Here's How I Did It . . .

[grey beard]

I finally finished up my B1B brake job today -been on it since December, so as you can see, no flat rate records have been set here. Got the last piece of tubing on the new master cylinder, and filled it with DOT 5.

Last month I purchased a remote ms reservoir from Pegasus.com and in preparation for this, I drilled and tapped the ms cap for 3/8 npt hose nipple to connect to the remote reservoir. Now when I was ready to bleed the new system, I made preparations to sacrifice my lovely dandelion weed sprayer for a power bleeder.

Then I got an idea - why not just pressurize the ms with air instead of juice? I already had the 3/8 hose nipple sticking out of the cap, so why not give it a try. With a full ms, I put twenty pumps on the old weed sprayer - empty, of course. Then I bled the two front wheel cylinders - doesn't matter what order you use when you power bleed, in contrast to certain local wisdom. Then I pulled the cap, refilled the ms, pumped it up again, and bled the four rear bleeders. Before I got to the last wheel, I had a pretty firm pedal already.

The only observation I will offer to you'all on this method is that for reasons I still cannot understand, it was necessary for me to press the brake pedal through its travel once, each time I filled and repressurized the ms., then it worked fine. Please don't get me wrong . . . I'm not complaining. I just don't understand why it was necessary to press the pedal before I had pressure to the wheel cylinders.

Pedal is nice and firm. Wheels are still at powder coat-type shop, so haven't yet giddeyap/whoaaa'd it yet, but the remote reservoir is nice and full, and no leaks have reared their nassty heads yet. Worked out pretty well - took less than 3/4 quart from a bone dry system, including rhe extra reservoir, and no muss or fuss. Did it with no pedal pushin' helpers, either!

Give it a try - dry air bleed with a weed sprayer . . . AND I still have my old handy dandy dandelion killer, none the worse for wear.

[Don Coatney]

Dave;

One thing I learned with DOT 3 (not sure about DOT5) is the rubber parts in the weed sprayer will be toast if you leave the brake fluid in the garden sprayer for any length of time.

[grey beard]

Don,

The idea I used was to use just air pressure from the sprayer. Never got the inside of the tank wet - just used it to pressurize the master cylinder for bleeding. Worked like a charm.

[Don Coatney]

Don,

The idea I used was to use just air pressure from the sprayer. Never got the inside of the tank wet - just used it to pressurize the master cylinder for bleeding. Worked like a charm.

Every time I tried that I ran the master cylinder dry and had to start all over. Glad it worked for you.