ADVICE - How do i Bleed my brakes ??

bilabonic

Hi All

Just got a Carrera Kraken 2013 commuter seconhand -

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 65499#tab2

Think the brake levers are Clarke but my left one has no pressure (pic lever bellow).

What equipment do i need to refill/bleed ? What is the procedure ?? Do i have to take that black cover plate of brakelever ???

Also will any dot3/4 fluid be ok ?

Cheers

Chunkers1980

Find out what they actually are and download the manual and do wht that says

nicklouse

Are these the brakes http://www.clarkscycles.com/index.php/h ... ulic-brake

The Rookie

Please describe exactly what is wrong (sorry but poor decsriptions are a common issue with brakes), it's very unlikley that 2013 brakes need a bleed and will be fixed by it, they either don't need bleeding or are shot.

bilabonic

They are Clarks Skeleton -

http://www.clarkscycles.com/index.php/h ... ulic-brake

I had the bike seconhand and noticed a seeping from one brake lever resevoir on caliper.

The bolts are also rounded BUT i have managed to remove them

Also inside the plastic seal/diaphram has split !!!!!!

Anybody know where i can get a spare from ? I have emailed Clarks but got no reply

Here is a pic -



I think the bolts are just 2.5mm/8mm torx so should be able to find some.

Anyone help....

Cheers

bilabonic

Sorted -

http://www.clarkscycles.com/index.php/h ... e/skeletal

bilabonic

Well i eventually got around to replacing the damaged cable (one complete unit). Perfect syring/cable tied, turned screw on caliper 1/4 turn, top off lever resevoir and horizontal and there was NO WAY i could pump fluid through ?

I undone the 10mm nut that connects the cable to the lever/res and it pumped through easily ??

Any ideas ? It is not going into the res for some reason ?

Cheers

nicklouse

cable? sure you dont have mechanical brakes?

HOSE.

so what did it say in the manual about bleeding?

and what do you mean by

Perfect syring/cable tied

bilabonic

Oh Hose, i followed the instructions exactly as the Clarks site, with the syringe/pipe fitting perfect (they are not a normal size).

There was no way i could push fluid through to the lever resevoir, when i cracked the connection at the lever it pumped through fine ?

cooldad

bilabonic wrote:

Any ideas ? It is not going into the res for some reason ?

Probably because you've disconnected the hose from the reservoir.

bilabonic wrote:

I undone the 10mm nut that connects the cable to the lever/res and it pumped through easily ??

nicklouse

bilabonic wrote:

Oh Hose, i followed the instructions exactly as the Clarks site, with the syringe/pipe fitting perfect (they are not a normal size).

There was no way i could push fluid through to the lever resevoir, when i cracked the connection at the lever it pumped through fine ?

what instructions?

link to a document so I can see what you have been trying to follow or please type out exactly how you went about trying to bleed your brake:

bilabonic

http://www.clarkscycles.com/index.php/h ... -to-videos

Also it states in the pdf instructions it states the fluid should come through the small bleed hole in the resevoir, it does not.

The Rookie

Which one of the videos?

bilabonic

Yes mate, it is a very simple procedure, you just put the brake lever horizontal (so res is level), attach tubing/syringe/fluid to caliper nipple, split it 1/4 of a turn and force fluid through.

There are to holes in the res that are visible, one shows the lever piston actuating and the other is just a small hole to allow fuid into res whilst bleeding.

I could not force ANY through, so split the line as it entered the lever and it flowed out fine ?

Cheers

oxocube1

Make sure that the reach adjust and bite point allen key adjusters (parts A and B on your above diagram) are not all the way in/out. Adjust them with a 1.5mm allen key so they sit in the middle of their range as you cannot bleed the brake with either one wound all the way in. That could be the issue.

nicklouse

bilabonic wrote:

http://www.clarkscycles.com/index.php/html/service/page/how-to-videos

Also it states in the pdf instructions it states the fluid should come through the small bleed hole in the resevoir, it does not.

please link to EXACTLY what you have been following reading then we can help. a general link is no help to us to help you. more so in this case which of the three videos is the problem happening?

bilabonic

oxocube1 wrote:

Make sure that the reach adjust and bite point allen key adjusters (parts A and B on your above diagram) are not all the way in/out. Adjust them with a 1.5mm allen key so they sit in the middle of their range as you cannot bleed the brake with either one wound all the way in. That could be the issue.

Yes, i have read that, the links are there, i can not see how i can see more specific, a b then c.

I just tried the front brake and it was a doddle, i have played with both the bite and reach but still can not get fluid through the rear ...Very odd.

It was like a mini fountain on the front...lol

bilabonic

nicklouse wrote:

bilabonic wrote:

http://www.clarkscycles.com/index.php/html/service/page/how-to-videos

Also it states in the pdf instructions it states the fluid should come through the small bleed hole in the resevoir, it does not.

please link to EXACTLY what you have been following reading then we can help. a general link is no help to us to help you. more so in this case which of the three videos is the problem happening?

The link is not general it is the bleed process for my exact brakes split into 3 video's i linked A,b and C.

MatyG

Hi. Did you sort this in the end?

The only way I an see where you have gone wrong.... Correct me if I'm wrong Lol, but if you watch the vids and follow exactly don't they remove the reseviour cap and adjust the 'front' lever in video A then in video B they connect the syringe to the 'rear' caliper? Then in video C they drain the fluid from the 'front' brake again? If it was done this way your right you would never be able to get the fluid thro.

Matt