I open the reservoir, suck out the old fluid with a syringe, re-fill it with new fluid, & start flushing.

Be sure to at least lay the lid back in position on the reservior before you start flushing. The pumping action of the lever can cause fluid to squirt out the top, and all over your bars & paint. Brake fluid + paint = a disaster.

 

I just used a bunch of paper towels to absorb the old fluid, being careful to not drip onto any painted surface.

Worked perfectly and I did not have to steal my wife's turkey baster.

This made her happy.

Ralph

 

I've done the above for cars. Drain the reservoir with a syringe, add new fluid, cap it, pump the brakes and repeat until you have mostly new fluid in there. It's easier with a buddy.

 

However if you do it like he's doing in the video, you need to have a buddy add NEW fluid to the reservoir as you are pumping the brakes to flush the fluid out. Once you start flushing clear fluid into the catch-can, you know the lines are full of new fluid.

You essentially don't want to empty the reservoir completely before adding new fluid. If you do, THAT's what will cause the air bubbles. As long as you are adding new fluid before the reservoir drains, you'll be okay.

 

Thanks for the help guys. I was able to get my brakes working great with all new fluid.

It turns out I was making it a lot harder than it was, and I'm glad I had a rough go at it, because next time I'll be able to do it in 15 minutes.

 

$25 for a Harbor Freight vacuum brake bleeder... suck out the old, suck in the new. Just don't use too high of vacuum and keep the reservior filled as it drains. Less than 10 minutes and you have fresh fluid in with a perfect bleeding of the lines.