Learned a lesson bleeding brakes -Long post warning
I had built my last bike, and been upgrading my current one, so how bad can brake bleeding be?
It can be eternal damnation, without the proper tools and a repair stand! You need at least 3 hands because the bottle with fluid will pull the hose off the cylinder nipple if you let go- and now you have even more air in the brakes! I watched the Hayes video on bleeding; it looked so easy, so why am I cussing at this bike and spilling fluid all over (and wiping the bike down as it removes paint!)
So I sat down and determined to fix every weak point with the bleed kit. I added reusable plastic ties to the bottles, so I can hang them from the top of the wheel or the handlebar so they don't fall and pull off the nipples. I made a better catch bottle where the hose does not pull off the top. And then I invested in a Park repair stand. No more fumbling with ways to keep the bike put!
I was able to bleed the rear brake- but noticed after that it was weeping fluid from around the nipple (it screws into the cylinder body and you unscrew it 1/4 turn to open it.) So I put the bike back on the stand, drained some fluid and removed the bleed nipple. I then cleaned and loctited it, and wiped down the threads on the cylinder. Put it back together, re-bled it and it feels great now! I had the brakes lever depressed with velcro for 1/2 hr to create pressure, but no leak! Hooray fixed! And it was sooo easy with my hands free and the bottles hanging off the bike, and the bike held in the right position right in front of me.
Next projects- rebuild the front fork (gotta order the rebuild kit and any tools needed), and repack the headset. And this time, be prepared beforehand!
