Yamaha TRX850 Enthusiasts Forum

Help! After a recent S&M session with Ms Wiplash involving some crocodile clips and a length of rubber hosing, I seen to have...



Anyone got any majorly good tips on bleeding brakes? Been doing it for years, and always manage it, but always think there must be an easier way, without spending a fortune on a speed bleeding kit...

...heard of a 'reverse bleed' where a bottle/syringe full of fluid is attached to the opened bleed nipple, and squirted through from that end, pushing air/fluid up the hose into the master cylinder?

Does this work?
Are bleed nipples not 'one way'?
Would you need the lever taped back to the bar?

Bleed nipples are not one way.

I use a syringe on the bleed nipple to suck the fluid and air through, not to push the fluid backwards. Works great for me.

No need to tape the lever back. Once you've got a bit of suction going with the syringe just pump the lever as normal.

i bought a one man bleeding kit from halfords for £5 ( its a simple one way kit )

expected it to be rubbish and its excellent

place the simple hose over the nipple and push the plastic stop over the hose ( stops it popping off with back pressure )
place the clear hose end in a empty bottle - open the nipple and gentle keep pumpin the lever and topping up the res as and when , just keep going till there is no bubbles left in the clear hose then close nipple and pump till hard - i did this when recently fitting a replacment set of r1 calipers and lines and they are rock hard - did the back aswel and that has firmed up too - my mate has a r1 that wasnt as firm so we did his - whole thing takes 10 mins and no need to leave overnight cable tied up

simple normal process made easy with a one way valve and clear hose


one of the best bit of kits i have ever bought ha ha

don't tape the thing open over night, and don't reverse bleed unless you really have to - there's a fair chance you will end up popping the seals.

the speed bleeders, the ones that run off air pressure from a tyre, really are worth their weight in gold. If you don't have one, I find opening the bleed nipple, attaching a hose and submerging it in a jam jar 1/3 full of brake fluid and just pumping the lever and topping up the reservoir until bleed through works for me.

If you have totally dry calipers, brand new hoses and a new master cylinder, though, the only way to do it is with a speed bleeder imo, and you will have to do it a few times with that.

...heard of a 'reverse bleed' where a bottle/syringe

As experienced this works on bycicles hydraulic master cylinders perfectly.
And I can't see any reason why it shouldn't on motorbikes too.
I'd think the master cylinder reservoir is always communicating with the brake lines.

The other way round I simply put a mug above the brake, connect a PVC-line to the nipple.
Open the nipple slightly and pump the fluid out with the brake lever.
Works out quite fast, clean and leaves no air bubbles in the lines.
When I need stop pumping to refill the reservoir I shut the nipple before reaching the brake's leaver rear end (thus having pressure on the line all the time).

No need to buy anything but PVC-Line.

I'm with omegaman but mine cost £2.50. Used them for years never had any probs.
Though if you're fitting new/empty lines, let them hang disconnected, fill the reservoir, go have a cup of tea/beer. By the time you get back brake fluid will be dripping from he hose ends. Hook them up and bleed. Slightly messy but no drama.