Bleeding the rear brakes on an F650GS ABS... What am I doing wrong?

[Nny]

Hi guys.  At the request of another ST.Ner I'm reposting this in here.

I bought this 2001 F650GS 2nd hand and noticed the other day that the rear brake pedal felt odd.  I tried braking at slow speed and noticed that it was barely working.  I checked the fluid in the master cylinder and it was dry.  I went to my local dealership and got some brake fluid and stopped by a Kragen and picked up a brake bleeding kit similar to this one.

When I got home I put the bleed kit together and filled the master cylinder.  After that I attached the bleed kit to the bleeder valve and build up a bit of pressure to make sure there weren't any leaks.  Then I cracked the bleeder valve and got about a teaspoon of old brake fluid and air bubbles.  About an hour later I was still getting nothing but air.  I tried also getting someone to push down slowly on the brake pedal as I cracked the bleeder valve and still was getting nothing.  Also tried pumping the brakes a few times before the slow push down and valve cracking.

Any suggestions?

[Woodys Euphemisms]

Not sure what your brake bleeding kit looks like, as I cant get your link to work.  Doesn't matter though.  Fill the reservoir with fluid, push down on the brake pedal and hold it, then crack the bleeder valve on the caliper.  As soon as you get fluid, close the bleeder valve, let up on the brake pedal and check to see if you have brakes.  If they are still spongy, then repeat that process.

I've never used any of the kits or anything, I usually just fit a small hose over the bleeder nipples and run the other end back into the bottle of brake fluid.  Keeps me from making TOO big of a mess.

Hope this helps.  It's the only way that I know of to bleed brakes.

P.S.  Also should have mentioned that you need to keep an eye on the brake fluid reservoir level.  Check its level and keep it at the proper level, each time after you've closed the bleeder.  Very important that the fluid remains above the hole that replenishes the brakes, otherwise you will just be drawing more air back into the system.

P.S.S.  I also should have mentioned that I dont know how your bike's brakes are set up exactly, but if they are like my ABS brakes, then your rear reservoir is actually split into 2 reservoirs.  My bikes hand lever actuates the rear and front brake, whereas the brake pedal actuates only the rear.  This necessitates the split reservoir in the rear I suppose.  I'm assuming here, that your ABS setup is going to be the same.  So make sure that your levels are good in both halves of the rear reservoir.  Also the level is very sensitive.  I get brake warning lights if my level dips the tiniest bit in either half.

By the way, my bike is an 04 bmw K1200RS.

[weegee96]

You may need to do the same thing I had to do...get teflon tape and remove the bleeder valve.  Teflon tape the threads and put the valve back in.....VOILA.  Gauranteed that's the problem.  I was flippin out when I kept getting air and then I read the manual and that was what it said to do.

It's actually pulling air through the threads...Seems very odd but it worked!!

[Nny]

So how do you get the bleeder valve off without spilling brake fluid everywhere?

[Zen Rider]

From my understanding, if you have air in the system, you have to bleed the ABS system first, then the rear brake system.  

At this point, I would opt for taking to the dealer - unless you have a pnuematic bleeder.  Shop rates vary - here it's $82.50 per hour.  But , for $80.00, it might be money well spent.

Good luck!!!

[Nny]

come to think of it though, if I'm getting nothing but air right now I don't think I have to worry about spilling brake fluid everywhere if I take the nipple off.

[cbsnbiker]

Check out the FAQs on the Chain Gang website:

Website: http://www.f650.com

FAQs: http://faq.f650.com/

They'll get you up to speed.

[Nny]

Check out the FAQs on the Chain Gang website:

Website: http://www.f650.com

FAQs: http://faq.f650.com/

They'll get you up to speed.

Yeah, I did check it out.  I read the FAQ as well as a few threads on the subject over there and nothing I tried worked.

So today I brought it in to the local BMW dealership to get the 65 point "used bike" inspection since I don't know what I'm looking for yet and mentioned the brakes.  He came out and looked at it and said the pads needed changing first off, then hit the brake pedal and said something to the effect that I didn't have ANY rear brake.  He's going to call me later about it.  I'll keep you guys posted.

[Nny]

Okay..  I'm a dumbass apparently.  After taking the cap off the brake fluid resivoir there's another rubber piece that needs to come up to actually put brake fluid in...    I was just filling it on top of the rubber thing because I couldn't see down further into the thing to realize it was a 2nd cover.  I thought it filled up awfully fast..   *sigh*

So my other problem is that I have a leak in my brake line going from the master cylinder to the caliper.  They're ordering the hose and it should be in on Thursday.

[weegee96]

Okay..  I'm a dumbass apparently.  After taking the cap off the brake fluid resivoir there's another rubber piece that needs to come up to actually put brake fluid in...    I was just filling it on top of the rubber thing because I couldn't see down further into the thing to realize it was a 2nd cover.  I thought it filled up awfully fast..   *sigh*

So my other problem is that I have a leak in my brake line going from the master cylinder to the caliper.  They're ordering the hose and it should be in on Thursday.

Well atleast you did the smart thing and put the tools down and took it to someone before you hurt anyone...most definately yourself!!  LMAO  Don't worry I've done some dumbass things that I look back on now and just hang my head in shame.

[jsanford]

65-point used bike inspection?  The checksheet I made from Adam Glass' website was at least 87 data points long.  

The maintenance DVDs also really help if you're not familiar with motorcycles.

[Nny]

Well, now that I know everything on the bike is okay, I'll probably be doing my own work on the bike from now on.