Ducati Monster Forum

Hey everyone, I happen to have a bunch of beer in the fridge, a fully stocked bar and the number for a local pizza place that makes some great pies.......

what I don't have is expertise. I started working on my bike and I ended up doing a lot. I swapped out and painted the tank, i put on 999 forks and Masters, and a new rear master cylinder. What I can't seem to do is bleed everything. I dunno what the deal is, I've read up on everything tried for hours on end, just can't seem to make it work :-/ so I need some help.

If anybody is interested in donating some time I can make it worth your while. Food, some drinks...my dog does some dumb tricks, and you get to hang out with an all around great guy.

I know it's hot but if anybody is interested Let me know. Weekdays, or weekends (whenever really, i only work about 8hrs a week)
I'm on the North side of tucson, and I really just wanna get my baby running again.


Thanks :-)

Aarash

To bleed the brakes you have to make sure the little bleeder valve is on top, which for the rear at least it means bleeding the brakes with the calipers flipped upside down (and not on the disc). I used an old brake pad to put in between the new pads when pumping the brake, that way you don't have to pry them apart to put them back on the disc. Also, it's a good idea to get a clear tube to stick on there so you can watch for the bubbles and not shoot brake fluid everywhere. In fact, I think this is part of the trick to not getting air back into the system. You can get clear tubing from Auto Zone or wherever for a few bucks.

Now, are you just doing the brakes, or are you bleeding the clutch line, too?

If I had any desire to go to Tucson, then I'd come help you. But good luck.

Bring the bike to N.O.  Ill bleed'em for you there!

Thanks! I'm doin both brakes and the clutch. I've got a "mighty vac" from harbor freight and tried that and it just doesn't seem to wanna pull the fluid through.



There is a s2r1k I was looking at in the NO area, wonder if it'll be there when we get down there

I've been through this several times with much success and do it the old fashioned way with a tube and a bucket.  Nothing you can't reach with two hands on a motorcycle. Never had any luck with pumps or special valves, etc.   The clutch is a rascal to bleed from sctratch but a friend showed me a neat trick:  Pull the lever back and then slide your fingers off and let the lever snap back.  Do this several times to get the air bubbles shook out of the master cylinder and flowing back into the reservoir.  I could come help you with it but not sure when I could make it.  Possibly this weekend. 

Dietrich is right, the old fashioned way is the best.

And you can snap it to get the bubbles out, but if you want to flush the line then that's something else.

I had air in my clutch line when I arrived in San Diego (from Mesa) and I flushed the fluid with a long, clear tube I got from Auto Zone and an empty water bottle while sitting in the hotel parking lot.

The process is bit tricky:
1) Pull the lever
2) Open the bleeder
3) Close the bleeder
4) Release the lever 

Repeat until no more bubbles appear in the bled fluid.  Don't let the reservoir go dry, and if you are bleeding with the cap off the reservoir, move the lever slowly or you'll squirt fluid out.

MMmmmMMMmm  beer and pizza sound amazingly spankin right now  [popcorn]

Thanks for the help! I'll be giving this a go saturday AM, hopefully i'll be runnin the streets by sunday! it's nasty hot out though.... :-[

Good Luck! After you get it done, it wouldn't hurt to have the guys at OAM just do a quick once over to make sure they're good and safe!

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