Brakes - how they work, the secret behind bleeding them (VIDEO)

[WingAdmin]

This is a video idea I came up with a couple of months ago, and just recently recorded it. I go over the basics behind how you're able to stop a 1,000 lb Goldwing with your hand, and then show the secret behind successfully getting air out of your Goldwing's brake lines:



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[gatorslayer]

Great video, but the music is distracting.

[Scooter363y]

I may be missing something but doesn’t the wing have dual front disc brakes?

Scott

[WingAdmin]

I may be missing something but doesn’t the wing have dual front disc brakes?

Scott

It does, but one of the front rotors is actuated by the rear brake pedal. On the GL1500, the right front caliper is actuated by the hand lever, the foot pedal actuates the left front caliper and the rear caliper.

[dash88]

will this work on the brake pedal, thanks
loved video, music not so much
ken

[WingAdmin]

Yes, the same method works for the rear brakes!

[tonymassi@yahoo.com]

Tank you for this information, can you tell me if the clutch can be bled in a similar manner?

[WingAdmin]

Tank you for this information, can you tell me if the clutch can be bled in a similar manner?

It absolutely can, although it doesn't typically suffer from the same (air trapped) issue as much as the brakes, as it is more of a vertical straight-shot.

[Winger1957]

Yes, the same method works for the rear brakes!

I bled my brakes today, and I read one post where the writer said he tied a gallon jug of water to his foot brake pedal and left it over night. I considered his advice as I was working and thought he must have been pulling someone's leg. Imagine my surprise when I saw you say the same thing, except with a bungee cord. So I paused the video, ran into my garage, and zip tied my brake lever down to the frame. You can never have too many zip ties Great video.

[radecal]

One way I have found to overcome air in the system on some very finicky systems is to add fluid from the caliper and force it up to the master.
I have a setup for doing this but only use it for those 1 in 30 systems that just will not talk to me.
The trick of tying up the brake lever usually fixes most problem systems but there is still the problem child occasionally.
I work on Ducati systems from the early years to later models and there are some that are, shall we say, character building hence the reverse flow trick and other tweaks I use.
I am new to Goldwings so a learning curve for me as to their unique issues.
Scott, you had me with the 23 to 1 brake ratio!!! I immediately had ideas about fitting the GL1500 system to my race bikes!!!
Never heard of such force until you very quickly corrected yourself to ratio levels I am familiar with.
You had my hopes up for a bit !!!!!
I intend to completely rebuild the brake systems on the GL1500 Trike I have just acquired along with timing belts and a few other things.
Will be using silicone Dot 5 as I do with all my other bikes.
Will await the nay-sayers for this one!