IowaRV9Dreamer
Well Known Member
Yesterday I had to bleed the brakes on my Skipper... they are standard 6" Cleveland brakes that are (I think) very similar to RV brakes. The setup is plumbed identically, with a single reservoir feeding the copilot master cylinders and then the pilot master cylinders.
My A&P gave me this tip: go to your local aviation / farm supply store and buy three things:
Cut a length of tubing and safety wire it on the end of the oiler. Make this tight... it will be under some pressure.
Put some more tubing on the end of the syringe.
Fill the oiler with fluid.... pump the air out of the clear tubing.
Hook it to the bleeder screw - open the screw and start pumping.
As you are pumping, have somone tap/vibrate the master cylinders.. first the one closest to the wheel and then the opposite side. For example, if you are working on the left wheel, have your helper tap the pilot left brake and then the copilot left brake. The tapping helps unstuck any air bubbles in the master cylinders.
Pump about 30 or 40 strokes while your assisant taps each cylinder. You will be forcing new fluid up from the bottom and the old fluid and air bubbles will be pumped into the reservoir. Use the horse syringe to remove excess fluid from the reservoir before it overflows. When you are tired of pumping, tighten the bleeder screw, remove the clear tubing, and install the bleeder cover. Done! Move on to the other wheel.
This procedure worked for me - rock solid brakes on the first try with no spilled fluid. It was very easy.
Hope this helps someone.
My A&P gave me this tip: go to your local aviation / farm supply store and buy three things:
- An old fashioned pump oiler - big with a heavy base that won't tip over
- Some clear tubing that tightly fits both the end of the bleeder screw and the pump oiler
- The biggest horse syringe they have (no needle)
Cut a length of tubing and safety wire it on the end of the oiler. Make this tight... it will be under some pressure.
Put some more tubing on the end of the syringe.
Fill the oiler with fluid.... pump the air out of the clear tubing.
Hook it to the bleeder screw - open the screw and start pumping.
As you are pumping, have somone tap/vibrate the master cylinders.. first the one closest to the wheel and then the opposite side. For example, if you are working on the left wheel, have your helper tap the pilot left brake and then the copilot left brake. The tapping helps unstuck any air bubbles in the master cylinders.
Pump about 30 or 40 strokes while your assisant taps each cylinder. You will be forcing new fluid up from the bottom and the old fluid and air bubbles will be pumped into the reservoir. Use the horse syringe to remove excess fluid from the reservoir before it overflows. When you are tired of pumping, tighten the bleeder screw, remove the clear tubing, and install the bleeder cover. Done! Move on to the other wheel.
This procedure worked for me - rock solid brakes on the first try with no spilled fluid. It was very easy.
Hope this helps someone.