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Oral Brake Line Bleed Method - Thumbs up or down?

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by ColoradoDan, Oct 3, 2012.

  1. ColoradoDan

    ColoradoDan Active Member

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    Hi XJers,

    Has anyone tried or would anyone endorse a method to bleed the brakes, whereby you would use oral suction instead of a mity vac.

    Mouth (sucking)-----------clear tube with clamp to hold suction-------------caliper bleed valve

    Similar to what my uncle Jimmy always used for what he called the "neighborhood gas-share program"
     
  2. mlew

    mlew Well-Known Member

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    In a pinch--yes, but as a shop practice--no. If you are going cheap get a 100ml seringe and use it. They are available at a medical supply store for a couple bucks.
     
  3. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    Seriously.

    Then again, if you really want to suck brake, go for it.

    <descriptive deleted>
     
  4. Ground-Hugger

    Ground-Hugger Member

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    Hire a hooker to suck on it!!!
     
  5. MercuryMan

    MercuryMan Active Member

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    Ha! that's crazy. Brake fluid is highly toxic and you can only generate a few measly psi anyway. You are not a CATerpillar you don't need hydraulic fluid in your veins.

    Once when I was young, dumb and trying to get an old two-stroke motor to run, I mouth siphoned several year old 2-stroke gas using a hose that was opaque. Needless to say I sucked in a whopping mouthful of Naaaasssstttty A&! gas/oil mix and wasn't quick enough to stop it from going down. Miserable JUST miserable for the next 24hours I was burping fumes and oil and it felt like there was a mack truck in my gut trying to get out.

    Try another method.
     
  6. Maxim-X

    Maxim-X Well-Known Member

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    ...depends, what's the going price in your neck of the woods for a hooker to give a BJ, as compared to buying a Mighty Vac???
    :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:
     
  7. theadbrewer

    theadbrewer Member

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    I am a fan of just gravity bleeding. Brake fluid tastes awful.
     
  8. ColoradoDan

    ColoradoDan Active Member

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    C'mon, I would buy a REALLY long clear tube just to prevent the backwash.

    But seriously I was hoping for more "here's what happened to me" than actual encouragement. Thanks for the one so far, mercuryman.
     
  9. maverickbr77

    maverickbr77 Member

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    I did it on my Seca with a nice clear tube hooked to the bleeder worked wonders to get things started.
     
  10. ColoradoDan

    ColoradoDan Active Member

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    That's @(%&#^ awesome. Thanks maverick. I knew it wasn't just a crazy hair-brained plan. You're a prince among amateur backyard mechanics.
     
  11. zap2504

    zap2504 Member

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    Just because someone else did it first does not discount that it is a crazy hair-brained plan :lol:
    If you don't want to get a MityVac (or the cheap Harbor Freight version), what's wrong with just using the master cylinder to pump the line? Pump it so the caliper(s) get filled, then pump the handle and tie it tight to the grip and leave it overnight to get residual bubbles out.
     
  12. MercuryMan

    MercuryMan Active Member

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    More than 1 way right.

    If your too cheap for a vacuum pump (which works wonders and allowed me to get my entire brake system CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN), then just pull your Auto up next to the bike and buy a really long vacuum line and hook up to your cars manifold vac. Let the car eat the fluid-like Mikey it likes it!
     
  13. theadbrewer

    theadbrewer Member

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  14. danielcarver47

    danielcarver47 Member

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    having seen what happens to a fresh paintjob from a few drops of dot 3 on it literally tearing the paint and clear off, i wouldnt put it anywhere near my mouth, but im not too cheap to buy a 1$ syringe either. your call
     
  15. maverickbr77

    maverickbr77 Member

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    I will say that I only did it because I couldn't for the life of me get the fluid started in the system and did not have a vac available. Do I recommend it for everyday no, will it work in a pinch to get you going yes. YMMV greatly with this and make sure you have a good long piece of hose I though I did and still almost ate brake fluid.
     
  16. Polock

    Polock Well-Known Member

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    you get a jar and punch two holes on it, one hose goes from the bleeder to one of the holes the other hole gets a hose to your mouth.
    now you can drop the hose from your mouth in the dirt while you fill the master and not get brake fluid in your mouth
     
  17. ColoradoDan

    ColoradoDan Active Member

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    Polock, brilliant - I could even put water in there to filter it. Wait, this is familiar.

    Thanks. Never a dull post from you.
     
  18. Maxim-X

    Maxim-X Well-Known Member

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    Brake bong!
    :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:
     
  19. TIMEtoRIDE

    TIMEtoRIDE Active Member

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    Get a Medical Grade oxygen line from a COPD patient/relative, it's 25 feet long, and Polock's jar set-up, and an idling truck or car, the vehicle supplies unlimited, steady, free vacuum, and you proceed to bleed the brakes.
     
  20. Polock

    Polock Well-Known Member

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    Time, that's cold, that COPD patient needs that hose more than Dan.
    on a more serious note, cover the tank with plastic then a rag
     
  21. hbwb

    hbwb Member

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    Ok here we go. Push the fluid up through the bottom and there will be no air left. I have not tried this so be careful as it may get messy and potentially overflow if you are not careful. I have heard of pushing the fluid up from the bottom with a syringe and have actually done that and it works but my syringe was a cheapie and was hard to work.

    But this method is different in that you use compressed air so is not for those who do not have access to a compressor with a blow gun. As to the messy you will need to cover any painted surfaces up top just in case. Now you get a decent size container with a lid that can be made air tight. Two pieces of clear hose just big enough to fit on the bleeder. Two holes in the lid, two tubes in. Seal the holes air tight around the hoses and the hose to the bleeder run all the way to the bottom of the container. The other hose needs to be long enough to reach above the master cylinder so you can stand over it and watch when the fluid comes out. The other end goes in the other hole in the jar, jug, or whatever and you fill the jug about half full of brake fluid. The hose not attached to the bleeder has to be above fluid level in the jug so air shoved down it compresses the fluid in the jar and forces it out the other hose and you guessed it, through the bleeder nipple up through the brake line(s) and into the master cylinder.

    So you stand over your master cylinder with the hose and the air gun. Attach hose to air gun and let her rip. Go slow to be sure you do not make a mess. If everything is sealed well you may kick yourself and say ''why didn't I think of this before?''. Likewise am I and I would like to thank polock for giving me the idea. And if it somehow does not work well and makes one humdinger of a mess ....well then I would like to place all the blame on polock. :lol:

    But seriously it should work and you could even push it upwards by blowing with your mouth (maybe) or maybe rig up a hand pump, which would be safer and less potential for a mess. You could even install an air valve in the top of the jar so as to attach a bicycle pump or similar. I think I like that method best and will probably build something like that.
     
  22. LVSteve2011

    LVSteve2011 Member

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    Anybody ever hear of a vacuum jar? I plan on making one of these; Take a mayo jar, preferably one with a steel lid, drill 2 holes 1/2 " in diameter about 1" apart, and insert those 3/8" brass fittings that you can get from HF, for air hose; make up some JB weld and put it around the fittings to seal them from leaking air, next screw the lid on tight. Now here's the neat part, using a shop vacuum, rig up a hose from the inlet of the vac. to one of the fittings on the jar, now run the hose from the other fitting to the bleeder valve. Turn on the vacuum, crack open the bleeder, and WAHLAH!
     
  23. TIMEtoRIDE

    TIMEtoRIDE Active Member

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    Skip the brass fittings -

    Punch 2 holes with a nail, enlarge with a Phillips,

    Insert your tubes directly, glue with RTV or 5 minute epoxy.

    And why would a screamin' vacuum be preferred to an idling truck?
     
  24. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    I guess it's the "easy way out" but isn't a Mity-Vac a much simpler solution? I got mine off Amazon for $23, and it's already paid for itself 4X over in time saved.
     
  25. LVSteve2011

    LVSteve2011 Member

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    Good point Time, I guess the shop vac is more handy. Hi Fitz! my thinking here is... not only am I lazy, but I have arthritis in my hands and I figure let the vacuum do all the work.
     
  26. wilddog

    wilddog New Member

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    Bleed with pressure from the bottom up and you won't have any air bubbles to mess with. If you don't have a pressure bleeder, a pump type oil can will work. Just clean it out and but a hose on the can's tube and the calibers bleeder and pump the brake fluid in.
     
  27. hbwb

    hbwb Member

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    This.
    I learned that while messing with my syringe thing I picked up at walmart that is supposed to be for measuring oil for premix applications. It is so much easier to push the fluid through the bottom as you do not have to keep adding fluid from the top. Also since the air is at the top naturally it just rides the wave up and out as the fluid moves into the MS.
     
  28. TIMEtoRIDE

    TIMEtoRIDE Active Member

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    Air can still hide in a banjo fitting, or on the walls of the caliper, so, after riding 300 miles, crack the banjo fitting open to bleed it ( use a towel ) and re-bleed the caliper.

    Anyone got spongy brakes??
     
  29. ColoradoDan

    ColoradoDan Active Member

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    Okay, okay, enough of the crazy suggestions. Nah, kidding - keep 'em coming!

    Fitz, we just want to be more innovative than some genius that invented a gadget you can so easily and cheaply purchase. What's the fun in that?
     
  30. ColoradoDan

    ColoradoDan Active Member

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    On a final note, too, I went really cheap and bought the Penzoil siphon from Wally - yes the store-bought version of Uncle Jimmy's neighborhood gas-sharing program pump. And it actually gave me enough pressure to pull some fluid in, then I closed the nipple and proceeded with the same bleed method I have done on any car that needed it:

    One or two brake handle squeezes, strap against grip, open nipple, shut nipple, repeat. 15 minutes and I had pushed all the old fluid thru. And on a hunch I only closed the MC with the rubber cover/diaphragm and not the metal cover.

    One more squeeze and left handle strapped to grip overnight, next day I had a firm grab on the rotor. Two days later the braking is solid as a sports car.

    That was all too easy.
     

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