A while ago I popsted a question about whether one of the syringe type reverse bleed kits would be any good. I think a few people said they were OK but Drunk'n Monkey (apologies if the spellings wrong) mentioned a mitivac,

I've googled and seem to have two alternatives

http://www.minivac.co.uk/index.asp

Minivac (I assume not the same but any good?)

And

http://mityvac.com/

I'm guessing minivac is a cheap-er copy?

Any thoughts as to what's best or best value or experiences of either appreciated as its time to fit the HEL replacement brake lines and I'd like it to be as painless as possible

Cheers

I've never needed to do more than pull the lever repeatedly for a couple of minutes, even with new hoses. Sometimes combines with opening/closing the nipples but no vacuum kit. A friend of mine on here (Dobbslc) has problems with an FZR and solved it by buying a cheapo big syringe, ptfe taping the nipples so they sealed when loose and then using the syringe to suck the fluid through. Not sure how much those bleeders are but the big syringe is probably cheaper...!

The mityvac one needs a compressor work so not ideal for the average home mechanic

I probably do a set of brakes a week and i have a mityvac and a syringe , to be honest the syringe works fine , i remove the bleed nipples and put a dab of loctite thread grade on the threads to seal them from sucking air passed the threads, attach the syringe to the nipple just crack the nipple open and pull plunger out to create a vacume and it sucks the fluid into the syringe, after a couple of times it should be air free and keep an eye on the resevoir level, when it runs low top it up or it will suck air and you will have to do it all again.

kevprojex wrote:I probably do a set of brakes a week and i have a mityvac and a syringe , to be honest the syringe works fine , i remove the bleed nipples and put a dab of loctite thread grade on the threads to seal them from sucking air passed the threads, attach the syringe to the nipple just crack the nipple open and pull plunger out to create a vacume and it sucks the fluid into the syringe, after a couple of times it should be air free and keep an eye on the resevoir level, when it runs low top it up or it will suck air and you will have to do it all again.

+1

Do this with my bikes.. the bike shops sell quite a large medical syringe with flexible rubber hose for about 3gbp.

I push the pistons fully in just becase im worried about air.

Neosophist wrote:

kevprojex wrote:I probably do a set of brakes a week and i have a mityvac and a syringe , to be honest the syringe works fine , i remove the bleed nipples and put a dab of loctite thread grade on the threads to seal them from sucking air passed the threads, attach the syringe to the nipple just crack the nipple open and pull plunger out to create a vacume and it sucks the fluid into the syringe, after a couple of times it should be air free and keep an eye on the resevoir level, when it runs low top it up or it will suck air and you will have to do it all again.

+1

Do this with my bikes.. the bike shops sell quite a large medical syringe with flexible rubber hose for about 3gbp.

I push the pistons fully in just becase im worried about air.

Or your local vets or pharmacy. Whichever is convenient. Probably cheaper too.

2.60gbp for a big syringe and 1 meter of silicone flexible hosing.. not too bad! No idea on English bike shops.. good call on the vets though, I bet ebay also sell them

Cheers folks

Just a quick question as I'm slightly confused now. (Easily done I know) Do you load the fluid in from the resevoir or from the syringe at the bleed nipple? I was under the impression the syringe method was a reverse bleeding kit, so feed from the nipple?

Or am I missing something?

Yep, Kev is bang on, large syringe at the bottom to suck fluid into and fill up at the top, very quick and no air.

Bleeding brakes can be a nightmare; usually it's easy but I have had times where I simply could not get a brake system working right. I have tried the cheap syringe but it soon got thrown in the bin.

I ordered a Venhill kit and it works spot on every time. I've had it for over 2 years now and it is a permanent addition to my tool kit :) I take it with me for track days / race days.

http://www.venhill.co.uk/Motorcycle_Too ... _PUMP.html