Motorcycle Brake Bleeding Procedure

This how-to video shows a simple method for bleeding a totally dry brake system (front master cylinder and two calipers) from scratch in 15 minutes. The beauty of it is that no special tools are needed. The same procedure can be used on rear brakes as well and the technique applies to virtually any motorcycle's hydraulic brake system.

[@yourejustintim]

That bike is gorgeous!

[@lsoigneur7430]

Nice video tutorial, Tom. The core team worked well- Joey with the lever assist and the soundtrack.

[@dominicmoore7621]

Well didn't no about the banjo bleeding n the ninja 300 was getting discouraged with the restorating it but your the only video on here after 2 days searching I cud find who helped good work mate

[@tomscyclerecycling8242]

Glad my video helped you out Dominic and thanks!

[@ScottParksGoogleProfile]

Tom, Nice job on the video and good looking shop you have there! Thanks for the information.

[@aayushkaintura8181]

Hey tom, I love your videos. I wish you posted more!

[@tomscyclerecycling8242]

I have more planned and just need time to put them together. But I promise I will, and thanks very much for your kind words!

[@aayushkaintura8181]

@@tomscyclerecycling8242 That's great to hear. I get it, quality work takes time. I'll be looking forward to more videos. Good luck and thank you for your effort! Cheers.

[@blipco5]

I see Joey is supplying the music. Good job.

[@CrazyMeats]

Cool vid thanks for making it. I love V4s and was stoked to see you use one for the vid. I'm doing this to my 91 NC30.

[@Royalbigness]

Hey Tom, another great video. Good to see you working with your son too. Beautiful stuff. How about you do a show case of your bikes someday ? I'm sure we'd all love to see them on the road eating up those miles !

[@tomscyclerecycling8242]

I would be happy to show my bikes in a future video. If possible, I plan to do one or two new videos before November. That would be a good time to pull out all the bikes and do a little feature on them. I think it would also be cool to put on a helmet camera and ride one of the bikes on some of the great roads around here, then share some of the footage. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@tomkerxhalli1783]

Thanks and best of luck with your NC30.

[@keith23uk]

Been trying to get pressure back in my replacement front brake master cylinder. Squirted the stuff out at high pressure covering the "banjo hole" and continued doing this and not getting any joy at all! I think I should roll it down to the mechanics tomorrow but that costs money!

[@MisterKnobb]

I had one of those Interceptors, loved it...

[@stephenaraujo172]

Perfect run through, thanks!

[@rolanddownunder]

Thankyou Tom another great Video..

[@tomkerxhalli1783]

The banjo hole is where the brake line connects. Leave the line disconnected until you prime the master cylinder as I show in the video. Then connect the line and tighten the banjo bolt. Now you're ready to bleed the system.

[@iandouglas451]

yes that was very helpful thanks - notice that your clock has my model on it, yam,aha xj 600 pre diversion.

[@aguiristante]

Beautiful bike..Honda in the 80 s were tops

[@wadafruit]

Awesome bike, one of my favorites. I got an 85 Interceptor 700. I'm just learning how to maintain it. Keep up the good work and if you got any contact information that would be awesome.

[@arttu8322]

PLEASE HELP. Im trying to fill my empty brake system. I have primed the master cylinder many times but the fluid wont go down the line. The system is allmoast full but i have zero preasure on my brakes. What the hell im doing wron?!

[@keith23uk]

Does he mean he has removed the fluid line but not shown himself doing it? and thats the banjo hole?

[@johnmahoney6663]

Well done.

[@muhammedshibil1390]

Good man

[@keith23uk]

Only thing I havent got is a vacuum pump

[@navneetsingh5828]

after how much time of opening the brake fluid I can use it ?? and when filling master cylinder first time so I need to suck the old fluid first and then fill new or mi with old fluid ??

[@tomscyclerecycling8242]

If you're simply flushing the old fluid out, use a syringe to empty out the reservoir, then refill with new fluid. Now bleed the brakes, one side at a time, and do this until clean fluid comes through steadily. Then do the other side and you'll be all set. Make sure to keep the reservoir topped off so that you don't pump air into the system. As far as fluid life goes, read the container to see what they suggest. DOT3 and DOT4 brake fluid attract moisture, so as soon as you open the bottle, it should be used up relatively soon.

[@rcchar]

Where is the best place to buy parts?

[@tomscyclerecycling8242]

Randy Charlton Sorry for the very late reply - you can get many parts on eBay, through various motorcycle dealers, and shops like mine. You can contact me through my web site and tell me what you need. If I can help out, I'll be happy to.

[@rcchar]

Thanks I want to say I love the 84 Honda Interceptor

[@keith23uk]

2:12 Thumb over the banjo hole where??? Most important part I cant see :(

[@tomkerxhalli1783]

Thanks Mathew. Glad you liked my video - check them all out at my channel. You can reach me through my Web site at www.tomscyclerecycling.com Best of luck with your VF!

[@Cundalinis_Hand]

I just realised how shit my Interceptor looks.

[@chichesterbuilders]

what magic HOLE. I JUST PUT MY FINGER ON THE HOLE AND IT MAJICALLY GO DOWN.. I don't have a hole on the side of my master cylinder.

[@tomscyclerecycling8242]

The banjo bolt hole is what you cover with your finger to prime the master cylinder. They're located in different areas on the master cylinder, depending on the make and model of the bike.