Speedbleeders

[BERNIEHUMBER]

HI:
With all this lock downtime I decided to bleed the brakes on the car in the garage(not the Europa but still English)!
I have one of those hand vacuum units but it is still bother-sum.
When I looked at my tool wall(wall of shame) I noticed a pack of Russell RUS-639600 speedbleeders.
Rather than getting my wife to pump the brake peddle with me at the bleed-screw, I put these on.
Worked well and didn't have to bother anyone(my wife).
What are the collective thoughts?
And no a speedbleeder is not someone on Coumadin!(old guy humor).

[E Paul]

I have had them on my Europa for 10 years. They make bleeding brakes a cinch!
Paul

[SilverBeast]

I've a Gunson's Eezibleed Kit (somewhere!) which you use with your spare wheel to pressurise the system via the Master Cylinder reservoir cap - assuming you have the correct cap in the kit.  That was always really easy as you can't suck air back in as it's always forcing fluid out (as long as you make sure there is enough in the Eezibleed bottle!).

I haven't used it since I had my Mini in the early 90's though.........

[SilverBeast]

It wouldn't do any harm to use both though

[BDA]

I have a Motive pressure bleeder I got because of a recommendation on a Mercedes forum I used to frequent. It worked well for my Mercedes except if you put too much fluid in the canister. Being a pressure bleeder, it requires an adapter for the M/C reservoir. Unfortunately, after a lengthy conversation with the Motive folks and measuring the diameter and thread pitch of the M/C cap, they admitted that even though they have dozens of adapters, they didn't have an adapter for my M/C (standard TCS M/C). I was able to make one with an spare M/C cap. It works well though.

Having said all that(!) the Russell speedbleeders are nice and I've heard nothing bad about them.

[Certified Lotus]

This is what I use. Can’t beat the results. You can buy a similar one here: https://www.germanspecialtytools.com/products/pneumatic-brake-bleeder

[Lotuswins]

I used a Gunison, until I blew the lid off the reservoir and spewed brake fluid all over the top of the car...bad damage to paint....

Now I use speed bleeders on all my classics...works a treat. 

Jerry Rude
4005R

[BERNIEHUMBER]

HI:
Thanks for the input.
These speedbleeders on the Tiger in the garage.
The Lotus is in storage and I don't have the time I should to play with it so speeders are going on it.
Changing brake fluid is like buying the wife flowers:there has to be an incident/occasion.
The fact that I was in this virus lock-down made me go through the what things haven't I done lately.

[buzzer]

I often find that I loose vacuum via the bleed nipple threads so use a pressure unit. Any tips on how best to seal the bleed nipple threads?

[BDA]

I was having a difficult time bleeding my brakes after a change in my brake lines. I wouldn't say it solved my problem but putting teflon tape on the threads eliminated that as a potential place for air to get in.

[BERNIEHUMBER]

HI:
I use an anti seize paste because of its high solids makeup.
This seems to compensate for the thread play during the bleed cycle.
It also make the opening and closing of the nipple that much easier.

[Grumblebuns]

I often find that I loose vacuum via the bleed nipple threads so use a pressure unit. Any tips on how best to seal the bleed nipple threads?

Speedbleeder sells their own thread sealant in a 1/2 oz bottle with applicator. Expensive at about $10 per bottle but it appears to the same substance used on their Speedbleeder threads. A cheaper alternative may be Permatex high temp thread sealant. Check to make sure it is safe for brake/hydraulic fluids.   

[jbcollier]

A little teflon tape on the bleeders to aid in vacuum bleeding is ok-ish.  BUT, no joint in the brake system should use teflon tape for a hydraulic seal !!

[BDA]

I agree. Joints that are sealed by a flare fitting require no tape or other sealing. Where straight threads are used (no flare) sealing devices such as copper washers, stat-o-seals, or similar are what is called for. The tape on the bleed screw is just to keep air out while bleeding and should be used ONLY on the threads.

edit: I wasn't thinking of flare connections when I wrote my post originally.

[buzzer]

Cheers guys for the advice. I try one of those solutions next time.