Ok, now slovfr has me worried about the brake fluid I chose. I haven't ridden the bike yet and it's only partially back together so if I need to change the fluid it's still doable now. Is anyone using fully synthetic out there? i didn't see any dot 4 that wasn't sythentic at kragen but i may have overlooked it. does anyone know if this will hurt the system? I need to wrap this up so I can ride again. please chime in ASAP if you know something.
I used full synthetic on my '98, and had absolutedly no problems. I used it first with the stock lines and then with the Galfer Braided lines. What was it that had you worried?
Brake fluid Reg - I have used the Valvoline syn fluid for years in my bikes with no problems. I think the stuff is the way to go. Stay with it. I have it in my 5th gen now too. The Motorcyclist/Sport Rider crew uses it too. The problem is with the DOT 5 stuff - it primarily racing only. MD
Last time I bled the brakes and the clutch I used the Valvoline Synth fluid. I have had no problems at all with it. The bottle i have does not list the DOT number, but says it exceeds DOT 3 and 4, so I presume it is DOT 5.
Sorry Reg, it was late last night after I drove for 600 miles and saw your post... I was thinking Silicone not synthetic .... I knew it started with an S . I heard the Silicone fluid was no good and found the site where I read that. So your OK with your DOT 4 syn ....
Cool. I finished the bleed and put the bike back together. I'm getting mroe comfortable with having the bike in pieces now. I'm getting to know where most everything goes (now that I got rid of those pesky extra parts) hehe. Just kidding guys, relax. Anyway, I think I now hate linked brakes with a passion. As if there aren't enough bleed points in a normal system then you go and add that crap in! ARRRRGGGHHH as CB would say. What a PIA! I'm quite sure I still have air in the system, but I bled and rebled all the way around 2 times. I'm gon ride a bit then check for air again. I putted around and used the brakes several times and they work fine so I should survive for now...
Kool, that's what I'll use when i change the brake lines this spring. Is that what I would use for the clutch line as well? Seems like it but I'm not sure.
Yeah - use it in the clutch line too. Oh a BIG BTW!! Keep it off the paint - it eats it pretty good! Rag off everywhere possible that the stuff can get.. MD
You know I wanted to do a how-to for this for everyone, but I didn't make it any easier for anyone. I don't know what to change to help people. I would have to do it again, I think, to be any help. And I am not willing to do that yet! At this point, I would reccommend just paying someone you trust to actually do what is necessary. If they do what it really takes, that is. Personally, I don't trust anyone that much. Those are my brakes and I want to know firsthand, but DAMN, it's aggravating.
I just got done doing my brake and clutch lines from bone-dry and had a hard time with bubbles, until I reverse bled them with a homemade tool that was cheap. I had burped lines/banjos and hard brakes easily. The pump bleed and vacuum bleed attempts the day before were frustrating. I made one sized for the clutch bleeder and one for the brake bleeder for under $10. I'm debating making a few and selling them as a disposable (or not) but highly effective alternative to other methods I've surfed on the net. Don't waste your hard earned money at a shop! I'll do a how-to write up and make some up if folks are interested. I may even have some time to start today....I got a call from work this morning telling me not to come in because my office building is on fire.
A how-to would be great Vlad. Sorry to hear about the office, but you could have told em to break out hot dogs and marshmallows. :wink:
vlad, let's see it cause anything that would make that job easier would be welcome. I was ready to kick somebody by the time I got done...
Sorry guys, I didn't get into it yesterday because I ended up making an itemized list of EVERYTHING in my office, which is now ashes in a basement. That kept me busy unitl a little after midnight. You don't think about all the crap you have until you loose it! I'll preach about that another time and place. :focus: Here's the general scoop..... I purchsed two 60CC syringes from the local farm and feed store. To the tips I fitted about 4" of tubing (Tygon in this case, but it's probably fine to use average and cheaper vinyl) sized for an interference fit on the bleeders. These were friction fit then secured using a high tension zip-tie gun. Cover anything you may drip on, rims, bars, tank, with Al foil or plastic. I then pulled about 50CC of DOT4 brake fluid into the syringe, burped the air out. Make like your favorite TV nurse but squirting fluid in the air is not required or recommended. Push the tube onto the bleeder When the tube was secured on the bleeder, I held the syringe pointing down, I opened the bleeder up a 1/4 turn and pulled the clutch/brake lever a touch and tapped the remaining bubble up to the plunger. At that point you're ready for an air-free injection of fresh fluid. With the master cylinder cap off (obviously) and the wheel turned to full lock on the center stand to level the resevoir, I used my other syringe to draw down the fluid (the fluid was clean, but from my previous failed attempt to bleed the old fashioned way had bubbles). If you are pulling old fluid and don't want to taint your new "super-tool" you could invest a buck or two in one of those bulbs that you pull snot out of a babys nose with, or just give the tool a rinse with fresh fluid before you use it again. Shoot into the attached bleeder and watch the clean fluid displace the old in the master cylinder while the bubbles burp out too.eace: Clean, cheap, easy and highly effective on front brakes, clutch, and rear brake. :smile: I think I could do the job with one container of fresh fluid too, so some savings is possible. Pump the levers to seat your pads with the bleeder closed and ensure your master cylinder is full. Button her back up, and you're good-to-go. I will fab these for anyone for $12 plus the cost of actual shipping/packaging to your doorstep. You will get one brake sized and one clutch sized. If you'd like to have some for a cable clutch bike, I could make two brake sized ones. "Special orders don't upset us." Let me know if there's any interest and I will work on making arrangements to accept payment. I really don't care to bleed mine again, so if someone wants to do theirs and do a write-up on it here, the first taker will get a set at cost. I'd love to have some feedback on how it works for others. I obviously thought it was the cats ass. I feel like a used car salesman......not my usual bag, but this idea worked well enough that I think I could turn a small profit while helping those that don't have access to the supplies to make these. Feedback?
