Pressure Bleeder

Installed a new master cylinder today (what a PITA). However, I am unsuccessful at getting fluid to the cylinder or lines. Has anyone used a pressure bleeder with success or any other recommendations? Here's a link to a pressure bleeder.

http://www.vwparts.net/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=VWP&Product_Code=CB3995

I bought one of these but I haven't had a chance to use it yet.

I think I bought it from aircooled.net. The cost might have been a few dollars more than the one in your link.

Some Speedster owners have made their own from a garden sprayer. Search here and on the other site.

Bob, if you are changing the master, it is best to bench-bleed it first, or you may never get a good pedal. I have used a pressure bleeder, important to use only 5-10 psi.

I changed my brake fluid today, been in there almost six years! I siphoned out the reservoir, poured in fresh, and Jen started pumping. The RR took the longest, but amazing how dark the old fluid gets. The rest were fairly quick, LR, RF, LF in that order. Bleed each until fluid runs clear. I used 16 ounces or so. Had to fill the reservoir three times, the final time for topping when finished. I do have a vacuum bleeder, which I could have used, but it's just easier to have a "pumper".

YES!

I built one exactly like that from an Ace Hardware Garden sprayer.

In fact, I donated another one that I built to the Carlisle Raffle last May and I believe it was taken home by that wild and crazy Spyder driver, Lenny C. from Bristol, CT.

That one from CB will work OK, but that design will have a tendency to overfill the reservoir once the bleeding is finished. You should buy a turkey baster to suck out the excess fluid to get it down to "full" once the lines are bled. Easy-Peasy.

Mine has a copper tube extension inside of the screw-on cap, which would back syphon the excess fluid into the bleeder once the pressure was relieved in the bleeder. Worked nicely, but looks to be missing from the CB version (I guess they have the "Mach 1 version", whereas mine is "Mach II")

"Works fine, lasts a long time".

Still, if you can get your girlfriend to be a "pumper", it might be more fun for you both ;>)

gn

BTW: I bled my brakes with the pressure bleeder last Winter in Beaufort. I was AMAZED at how black the fluid was when it came out at first, but it eventually turned clear (although it took a while). I usually use an entire quart of fluid to do a proper bleed job by getting all of that old stuf out of there. Besides, you can not store un-used (but opened) fluid for any length of time in the shop because it absorbs water from the air, so I just flush it through and recycle the stuff that comes out.

Gord, I'm glad you got that one!

I bought the quart size fluid because I also have to do a MC on the Vanagon. I know you can't leave it around, but what do you think happens to it in the car? There is some airspace above the fluid, that can't be any worse than the airspace in a plastic bottle on the shelf. Anyway, I'll be using the rest of that fluid in a couple days.

Did you go today to the show that wasn't yesterday?

Nope, I skipped the real show yesterday. Just couldn't justify spending that much on fuel twice for the $50 worth of parts that I need. Found a VW parts guy less than an hour from here (thanks to Boston Bob!) and will either go there or mail order.

It was a nice, sunny ride down and back, though.....

I guess Jen doesn't read this site?

Gordon, I did just as you recommended and it worked perfectly. Thanks for the tip.