Hi guys, maybe someone here can click with this one and help us out.
My mate has a VTR1000 and has stuck on some braided hoses, but he can’t get the brake fluid in to them. He has a Haynes manual and seems to be following the instructions properly but is getting no pressure on the brake lever. The clear tube is attached next to the nipple and when he pumps on the lever, a tiny drop of fluid comes through. He has tried all combinations of tightening and loosening the nipple while pulling the lever- any suggestions?
He reckons he had the same problem on his ninja about 5 years back but can’t remember how he fixed it. It really should be easy I’m guessing but he’s been bikeless for 2 weeks because of it. I’m going on the LB spin to Boxhill from Locksbottom this Thursday and he wants to join us if the bikes on the road, so if you have any tips or know of any common mistake please let us know.
What I suggest is, that you actually drain all the fluid out and start again. The easiest way to actually fill the system is from the bottom up. A large syringe full of fluid and attach to bleed nipple via the correct diameter hose. Squeeze the syringe and push the fluid up the tube. Do for both sides. This stops the bleeding process to get air out.
For bleeding the system if you are not going to do this, bleed at bleed nipples on calipers. Pull brake lever in while bleed nipple undone, hold lever in and do nipple up. Repeat process until happy there is no air.
At the master cylinder end, undo the banjo bolt a touch and again, pull in brake lever. Make sure that you have a nice cloth to catch any fluid that squirts out. Repeat process as neccessary.
If you still get no pressure, it sounds as though the holes for passing the hydraulic fluid down the pipes are blocked. The kit should have come with copper washers, they may have been crushed too much in the tightening up process and this will foul up the system.
If you have pressure, but it doesn’t seem that good, keep tapping on the brake lever, if you look in the reservoir, you can sometimes see a tiny trail of bubbles coming out of the system, and I mean tiny.
Its also sometimes worth pulling the lever in to the handlebar and taping it in this position overnight. This is also a good move for our trackday addicts who will cook brakes, between sessions, pull that front lever in and tape it up.
As Chuffster says but I will add that I have had this problem several times and found that it is just a question of patience.
Rapidly pump the lever a dozen or so times before pulling the lever in and opening the bleed nipple. Just keep repeating it over and over. The last time I did this (also on a VTR) it took me and Mrs Chunky best part of an hour but we got there.
Its always worth keeping pressure on the lever overnight as it forces all the air to the calipers
Cheers guys. I just spoke ot my mate on the phone and he reckons he’s spoken to the suppliers who have said it’s a common problem. I can tell you we were at it well over an hour the other day and he was at it a couple of times before that with no joy though.
Anyway the suppliers have told him to feed the twon ends of the hoses from the calliper end back in to the resovoir by the handlebars to create a complete circuit. Apparently this will get rid of the airlock after a few pumps. He’s going to try this tonight and if it works easily enough I’ll post a guide in the how-to section. Fingers crossed cause he’s been off the bike a while now because of it and is keen for the Locksbottom to Box spin tomorrow.
Thanks for the suggestions again fellas, if it doesn’t work we’ll Chunky’s overnight tip…
Update as per ChunkyMonkey’s request- putting the calliper ends in to the resevoir worked withing seconds apparently! The air pi$$ed out of the hose and it filled up right away He had spent ages trying all different tricks before that. Simple and mess free he reckons. I’ll find out exactly the procedure and write a guide to stick in the How-To forum when I see himas I know it has prooved a pain for others too.
“What I suggest is, that you actually drain all the fluid out and start again. The easiest way to actually fill the system is from the bottom up. A large syringe full of fluid and attach to bleed nipple via the correct diameter hose. Squeeze the syringe and push the fluid up the tube. Do for both sides. This stops the bleeding process to get air out.”
I’m having a nightmare bleeding my brakes at the moment having just changed the discs, pads and hoses… I’ve got fluid all the way through I think but when I put the hose onto the nipple nothing seems to fill the hose when I pump the lever. The hoses I’ve got have some kind of valve in the other end?
With the above method chuffster, is it literally a case of squeeze the fluid into the nipple till it comes out into the resevoir at the top?? Many thanks before I throw my teddies out of the pram!
The hoses I’ve got have some kind of valve in the other end?
