Speed Bleeders, that was easy....

[ChrisE]

My Wing is a 2008 that I bought new in 2010. A couple of years ago I bought 4 packs of Speed Bleeders, two per pack, to replace the 7 bleed nipples for the brake system.

These sat on a shelf and got lost in my move from TN to TX.

A couple of weeks ago I came across them and laid them out where I could find them, just in case I got into that procrastination state again.

A few weeks ago, I helped Kevin (MisterK) bleed his brakes and without the Speed Bleeders it really was a two person operation.

I decided to get the Russell 639500 Speed Bleeder bag. This was well worth the $12.50 shipped from Amazon Prime. This gave me the extra pair of hands. the hose that comes with the bag is stretchy and fits over the bleed nipples perfectly and stays on.


So I went around the bike replacing each OEM bleed nipple in the order the the bleed procedure is performed.

I lost only a tiny bit of brake fluid, a couple of drops from only a couple of the bleed nipples.

I then proceeded to bleed each new Speed Bleeder nipple, topping off the front brake or rear brake reservoir until I could see the new fluid coming out into the catch bag. The color of the original fluid was quite orange and the new fluid was clear.

Using the speed bleeder bag, I could position it in a spot where I could see the bag and hose while I worked either the front or rear brake lever and kept an ey on the reservoir levels.

Taking my time, swapping out the 7 OEM bleed nipples probably took me about 7 minutes. Bleeding the new 7 Speed Bleeders probably took about 12 minutes.



Here's the Bleed Sequence

1) Using the Front Brake Lever - Front Right caliper Upper bleed nipple
2) Using the Front Brake Lever - Front Left caliper Lower bleed nipple
3) Using the Rear Brake Pedal - Front Left caliper Upper bleed nipple
4) Using the Rear Brake Pedal - Front Right caliper Lower bleed nipple
5) Using the Rear Brake Pedal - Rear caliper Lower bleed nipple
6) Using the Rear Brake Pedal - Anti Dive plunger
7) Using the Rear Brake Pedal - Rear caliper Upper bleed nipple

[Cruiseman]

I love my Speed Bleeders.

[JeffP]

What size do we require ?

[speedy1]

I believe it is the size ChrisE mention in his first post. SB8125L

[Haste Maker]

Best thing since sliced bread..

[Hoosier Daddy]

Ordered mine from Buldog this past summer. Will install & bleed the brakes/clutch over winter sometime along with my other maintenance.

Thanks for the write up,
Dan

[JeffP]

Is the clutch bleeder the same size?

[ChrisE]

Is the clutch bleeder the same size?

Yes it is. So buy 4 packs of two and you'll be able to do all of them.

Here's their fitment chart. It's a bit out of date. I don't believe the bleed nipples changed on the newer years.

http://www.speedbleeder.com/Motorcycle%20Sizes.htm#Honda

[Haste Maker]

I think it is, but you will need to do some work on the metal bracket that is in front of the clutch bleeder (at least I had to)...on mine the speed bleeder stuck out far enough to hit the bracket.

[ChrisE]

I took some pictures of the bleed sequence indicating which pedal is used.

[Gold-Winger]

I think it is, but you will need to do some work on the metal bracket that is in front of the clutch bleeder (at least I had to)...on mine the speed bleeder stuck out far enough to hit the bracket.

I just got off the phone with Bulldog......I ordered 8 SB8125L.......Bulldog said he is shipping 7 SB8125L's and a shorter one to use on the clutch...

Once again, dealing with a guy that knows his stuff I won't have to re-work the metal bracket for the clutch bleeder to fit.

[J.C.]

Is there any advantage to using Teflon tape on the threads? I want to put speed bleeders on my bike, have always used a Mityvac in the past and sucking air has sometimes been a problem. Maybe when the fluid is pushed out instead of being pulled out air around the threads isn't a problem.

[Gold-Winger]

Is there any advantage to using Teflon tape on the threads? I want to put speed bleeders on my bike, have always used a Mityvac in the past and sucking air has sometimes been a problem. Maybe when the fluid is pushed out instead of being pulled out air around the threads isn't a problem.

Can't answer on Teflon tape.......However, Bulldog sells a thread compound, that he recommends using with speed bleeders......Go to his website and click on speed bleeders and it is listed there.

[JeffP]

Got a link to Bulldog's site? Just a tip on the SpeedBleeders, I put them on my VT1300 last year after changing the brake lines to stainless braided and had lot's of issues and swearing as I could not get any fluid flowing. They will not work on a empty line or caliper. I ended up putting the stock bleeders back on and using my MityVac to flush and bleed the brakes. After all was good I reinstalled the SpeedBleeders and they worked fine.

[ChrisE]

The easiest way to bleed a new brake line is to reverse bleed it with a device like the Phoenix V5 http://www.brakebleeder.com/products...brake-bleeder/.

Using the OEM bleed nipple, you push fluid in though that forcing the air up and out through the reservoir. This process takes about 10 seconds as opposed to trying to suck the air downwards by vacuum.

[Gold-Winger]

Got a link to Bulldog's site? Just a tip on the SpeedBleeders, I put them on my VT1300 last year after changing the brake lines to stainless braided and had lot's of issues and swearing as I could not get any fluid flowing. They will not work on a empty line or caliper. I ended up putting the stock bleeders back on and using my MityVac to flush and bleed the brakes. After all was good I reinstalled the SpeedBleeders and they worked fine.

http://www.shop.shinhopples.com/

[Hoosier Daddy]

Bumb to thanks ChrisE again for this post. Just got done installing my SpeedBleeders then doing my bi-annual brake flush/bleed. I did like Chris and first replaced all the bleeders in the propper sequence. However, unlike Chris my first two bleeders leaked quite a bit of fluid then after that all the others didn't leak a drop. Could that have been the way I had the handle bars positioned or I over filled last time?

After I had all the bleeders replaced the actual bleed went great. It sure was nice just to be able to pump the lever while watching the fluid level & color of the fluid as it went into the SpeedBleeder bag.

Will do the clutch later when I have the cowl off for my coolant change.

Dan

[CaptLen]

All I find searching for Bulldog brake parts is bicycle brakes- Gold-Winger, if you could point us toward a website we'd appreciate it!

[Winger01]

shinhopples.com

Just got off the phone with them and had my order placed. Good people to do business with.