[alfa] Re brake/clutch bleeding

[Joe Elliott <jee@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

This is what I do, although I use an actual brake fluid reservoir 
cap.  One of these days I think I'll make add an intermediate jar 
that I can fill with brake fluid, thus forcing fluid into the system 
instead of air, so I don't have to keep depressurizing and adding 
fluid.  I've also used Gil's vacuum technique for pesky clutches (new 
clutch MCs on the GTV-6 always give me a hard time), and can confirm 
that air will get sucked around the threads.  However, I don't think 
that's an issue with Joe Fillip's technique, at least not on Alfas, 
which seem perfectly willing to draw fluid from the reservoir rather 
than back in through (or around) the bleed screw.  Before I made the 
pressure bleeder, I used to perform fluid changes (albeit not air 
purges) on the GTV-6 (and a buddy's Milano) by just leaving the 
bleeder open and stroking the pedal--fluid never went backwards.  As 
far as speed bleeders go, I thought it was such a neat idea that I 
bought a set, but I wasn't very happy.  The threads didn't fit very 
well, especially in the front, and the rear ones were so tall that 
the far left one hit the exhaust.  Worse, between the poor-fitting 
threads and the pressure required to open the check valves, it was 
easier for fluid to go through the threads than through the bleed 
screw, so the result was always a huge mess.  I left just one on the 
car, on the right rear, to facilitate fluid changes, but now it just 
leaks fluid around the threads any time I even open it.

Joe Elliott
'82 GTV-6  (new mirror on the way from APE, left-handed 17/64" drill 
bit on the way from McMaster-Carr)

At 7:19 PM +0000 10/14/04, alfa-digest wrote:

> Date: Thu, 14 Oct 2004 10:54:54 -0500
> From: Curtiss Norheim <curtiss.R.norheim@domain.elided>
> Subject: [alfa] Re brake/clutch bleeding
>
> A easy to make power bleeder.
>
> I took a lid from a large mouthed bottle (Gatorade cap may fit) it screwed
> on to the reservoir perfectly. cut a piece
> of foam type gasket material to fit on the inside cut/drill a hole and put a
> male airline fitting through the center
> with a nut on the inside.
>
> Fill reservoir with fluid screw on this cap set you air compressor for
> ~10lbs connect the air hose to the fitting
> open the bleeder screw. keep a close eye on the fluid level, remove air hose
> before taking off the cap for refill etc.
>
>
> Works great is a one man operation and is very fast
>
> Curt Norheim
--
to be removed from alfa, see /bin/digest-subs.cgi
or email "unsubscribe alfa" to majordomo@domain.elided