 2 mins, brake was solid! I think a lot of ppl are having trouble bleeding the brake just because of this, give it a try! I guarantee it works. Alex

 

Thanks Alex. Great observation. This should speed up the operation when changing my break fluid.

 

Nice info!! Thanks

 

bump! keep this thread on the top for other forum members, you could be changing brake fluid soon.

 

Simply brilliant. Some people might have to adjust the angle of their brake fluid resevoirs so it does not spill. Remember...DOT 3 and 4 will eat paint. Cover tank with a thick blanket too. Thanks 128.

 

Excellent tip, hate standing for what seems like hours trying to get it firm.....brake lever that is

 

I like it!

 

Always learning something. Thanx for the tip

 

Try also with the bleeder valve closed snapping the front brake handgrip very quick and letting it sit a second and then snaping the front brake lever about ten times and repeat. This makes the air come up into the master cylinder. The first time I heard this I thought the guy was crazy, but I tried it when I put on steel braid brake lines last week and it worked.

 

Getting ready to do the same for 20,000 at home service. Thanks for the tip.