Brake bleeding

[magge52]

Hopefully this isn't an oil or tires subject but I'm looking for a good bleeder for my ABS system. I've manually bled the brakes several times and can get nearly all of the mushiness out but it's too soft on the initial pull of the lever. Two finger braking isn't a good option initially but works fine after the first pull. I'm thinking a power unit will draw out most of the last bit of air in the many nooks and crannies of the ABS system. Harbor Freight has a pneumatic rig for $30. I like the idea of using my compressor to evacuate the system. Anyone used a pneumatic unit or something similar?  thanks in advance.

[Pat Conlon]

Yeppers, I use a hand pump MityVac. Every workshop should have one.

Power bleeders work great for cars/trucks with long brake lines, but not needed on motorcycles, although in fairness, I have never (yet) bled an abs.

I did try a power bleeder once, but it worked too well and emptied the reservoir quickly so I ended up sucking air...had to start over.
 
Therefore...I've found that a hand vacuum pump works best (so far)  Perhaps I'll think rethink the power bleeder, when I do the abs.

[racerrad8]

I started using one of these; Brake Bleeders when I worked on my first 92 with ABS a couple of years ago. We could never seem to get all of the bubbles out by normal means of bleeding and we ran a lot of fluid through the system, more than a quart in the front system alone.

Once I reverse bled the system, the bubbles immediately appeared in the reservoir and the sponginess was gone.

I have been used this bleeder for all of my bike bleeding as it really makes the bleeding process of the brakes and clutch system simple.

Plus, which way are bubble trying to go?
                           ...up, so why are we trying to force them down by pump or vacuum bleeding. Push the air up from the bottom using the fluid and the two don't get mixed up and you are done.

Randy - RPM

[wildfire]

I started using one of these; Brake Bleeders when I worked on my first 92 with ABS a couple of years ago. We could never seem to get all of the bubbles out but normal means of bleeding and we ran a lot of fluid through the system, more than a qourt in the front system alone.

Once I reverse bled the system, the bubbles immediately appeared in the reservoir and the sponginess was gone.

I have been used this bleeder for all of my bike bleeding as it really makes the bleeding process of the brakes and clutch system simple.

Plus, which way are bubble trying to go?
                           ...up, so why are we trying to force them down by pump or vacuum bleeding. Push the air up from the bottom using the fluid and the two don't get mixed up and you are done.

Randy - RPM

+1 on the above. You can also, )with the lever pulled and held nin after pumping a few times) loosen the banjo bolt to free any trapped air. Expect fluid to go everywhere so cover up your paint. This tip worked great on another bike that I could not get rid of all the air from the front brake line.

[magge52]

Thanks for the input gents. I'll look into the Brake Bleeders and the MityVac. Once I get the brakes bled the next step is deciding whether to keep the abs. thx