[milanomike]

OK, short story here is old reservoir had cracked caps and the 2 floats had sunk to the bottom of reservoir. MC was ancient so time to replace both bits.

Unfortunately, I have the same issue as when I tried to pressure bleed the set up before replacing anything. I cannot get any pressure using my Motive Products bleeder. Yes, the bleeder is fine I just used it a month back on our Honda.

I'm guessing air must leak around the 2 caps and sensors.

Maybe I should go with the single cap reservoir.

Or am I missing something obvious here?

Thought I'd have this finished tonight, but it is not looking like this will happen.

Thanks for any help.

 

[milanomike]

Yeah, just did a test and that seems to be it. Must be a way around this as I can't imagine shops back in the day did the pump the pedal approach.

Was just looking at the single cap reservoir on Classic Alfa, which is out of stock. Maybe this is the way to go.

 

[milanomike]

Divotandtralee, Gubi

OK, seems like a rubber plug, especially with a bolt and a couple of washers to snug it up should do the trick. See what I can find locally tomorrow.

Having wife pump brake pedal is not an option.

 

[milanomike]

Yes, grommets should be good as they and the MC are new. It seems to be the caps/sensors as best I can tell. Tried wrapping the threads/sensors with teflon tape to seal them, did not work.

I've never done gravity as I've had the Motive Products pressure bleeder for a long time now. Really hoping I can get the pressure approach worked out. Clutch is next....

Thanks for the help.

 

[milanomike]

I plan on giving it a go with what I have, if I cannot get it to pressure bleed after a couple of attempts with rubber stoppers (or any other approach I dream up), I'll swap to the single cap reservoir that CA and others have. In the past, I've never been happy with results of pumping the pedal when installing a new MC.

Will update on my activity...

 

[milanomike]

OK, had to rummage around the area this afternoon, but I found these up at the local Menard's.

These are 1.25" or 32 mm and the rubber is straight, not tapered. They fit snugly into the 2 holes as shown in the photo and are deep enough to cover the slots. I did need to bevel the edge to get them to insert easily, but they fit. Since the rubber is not tapered, you don't have to really crank down on the nuts to make it tight.

I tightened them a bit and ran a quick pressure test and they seemed to hold pressure. I was able to bleed the MC, may need to fiddle with it a bit more but I think this will do the trick.

Unfortunately, I won't get back to this for a day or so.

And, no I never bench bleed an MC, tried it once many years back, it makes a big mess.

If you have a pressure setup, you can pressurize the system and crack open lines at MC one at a time to bleed and be done in a few minutes, then move on to the rest of the system.

Hoping to report back soon on this.

 

[milanomike]

Latest update, the rubber expandable plugs worked pretty well, nothing like a new tool that cost 4 bucks. They fit snug and then you tighten them up without making them so tight you bust the plastic reservoir. I was able to bleed all 4 brakes pretty easily, so looks like the plugs got the job done.

Pedal seems good, of course, I won't know for sure until she is off the stands, and I try it on the road.

There was no adjustment of the rod in the booster that acts on the MC, my little tool, said it was about line to line, hoping I'm OK here. I used the Brembo MC if it matters, as the price went down thanks to favorable exchange rate.

Hoping to get fresh fluid in the clutch system in next day or so, slave bleed screw is not at 12 o'clock, so will need to rotate it.

Thanks for the help here.

 

[milanomike]

Yep, the Motive unit is well worth the money, even with buying/making an occasional adapter.

Doesn't seem like I can edit the thread title

 

[milanomike]

Follow up, I had a hard time bleeding the clutch system. The slave was full of gunk preventing fluid from flowing. Finally got it going and now have clean fluid in the system. But me thinks having a spare slave and hose wouldn't be a bad idea.

Anyhow, new brake MC is fine, pedal is firm, a definite step up from the mushing dodgy old MC.

Thanks for the tips on the reservoir leaking, very glad I got the pressure bleeder to work as its no muss, no fuss.