No front brakes 03 749 - Ducati.ms

Fueratoma · Jan 20th, 2012, 10:05 am

I purchased this bike recently in "as is" condition and the brakes haven't worked since I bought it a month ago. Long story short I bled the front brake system yesterday which yielded quite a few bubbles in the line, but I never got the pads to bite the rotors. I've noticed a small leak of brake fluid from the spot where the the fluid reservoir connects to the master cylinder. I would have assumed that it needs a new MC but I was able to bleed the brakes. Was I premature in finishing the brake bleed and there's still some air trapped in the lines? Is it perhaps the MC? Or is there something else entirely that I've missed?

Mr C · Jan 20th, 2012, 10:29 am

There is a bleed nipple actually in the reservoir start bleeding from here first

smokey999 · Jan 20th, 2012, 9:03 pm

Definitely start at the master cylinder first for bleeding air out of the master itself. Thats how you can figure out if the master cylinder is shot is if you can't get all the air out of it.

Fueratoma · Jan 21st, 2012, 10:43 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by smokey999

Definitely start at the master cylinder first for bleeding air out of the master itself. Thats how you can figure out if the master cylinder is shot is if you can't get all the air out of it.

Ok, started to tackle this today before I realized I'm not quite sure how. The bleeder valve in the reservoir looks like a hex key will fit it, but there's a something metal and circular right in the middle of it that impedes a hex key from getting a good bite on it, and I don't want to round it over. Is there a special tool required to spin it?

safetyfish · Jan 22nd, 2012, 4:51 am

Take the reservoir cover off
Using a syringe, suck all the fluid out
Refill with fresh fluid
The internal bleed nipple is loosened with a 6 (or a 5?)mm spanner
Pull the brake lever, loosen the nipple SLIGHTLY. (Too fast and fluid will spray all over the place)
Tighten the nipple
Release the lever
Repeat

If you are playing with a hex key then I think you are playing with the screw that holds the reservoir to the MC

SF

Mr C · Jan 22nd, 2012, 5:19 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fueratoma

Ok, started to tackle this today before I realized I'm not quite sure how. The bleeder valve in the reservoir looks like a hex key will fit it, but there's a something metal and circular right in the middle of it that impedes a hex key from getting a good bite on it, and I don't want to round it over. Is there a special tool required to spin it?

You usually undo the internal bleed nipple with a 6mm socket sounds like the head has snapped off. This has happened to mine too. if this is definatly the case you can bleed from the union on the master cylinder. Failing all that a bleed tool should do the job

Fueratoma · Jan 22nd, 2012, 7:40 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by safetyfish

If you are playing with a hex key then I think you are playing with the screw that holds the reservoir to the MC

SF

In my defense it was all of 9 degrees in my garage when I went out to work on the thing yesterday. I felt a bit rushed! That said, I think this is the case. I'll be a bit more patient and do a more thorough search in there today.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr C

You usually undo the internal bleed nipple with a 6mm socket sounds like the head has snapped off. This has happened to mine too. if this is definatly the case you can bleed from the union on the master cylinder. Failing all that a bleed tool should do the job

OR perhaps this is the case. Does anyone happen to have a photo of what that bleed nipple is supposed to look like? Does it stick up out of the black bolt? Or is it somewhere else entirely...?

Fueratoma · Jan 23rd, 2012, 8:32 am

Giving this thread a quick bump. I'm assuming the bleeder nipple has snapped off because I really don't think there's a way to get anything on what I've seen in there. How do you bleed from the junction of the MC and the reservoir?

Mr C · Jan 23rd, 2012, 1:12 pm

I just dug my M/C's out so I could show you. My brake side nipple snapped off.

1st pic shows what you should see and 2nd pic shows what you may well be looking at

There must be a way of getting the whole thing out and replacing with new parts from the dealer. To be quite honest I have not even tried yet.

You can bleed from the banjo at the M/C by just cracking it off and bleeding to make sure there is no air in there.

Fueratoma · Jan 23rd, 2012, 3:28 pm

Nail on the head, mr. C! Mine has been snapped off. I'll have to look into finding the new piece. In the meantime, can you explain in a little more detail how to bleed from the joint with the MC?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr C

I just dug my M/C's out so I could show you. My brake side nipple snapped off.

1st pic shows what you should see and 2nd pic shows what you may well be looking at

There must be a way of getting the whole thing out and replacing with new parts from the dealer. To be quite honest I have not even tried yet.

You can bleed from the banjo at the M/C by just cracking it off and bleeding to make sure there is no air in there.