Replacing the brake bleeder valve

My front brake was spongy, so today I decided to bleed the brakes. Now, it's worse. The bleeder screw is a bit mangled (it was that way when I bought the bike) and I suspect that part of my problem is air being sucked back into the system around the threads. How do you replace it without tons of fluid leaking out? Also, anyone know where these can be bought?

I'm also open for ideas on how to bleed these damn things. Following the Hanyes manual didn't seem to work.

 

Drive a 6-point, 8 mm, deep socket on to the bleed nipple. Remove it. Stuff the hole by "screwing-in" some paper towel. Worry about the little bit of brake fluid that will leak out of there, later.

Punch the bleed nipple out of the socket.
I'm sure somebody around here has a brake bleed nipple to spare if they saved the ones they pulled for the stainless ones they got now.

 

I really like bleeding my system with a Mity-Vac pump. Great tool especially for bike brakes like ours where air bubbles hide in the line junctions where it is almost impossible to dislodge them. Make sure the master cylinder is full and that you are not sucking air into the lines that way. Neat trick is to fill the master cylinder and wrap a bungee cord around the brake lever. Leave it on overnight and let the air float back up and out the master cylinder. Bleeder valves should be available at any aut parts store. I believe these are universal sizes.

 

Thanks guys. Since I had nothing to lose, I tried the bungee cord trick. I got up this morning and removed it and it's no longer spongy at all. Nice and firm and no longer travels all the way to the grip.

Now it would stop raining and dry up for a few minutes, I'll take it on a low speed test run.

Next time, I'll make sure I have a Mity-Vac handy.

 

Another excellent option that I swear by is using Speedbleeder nipples instead of the stock ones.
They've got a one-way valve built into them so when you loosen them to bleed the brakes they only let fluid out, then seal again so air can't get in. Allows 1 person brake bleeding with no special tools.
They run around $6 each for our bikes.

 

Where do you get the Speed Bleeder's? Motorcycle Shop or Auto Parts place?

 

Well, I finally got a chance to take the bike out on a test run this afternoon. The front brakes work better than they ever have. I took it out to an empty parking lot and did a few panic stops. It's nice to have it back road-worthy again.

http://www.speedbleeder.com/ looks like their website. I'm not sure if these are sold in stores or not.

 

http://www.bikebandit.com/partsbandit/p ... 412032.asp

 

Bike shops are your best bet - they'll have them in stock, or can order them in the right metric sizes. Most car parts places can get them too - I just find the bike shops tend to have some onhand.