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Do speed bleeders work well for bleeding the old brake fluid AND do they help rid the brake lines of trapped air?
The last brake bleed I did I shot brake fluid thru the nipple using a large horse syringe. It was slow, but it worked.
Would a brake fluid bleeder be a better choice over the speed bleeder nipples or the horse syringe?

What's your opinion on the subject?

The speed bleeders make "conventional" bleeding much easier (the kind where you keep pulling the lever, loosening the bleeder, tightening the bleeder, and then releasing the lever). They don't do any better job, they are just much easier. If you're doing the reverse bleed thing with the horse syringe, I see no point in speed bleeders.

Speed Bleeders worked sometimes, if the threads were tight. If the threads were too loose they didn't work well at all. Usually ended up having to do two person bleeding most times because you couldn't tell if they worked or not till you could watch fluid and air exit.

On my motorcycle I can do two person bleeding by myself because my arms are long enough. More modern bikes may not be able to reach.

In the old days, and even still today, the shop had an automatic bleeder that ran off compressed air. It was an expensive machine and most home garages wouldn't have this.

There is an affordable machine on the market now for the home mechanic. These are becoming more popular and professional mechanics are going with this because it is more portable than the older style air bleeders.

Search Motive Products Pressure Bleeder. (sorry I couldn't figure out how to post a link)

They use a hand pump to provide the air pressure. They come with different style covers to fit whichever Master Cylinder you are working on. Some of these covers are more Universal than others.

The secret to a one-person bleed without any special fittings:

Make sure that your tubing fits snugly onto the bleed-nipple, then make sure that the lower end of your tubing stays below the surface of a small amount of fluid in the catch-container. When you start pumping the brake, do it a few times to make sure sure that the air is completely expelled from the tubing. Once the air is out of the tubing you can pump through as much fluid as you want without any air being sucked back in.

I use a vac pump, Mighty Vac brand, to bleed my brakes, for years I would tie the brake handle down over night to get the last of the air out

richard t wrote:I use a vac pump, Mighty Vac brand, to bleed my brakes, for years I would tie the brake handle down over night to get the last of the air out

I suck too.

I have had good results with Genuine Speed Bleeders - both for bleeding and changing the fluid. They have performed perfectly every time I have used them.

I tried a Mityvac sucker, but it sucked. Or maybe I am just to dumb to use it properly, but either way I never got it to work..

The Speedbleeder just replaces the existing nipple, and it has has a sealant on the threads so you dont drew air at that point.
The one way valve is in the bleeder, so all you need a hose for is to carry the old fluid into the disposal container, so the seal between the hose and the bleeder and keeping the end of the hose below the surface is not critical, although it is nice to see a stream on clean new fluid running down the hose into the container.

I think you need the 10 X 1 mm size, bit if that is wrong I am certain someone will let me know soon-------.

Roy Gavin wrote: I tried a Mityvac sucker, but it sucked. Or maybe I am just to dumb to use it properly, but either way I never got it to work..

The Speedbleeder just replaces the existing nipple, and it has has a sealant on the threads so you dont drew air at that point.

Yep, the Mighty Vac will suck air in through the threads if you don't do something about that. I put a little teflon tape on the threads, but you have to make sure you stay away from the fluid sealing area at the end of the nipple.

I don't really see any think over complicated in bleeding an airheads brakes that requires anything more thn a length of tubing and a Jam jar. The last of the air bubbles wil make their way out of the system if you tie back the brake lever and leave overnight.

I got myself a vacuum bleeder that runs on the compressor last year. First of all because I was changing the brake Lines on the 850 to Goodridge, and that's a quite complex brake system.
But it works as a charm on the '90 as well. Bleeding was never easier! Just connect the hose, on with the air and suck it through. If you already have a compressor, they're quite Cheap....

Cheers