Brake Bleeding - Easy eh.

[krusty]

I've read many threads over the years on how many owners have had problems bleeding brakes. I've bled brakes, on cars and bikes, many, many times over many years and never had a problem - until yesterday.
Story is that I had to overhaul the brake MC of my FJ1100. I had 2 MCs, the original from the 1100 and a spare from a 1200. I decided to rebuild both. In anticipation, I had already bought a kit for the 1100 and, after tearing it down, saw that it really did need it. I tore down the 1200 MC and found that it wasn't too bad and the seals were in quite good condition. I rebuilt the 1100 MC using the new kit and rebuilt the 1200 MC using the original seals and new parts left over from another MC kit I had used for the clutch MC.
Deciding to go with originality I then decided to fit the 1100 MC and keep the 1200 MC as a spare.
When bleeding MCs I usually go for the "tickle" routine to prime the MC and clear it of air by just using quick little pumping strokes of the lever. However after 10 minutes of this, with air bubbles coming out of the relief holes in the MC, no pressure was building. I disconnected the brake line from the MC and it was dry. A bit of head scratching here. I also noted that, just like the clutch MC, the site window was leaking. Bugger. OK, easy fix, replace the 1100 MC with the spare 1200MC. Hooked it all up and, again using the above method, within a minute the bubbles ceased and the calipers were filling and the site window didn't leak. Hmmm.
I can't explain it. I rebuilt both MCs side by side and everthing was assembled identical. I'm in no hurry to rip apart the offending MC but if I did not have that spare MC I'd probably be pulling my hair out like many who have gone before. They now have my sympathy.

[FJmonkey]

I rebuilt my MC brake once, your are screwed if you install the small push rod in bass akwards... DAHIK...  Flip it around the proper way and sure enough, the last 5 bleeds must have done the trick... 

[krusty]

I've read many threads over the years on how many owners have had problems bleeding brakes. I've bled brakes, on cars and bikes, many, many times over many years and never had a problem - until yesterday.
Story is that I had to overhaul the brake MC of my FJ1100. I had 2 MCs, the original from the 1100 and a spare from a 1200. I decided to rebuild both. In anticipation, I had already bought a kit for the 1100 and, after tearing it down, saw that it really did need it. I tore down the 1200 MC and found that it wasn't too bad and the seals were in quite good condition. I rebuilt the 1100 MC using the new kit and rebuilt the 1200 MC using the original seals and new parts left over from another MC kit I had used for the clutch MC.
Deciding to go with originality I then decided to fit the 1100 MC and keep the 1200 MC as a spare.
When bleeding MCs I usually go for the "tickle" routine to prime the MC and clear it of air by just using quick little pumping strokes of the lever. However after 10 minutes of this, with air bubbles coming out of the relief holes in the MC, no pressure was building. I disconnected the brake line from the MC and it was dry. A bit of head scratching here. I also noted that, just like the clutch MC, the site window was leaking. Bugger. OK, easy fix, replace the 1100 MC with the spare 1200MC. Hooked it all up and, again using the above method, within a minute the bubbles ceased and the calipers were filling and the site window didn't leak. Hmmm.
I can't explain it. I rebuilt both MCs side by side and everthing was assembled identical. I'm in no hurry to rip apart the offending MC but if I did not have that spare MC I'd probably be pulling my hair out like many who have gone before. They now have my sympathy.

I forgot to follow up on this post. The problem was quite obvious to someone other than myself and they had no hesitation in pointing it out. It was a true Doh! moment.
I had the calipers upside down with the bleed nipple at the bottom instead of the top therefore trapping air in the upper part of the caliper. Jeez Maree! What a numpty? Was easily fixed though and everything bled out fine after that.