Decided to bleed my 2007 blade as the clutch fluid resembled cola in colour. Drained old fluid and wiped master cylinder. Tried pumping lever and opening and closing bleed nipple to no avail. So I bought myself a vacuum pump and thought this would do the trick. Wrong... I have resistance on the clutch lever, but the bike won't go into gear, it just stays in neutral. So, there presumably must be air still in the system somewhere. Question is how to I remove it? I'm thinking of wrapping a bit of p.t.f.e tape around the thread of the bleed nipple, in case that is the culprit. The brake fluid that I'm using is clear. But I put my hands up and admit I'm not sure how old it is. It is DOT4 and it was sealed before I started using it on this job. Any input would be gratefully received. Many Thanks in advance.
try leaving the cap off the reservoir without opening the bleed nipple and moving the lever a tiny bit .. see if a tiny bubble rises in the fluid, if it does ,keep doing this until the air stops rising in the fluid ,it worked on the brakes on one of my bikes although i have not bled a clutch on a bike but it is the same principal.
As above, and make sure the banjo is at the lowest point you can get it - ie bike on a paddock stand, and bars turned to the right.
Thanks for the input guys. I'm also going to remove the banjo bolt and ensure that it hasn't got any crap in it. May be ott but worth a go. Can't think why Honda went back to a cable clutch...
just remember that air rises in fluid ,it may help if you just crack off the banjo bolt on the master cylinder to let the air in the pipe rise and escape before you try bleed the master cylinder.
Sorted! Thanks guys for all your help. Air was in master cylinder end of system. Managed to burb it by gently pumping the clutch lever. Why Honda didn't put a nipple on the cylinder is anyone's guess.
