I recently bought an RV-8 so please excuse my lack of knowledge. I thought I would get some knowledge from you folks before going any further. I put new o-rings in both calipers and will soon be refilling the brake fluid. I plan to push the fluid up from the bottom but am unsure of what to do at the master cylinder to know when it is full. Can anyone assist? Do I have to do anything at the master cylinder before pumping fluid?
Thanks!
Take off the cap on the brake reservoir. Attach a 1/8” pipe fitting nipple where the cap goes. Attach a clear plastic tube to the other end of the nipple and then direct the tube into a collection bottle. Pump up one side until you see new fluid at the master cylinder exit line to the brake reservoir. Stop pumping when you know the fluid is going into the reservoir. The last step is to pump up the other cylinder until you get fluid coming out of the reservoir.
Good advice by Carl. I generally keep pumping fluid in until I see the fluid come out that overflow line without any air bubbles in it. That way, you are sure there is no air in the system.
Thank you both! Is there a separate reservoir for each side or do they flow into a common fluid reservoir? I thought the fluid was contained to each MC.
There should be a reservoir container on the firewall. I used the standard vans reservoir which is aluminum with a cap on it the I believe takes a 7/16 wrench to remove.
__________________
Dave Weisgerber
RV8 N848DW. Ser#83830 done.
James Cowl
DAR inspection on 7-23-2021
First flight on 7-25-2021
Phase 2 on 9-3-2021
Thank you both! Is there a separate reservoir for each side or do they flow into a common fluid reservoir? I thought the fluid was contained to each MC.
There is a common reservoir with a T fitting. On my 6, the reservoir is mounted on the engine side of the firewall and the T fitting screws into it (NPT) from the cockpit side.
I'm in the process of replacing the fitting and lines, but the picture shows the old T fitting.
Take off the cap on the brake reservoir. Attach a 1/8” pipe fitting nipple where the cap goes. Attach a clear plastic tube to the other end of the nipple and then direct the tube into a collection bottle.
Carl
A small refinement to Carl's post. Install a small length (around 3/4") of tubing into the pipe threaded end of the fitting. Now the reservoir will "overflow" when it's at the proper level with a bit of expansion space for the fluid. Adjust the short length of tubing to your preference.
Cleveland brake system
Linear Mode
