El-Cheapo One Man Pressure Brake Bleeding Kit!

[geodon]

Necessity is the Mother of Invention. Mother declined to help as she refused to sit on the petrol tank to pump the brake pedal.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/05/727.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/05/728.jpg


It comprises a generic reservoir cap ( a well stocked Clutch & Brake shop should have them) that has been drilled & had a tubeless tyre valve pulled thru it, two of the hoses from those cheap & nasty footpumps that always seem to breed in dark corners and a good length of hose.

The generic cap fits on the reservoir:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/05/729.jpg

T'other end attaches to the wheel where you are bleeding. OK OK it leaks like a sieve but with 40psi at the wheel, there is enough left over to push fluid out when you unscrew the bleed valve.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/05/730.jpg

It was OK to get me half a pedal & when the seats are in we will chase the other half.

OTOH, it got me a perfect clutch pedal in 60 seconds!

[tonic]

Geoden, that is a great invention. Not having your ability I bought the following:). SWMBO would never help me either, I could not put up with the "are you finished yet, I have things to do"

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[bee utey]

Another lurk to prevent blowing up the reservoir is to use an old BBQ pressure regulator on compressed air, they are set at around 0.25 psi from memory, safe for all reservoirs.

[geodon]

Tonic, thnx for the accolade!

I have used one of those kits. You are totally at the mercy of that one-way valve. They are not too reliable.

I find this method preferable & while slower than pressurising, it's "one-man" and dirt cheap:


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/05/721.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/05/722.jpg

That's a 60ml disposable syringem (get them at a pharmacy or animal feed store) and a close fitting braided plastic tube. What you do in suck out the flluid until it comes out bubble free.

Nonetheless, having an assistant pumping up pressure then release it at the bleed valve is still the most positive way to expell air IMHO.

[Series3 GT]

Do any of these inventions really work. Because if they do my old IIA has no brakes. The only brakes I have are after 3 pumps of the pedal and you get some brakes. We've bled the brakes the conventional way and we've checked for leaks and we've re-done all the brake cylinders and rubbers and adjusted the snail cams. So is there a special way to bleed series brakes because it can be a bit scary without them.

[pop058]

I took my 2A down to the local Brakes Plus joint. For about 35-40 clams they pressue flushed the system, new fluid (obviously) and adjusted the brakes. I admit this was over 12 months ago, so the figures might have changed, but it solved the "Series brake bleeding issue".

[gromit]

I've got one of these somewhere Brake Bleed Kit - Car Parts Direct (http://www.carparts-direct.co.uk/home/brake-bleed-kit) but don't use it.

I normally use my 10 year old son on the pedal. He's helped with a Ford Territory, Series 1 & Defender brakes and Series 2 & Series 3 clutch so far this year.


Colin

[digger]

I've got one of these somewhere Brake Bleed Kit - Car Parts Direct (http://www.carparts-direct.co.uk/home/brake-bleed-kit) but don't use it.

I normally use my 10 year old son on the pedal. He's helped with a Ford Territory, Series 1 & Defender brakes and Series 2 & Series 3 clutch so far this year.


Colin

But damn in the long run theyre expensive!!:twisted::p

[geodon]

Hmmmmm!

Pardon my ignorance but going by the comments & interest, is there an endemic problem re bleeding 2A brakes? Are they prone to being hard to bleed??

It appears manufacturers still stuff up. A mechanic I was speaking to told me he had to de-mount a new Mini's clutch slave cylinder, hold it upside down to bleed it then re-mount it. He claimed the bleeder valve was put in the wrong spot! So much for Teutonic Efficiency!

[123rover50]

But damn in the long run theyre expensive!!:twisted::p

Which. The bleed kit or the 10 yr old son?:angel:

Didiman

[Series3 GT]

Is there a simple way to bleed the brakes or do I have to do a complicated process that takes a while and is frustrating.

[gromit]

Is there a simple way to bleed the brakes or do I have to do a complicated process that takes a while and is frustrating.


I've never found it complicated but you do need a helper.
Having said that it is more difficult/time consuming if the system has been overhauled and is completely empty of fluid.

First the brakes need to be properly adjusted and the brake reservoir topped up.

All you need is a clear tube that fits over the bleed nipple on the wheel cylinders and a glass jar.
Put the tube over the nipple (you may need to put the spanner on first if you are using a ring spanner), run the tube down to the glass jar on the ground (the tube needs to go to the bottom of the jar).
Get your helper to sit in the car and explain in advance what they have to do.

You need to open the bleed nipple and then they have to slowly press the brake pedal down, I shout 'pump' and son knows to slowly press the pedal to the floor, lift and press again.

You should get fluid traveling down the clear pipe and you will be able to see any bubbles coming out of the system (if you open the bleed nipple too far you can get air getting in via the thread). When you are happy that clean, bubble free fluid is coming through you need to get the helper to press the pedal to the floor and stop there while you tighten the bleed nipple. I shout 'stop" and watch the fluid flow through the pipe to determine when to tighten the nipple.
As the level of fluid builds in the jar the tube end being kept under the fluid means that when the helper lifts their foot of the pedal only fluid is drawn back into the system and not air. The 'one-man' bleeders have a non-return valve in to effectively do the same thing.

Then top up the reservoir, move to the next wheel and repeat.

On an empty system after a rebuild I start at the rear wheels (furthest away from the master cylinder) then the front and re-do each wheel several times until I'm happy that no air bubbles are coming out.


Sometimes air bubbles get trapped in part of the system and are very difficult to get out. There are several ways to deal with this but it can get a bit messy and you need some water handy to deal with the brake fluid on your nicely painted backplate, axle, wheel rim etc.

If the system is still spongy after bleeding you can try......

Getting the helper to pump the pedal several times with the nipples closed to pressurise the system, they keep their foot pressed hard on the pedal and you crack open the nipple (wear safety glasses !).
The other is you open the nipple and the helper stamps very, very hard on the pedal (again, wear safety glasses).

Both these methods can get trapped air bubbles out of the system. My Father-in-law helped me bleed my Series 1 this way and it all came good. Mind you there is some paint on the backplates that bubbled a bit......





Colin

[Homestar]

Geoden, that is a great invention. Not having your ability I bought the following:). SWMBO would never help me either, I could not put up with the "are you finished yet, I have things to do"

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment.php?attachmentid=46947&stc=1&d=1337152733

Got one of these as well, and I am a big fan of this one. I have a half assed pressure bleeding setup that I made years ago, and I have also used a large syringe, but I bought this in desperation trying to get my clutch bled on the Classic - worked in 60 seconds! Also done the brakes on the L322 and the clutch on the Daughters car since - all really easily.

[gromit]

Do any of these inventions really work. Because if they do my old IIA has no brakes. The only brakes I have are after 3 pumps of the pedal and you get some brakes. We've bled the brakes the conventional way and we've checked for leaks and we've re-done all the brake cylinders and rubbers and adjusted the snail cams. So is there a special way to bleed series brakes because it can be a bit scary without them.

just read this earlier post....

After bleeding, try clamping off each flexible hose to isolate each front brake & the rear brakes and see if the problem is fixed. This may then highlight the problem area.
On my Series 1 we clamped all hoses and got a firm pedal then released the fronts one at a time, still OK released the rear and problem came back.
We ended up making an adjuster for the trailing shoes (none on the S1) and the problem was resolved.

If it takes several pumps to get the brakes working it sounds like the slave cylinders have to move some distance before the shoes start to grip the drum. You mentioned adjusting the snail cams, did you adjust till the shoes contacted the drums and then back off 1 notch ? If so then are the slave cylinders retracting further because the boots are tight ?


Colin

[geodon]

A bit scary. Did you use cushioning with rubber or something?

[91ramjet]

Hi

you can buy a proper set of brake line clamps. they are made out of plastic.

[ade]

Ive got a vacum type bleeder, hook it up to the compressor, attach it to the bleed nipple and pull the trigger, easy as pie!. has worked on brakes,clutch power steering cars boats bikes truck. cost 90 dollars from repco a few years ago, can even run it off my under bonnet arb compressor easily with no air tank

[geodon]

Colin, that technique allowed me to zero in on the off-side front brake whe I found the lwr union leaking (not done up-the Klutz King strikes again!) and a non-functioning snail adjuster.

Thanks!

[gromit]

A bit scary. Did you use cushioning with rubber or something?

If you're careful you can use locking pliers (Vise Grips). I've seen the proper brake pipe clamps but have never seen the need to buy them.

Colin

[Series3 GT]

Well the brakes even after bleeding have a lot air in them. Can you just close off the front brakes and just have the rear ones or is that just as dangerous as no brakes on a loose gravel road. We did a bit of a brake overhaul a little while ago and when we had put it back together again and we were testing it and we discovered that the drivers side front brake hose had a split. Could that be the source of my problems because we replaced it and bled it but could that just fill the system with lots of air. At the moment it has brakes after 3 pumps and they are pretty weak. I would even like spongy brakes that actually lock the wheels to stop they don't have to be perfect.

[travelrover]

Hi all. Reviving this older thread.

I recently bought a cheap one man bleed kit off ebay, about $20, not the cheapest by any means. It was the type that uses compress air from a tyre, (under 20 psi) runs through a fluid container with an isolating valve connected to the screw cap on the brake reservoirso it all sounded pretty simple.

First problem was the valve mounted in the top of the fluid container could not be adjusted far enough to completely turn off the air from the tyre so was always pressurized. fixed this by winding the valve open and fitting a fuel cock (from a lawn mower) into the air line. All appeared to work fine. I could turn the air completely off and on at a measured rate (slowly).

So I put some new brake fluid in the container and connected the outlet end to the screw cap with the correct sized seal in the cap (1/8th of a turn past the initial contact grab per the instructions) and the air line to the tyre @15psi.

Very slowly turned on the air and straight away I had fluid leaking from around the cap on the reservoir. I tightened it a little more and tried again, but still it leaked.

So this one will be going into the parts pile.

I am guessing there a lot more on the market now than when this thread was first active. Can anyone recommend a suitable one man unit? Reasonably cheap.. [bigwhistle]

[whitehillbilly64]

I use one of these from Repco.
find it ok.
Buy Brake Bleeder Kit One Man 310261 | Total Tools (https://www.totaltools.com.au/99085-Toledo-Brake-Bleeder-Kit-One-Man-310261?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlLW07q_v1QIVS2i9Ch2IQQTCE AQYAyABEgLFQ_D_BwE)

whitehillbilly

[Chops]

The other week, Chris and i used an old cap with a car valve in it, and whist i was underneath the car, Chris pumped it with a bike tyre pump. Worked well, although he did get sore arms. Using the air compressor woudn have been a lot better, but it was late at night.
Worked very well indeed, there was a lot of air in the line, we went through over half a bottle of fluid to them right.

[gromit]

I use one of the kids to pump the pedal but they certainly aren't cheap !

Somewhere I have an old Gunson's one man bleeder I used years back in the UK. The plastic has probably cracked/degraded by now. Came with a variety of caps to fit different master cylinders

Looks like its changed a bit since I got mine but still available
Gunson Eezibleed (http://www.halfords.com/workshop-tools/tools/hand-tools/gunson-eezibleed)


Colin

[67hardtop]

I use one of the kids to pump the pedal but they certainly aren't cheap !

Colin

How much did u pay for the chillllldren......[emoji48] [emoji48] [emoji48]


Joke

Cheers Rod

[Chops]

How much did u pay for the chillllldren......[emoji48] [emoji48] [emoji48]


Joke

Cheers Rod


Haha,,, Blues Brothers,,,, "How much for the little one"?,,, 😂

[Tins]

Haha,,, Blues Brothers,,,, "How much for the little one"?,,, 😂

Now, don't go all PC on us, Marcus....


https://youtu.be/GDXYzUlv0S8

[Chops]

Hahaha,, I couldn't remember if that's what he actually said. Me,, PC,, pfff

[Tins]

Hahaha,, I couldn't remember if that's what he actually said. Me,, PC,, pfff

I was a little surprised, I have to say.

[travelrover]

Haha,,, Blues Brothers,,,, "How much for the little one"?,,, [emoji23]

Wasn't it 'how much for the little girl?'...

[travelrover]

I use one of the kids to pump the pedal but they certainly aren't cheap !

Somewhere I have an old Gunson's one man bleeder I used years back in the UK. The plastic has probably cracked/degraded by now. Came with a variety of caps to fit different master cylinders

Looks like its changed a bit since I got mine but still available
Gunson Eezibleed (http://www.halfords.com/workshop-tools/tools/hand-tools/gunson-eezibleed)


Colin

Thanks Colin

That looks identical to the no name brand I bought, but was only $20 .