Cheap Brake Bleeder

[1948man]

http://www.harborfreight.com/one-man-brake-bleeder-kit-37201.html

The reviews on this sounded kind of tepid but I picked one while getting some other stuff. It works fine. There is a tube sticking down in the reservoir and you add an inch of clean brake fluid before you open the bleeder and start pumping. That way, you don't suck air when you release the brake because the tube is submerged in the fluid you added to the reservoir. It would be more convenient if the reservoir was a little larger because you have to empty it once before finishing. If you could find a larger bottle that had the same size mouth and threads that would help (or just adapt something.) There is a little magnet that lets you just mount the reservoir on something ferrous like the disc. I guess the only work it saves is opening and closing the bleeder screw but for $5.99 I think it's worth it. Makes it less awkward to operate the screw and the pedal at the same time.

[Brendan W]

Anything that avoids repeated opening and closing of the nipples has to be a good thing. Corrosion is bad enough without a tool helping the rounding process along. I've fitted stainless bleeders. May have gotten myself into a whole new regime of corrosion - we'll see.
I use gravity to bleed. Front is fairly quick. I may have helped the back along with a squeeze or two. As always a half full jar of old fluid with a clear hose down to the bottom.

[1948man]

Maybe I should start another thread for this question. I have some speed bleeder nipples somewhere that I bought and never used. Do I need to purge the system to take out the stock bleeders and put in the speed bleeders? Someone told me that if you don't push on the brake or lever when you unthread the stock bleeder it will just ooze a little since it is not really under much pressure and you can quickly thread in the new bleeders and wipe up the small amount of brake fluid with a damp rag. Sound reasonable?

http://www.jpcycles.com/product/240-695?utm_source=none&utm_term=%5B74946191890%3Aproduct_type_l1%3D%3Dvehicles%2520%26%2520parts%26%2520product_type_l2%3D%3Dland%2520vehicles%26%2520product_type_l3%3D%3Dmot&cid=Google+SEARCH+NON-BRAND+PLA+-+Shopping+Campaign&adpos=1o3&creative=42616570810&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=CjwKEAjwpLa5BRCTwcXS6_rpvC4SJACTDQMM6VGtEUZXAnO_JcBZicRgd0FNnxh9B-VCnOrp96drJRoCQ73w_wcB

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[hillsy]

You can buy special pliers for crimping shut rubber brake hoses - so the flow of fluid stops.

You can replicate this with a small pair of Vise Grips loosely gripping the hose.

[1948man]

Thanks, also found this answer to the speed-bleeder question. It's actually NOT a good idea to install them on a purged system.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVjPVhoPHow

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[hillsy]

.....It's actually NOT a good idea to install them on a purged system.....

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What's the reasoning behind this? I can't see how it would make any difference.

[1948man]

In the video, they say that due to the way the check valve functions, if the system is dry with the speed bleeder installed it takes forever to pump fluid in from the reservoir because the air doesn't pump as well as fluid. Or something like that.