Ducati Monster Forum

Moto Board => Tech => Topic started by: rockaduc on May 11, 2009, 03:08:19 PM

Title: Bleeding Front Brake and Clutch
Post by: rockaduc on May 11, 2009, 03:08:19 PM
I am pretty make the beast with two backsing fed up w/ trying to bleed my front brakes and clutch.  I installed a radial MC set up from an s4rs and now I can't seem to get anything going!!!!!!  I am so pissed off right now, I thought of setting fire to the whole goddamn thing and just walking away and buying a new bike w/ the ins. $.
I have a mighty vac brake bleeder system and I am still a make the beast w/ 2 backsing retarded.

I know just about everyone here has done this before, but the concept obviously is too much for my tiny brain.

If anyone has any advice on how to bleed these make the beast w/ two backsers...it would be appreciated.
Title: Re: Bleeding Front Brake and Clutch
Post by: EEL on May 11, 2009, 04:06:51 PM
Have you tried not using the mighty vac? I just do it the old fashioned way and it works fine. Just takes a bit longer.

Oh...

I forgot..

make the beast with two backsing make the beast with two backsity make the beast with two backs make the beast with two backser.. [cheeky]
Title: Re: Bleeding Front Brake and Clutch
Post by: Spidey on May 11, 2009, 04:13:31 PM
Coupla options (do one or all):

Try the old fashioned way.

Take off caliper and suspend it so that any bubbles can move upward.

Tap caliper, banjo bolt and line with a wrench. 

Ziptie the lever to the bar and leave it overnight.

Burn it to the ground and blame the ninjas

Title: Re: Bleeding Front Brake and Clutch
Post by: erkishhorde on May 11, 2009, 04:58:51 PM
Quote from: EEL on May 11, 2009, 04:06:51 PM
Have you tried not using the mighty vac? I just do it the old fashioned way and it works fine. Just takes a bit longer.

Oh...

I forgot..

make the beast with two backsing make the beast with two backsity make the beast with two backs make the beast with two backser.. [cheeky]

Yeah... took me a while to realize he was actually typing that shit out. I even checked my profile settings since I recently wiped my cookies and whatnot and thought it messed up.

+1 on spidey's suggestion. Try letting it sit for a little while with the lever pulled.

Also, do you have the reservoir cap on or off?
Title: Re: Bleeding Front Brake and Clutch
Post by: rockaduc on May 11, 2009, 05:20:07 PM
Quote from: erkishhorde on May 11, 2009, 04:58:51 PM
Yeah... took me a while to realize he was actually typing that shit out. I even checked my profile settings since I recently wiped my cookies and whatnot and thought it messed up.

+1 on spidey's suggestion. Try letting it sit for a little while with the lever pulled.

Also, do you have the reservoir cap on or off?
You cannot imagine the level of my frustration...I've spent weeks on my mods and thought I was finally done only to be held up by THIS.
I have the res cap off. 
After leaving it overnight do I then bleed it w/ the lever still strapped to the bar?
I tried it the old fashion way, made a big mess.
Title: Re: Bleeding Front Brake and Clutch
Post by: ute on May 11, 2009, 05:39:09 PM
crack the banjo at the mc  first

then a regular bleed at the cali  and clutch

have you got another person to help tighten the bleeder  after you pump the lever
Title: Re: Bleeding Front Brake and Clutch
Post by: Spidey on May 11, 2009, 05:51:32 PM
Quote from: rockaduc on May 11, 2009, 05:20:07 PM
After leaving it overnight do I then bleed it w/ the lever still strapped to the bar?

No.  Leaving the lever strapped to the bar will leave the . . . uh . . . uh . . . . thingamahbobber (don't remember the term) open and allow the bubbles to work their way up through the line and into the MC.   Just take the ziptie off tomorrow and start the process anew (using all the other suggestions in the thread).

I once took a caliper off a bike and hung it from the rafters overnight to get all the bubbles to work their way to the caliper bango.  It worked, but GAWD, what a PITA. 
Title: Re: Bleeding Front Brake and Clutch
Post by: Ddan on May 11, 2009, 06:23:11 PM
If there is a nut inside the reservoir of the radial pump, that is another bleed.
Title: Re: Bleeding Front Brake and Clutch
Post by: Spidey on May 11, 2009, 07:00:49 PM
Quote from: DDDDan on May 11, 2009, 06:23:11 PM
If there is a nut inside the reservoir of the radial pump, that is another bleed.

But I don't *think* the S4rs masters have those (like the 749/999 MCs).  They have pee-cup reservoirs, not built-in reservoirs.  That is, according to the spare parts catalog.   :-\
Title: Re: Bleeding Front Brake and Clutch
Post by: Sleeper_I on May 11, 2009, 10:44:19 PM
Hehe, I had the same issue a month ago while bleeding mine. Took me 4 hr to figure it out. It was a piece of cake after that

If you cannot get anything going then you need adjust the the screw on the lever that actuate the push pin out ward. Give that a try 


Edit: remember screw it back to the same position when you are done
Title: Re: Bleeding Front Brake and Clutch
Post by: Ddan on May 12, 2009, 03:27:39 AM
Quote from: Spidey on May 11, 2009, 07:00:49 PM
But I don't *think* the S4rs masters have those (like the 749/999 MCs).  They have pee-cup reservoirs, not built-in reservoirs.  That is, according to the spare parts catalog.   :-\
Then I got nothin'.

Could it be just technique?  Pull the lever, open the bleed, close the bleed, release the lever, make certain you don't run the reservoir dry.  Repeat. 
Title: Re: Bleeding Front Brake and Clutch
Post by: herm on May 12, 2009, 04:03:38 AM
and if you decide to go with the ninja option, make sure and remove this topic first.
Title: Re: Bleeding Front Brake and Clutch
Post by: corey on May 12, 2009, 09:00:43 AM
i dropped $50 on an Actron pro bleeding kit... only to find out that the old fashioned way STILL works better.
even on the shitty, impossible to bleed S*R rear caliper...
Title: Re: Bleeding Front Brake and Clutch
Post by: erkishhorde on May 12, 2009, 09:20:25 AM
My dad just got these fancy self-bleeding banjo bolts made by Red something for his mustang. Meant to take a look to see what other makes they have but never got around to it.
Title: Re: Bleeding Front Brake and Clutch
Post by: junior varsity on May 12, 2009, 09:22:38 AM
Here's how I help:

Speedbleeders. Order them, one for each caliper on the bike - 2 fronts and 1 rear. made bleeding so much easier.

If only the same could be said for the damn clutch, there, I am no help, I spent a few hours on my clutch set up yesterday, trying to bleed it because the clutch won't disengage 100% of the time right now, and I'm pretty sure its air-bubble in the line related. So frustrating.
Title: Re: Bleeding Front Brake and Clutch
Post by: corey on May 12, 2009, 09:28:26 AM
yea..
after hearing all the stories, my clutch fluid is staying AS IS until it gives me a problem...
at which point i will be replacing the slave cyl. as well.
Title: Re: Bleeding Front Brake and Clutch
Post by: rockaduc on May 12, 2009, 10:29:24 AM
I strapped both the brake and clutch levers to the bars before work this am.  I will try again when I get home and post-up the results.  Thanks for all of the great tips!  I love this board!
Title: Re: Bleeding Front Brake and Clutch
Post by: rockaduc on May 12, 2009, 05:44:22 PM
OK, so I just finished bleeding the clutch and front brakes (I think).  It is too late for a test ride now, so it will have to wait until I get home from work tomorrow.
Title: Re: Bleeding Front Brake and Clutch
Post by: scduc on May 12, 2009, 05:56:45 PM
See a cooler head prevailed. I have had good and bad luck bleeding lines. I think it is just a matter of patience. if you get frustrated, [drink]
Title: Re: Bleeding Front Brake and Clutch
Post by: rockaduc on May 13, 2009, 02:12:56 PM
Just got back from a brief shake-down run.  The brakes feel good, won't really know more until I fully bed them in.  Clutch is all good, noticed a different friction zone with the unit from the s4rs vs the stocker, will take some getting used to.  I'd love to post up pics of everything I've done, but you guys wouldn't believe me w/o pics and I think my wife has the camera [bang] [bang]

Big thanks to everyone on this thread who ignored my meltdown and imparted some great advice!! [thumbsup]
Title: Re: Bleeding Front Brake and Clutch
Post by: Spidey on May 13, 2009, 02:31:41 PM
Do you know what it was that finally solved the problem?  Was it strapping down the levers?  Hand bleeding?  Something else?

Congrats on getting it worked out BTW.  I once spent three whole evenings trying to bleed brakes.  It was one of the most frustrating experiences EVAH. 
Title: Re: Bleeding Front Brake and Clutch
Post by: rockaduc on May 13, 2009, 03:03:59 PM
I think it was strapping the levers to the bars that did the trick.  I stuck w/ the mighty vac, as i was going at this myself.  Using the mighty vac, you don't have to pump the lever to move the fluid.