Lost brake res. cover in crash

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I laid my bike down on the right side and lost the cap to the front brake master cylinder's fluid reservoir. The brakes were used inadvertently, post crash, about 5 times getting it into the back of the truck and such, so I am sure there will be some air in the lines (and possibly some of the road sand that I crashed because of).

Oh well....:dry:

I still need to check the extent of the damage to the cup and find a new cap. But if it checks out as ok;

What do I need to do to make the bike's brakes safe again? I don't know what to do about possible particle contaminant in the master cylinder. And I am not willing to just wing it with the brakes, I want to get some good advice first.

HOW SERIOUS IS THE POSSIBILITY OF BRAKE FAILURE?

SHOULD I DISASSEMBLE THE WHOLE FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM AND CLEAN IT OUT?

Should I not just replace the cap, but replace the whole master cylinder with new/used?

What would you do if it were your bike?

I am not worried about the possible air in the lines/system, I'm sure that it is easier to bleed the bike's system than a car's system. I am worrying about dirt here.

Post edited by: Qdude, at: 2008/03/04 01:57

A good flushing should work just fine, but bleading the brakes is a pain, they like to trap air in a lot of odd places, so it may take some time to get the air out

I imagine with both lines and more horizontal than vertical it wont be the easiest.

What is the best way to bleed the lines?
3 people?
gizmos?

What is entailed by a 'good flushing'?
Removal of the throttle brake assembly and repeated filling and dumping of the fluid in the reservoir?

del

The method described is an excellent idea, if there is a way to get the inevitable bubble out from under the master cylinder just after it is reconnected to the brake line after initial filling.

I am missing one point here;

Then open the bleeder screw & add fluid until it appears at the mc line.
Close the bleeder,
connect the upper line,
then add more fluid so that it enters the mc reservoir.
(open the bleeder, and purge bubbles from under MC????)
Close the bleeder,
disconnect the tubing there,
then top off the mc res as usual.

Once the reservoir is hooked up to the supply line again I am to close the bleeder twice consecutively ?

Is there another step where the bleeder is opened up again?

Won't there be an air bubble under the master cylinder after it is hooked up to the line again?

Is there a way to get the air from under the master cylinder up through the master cylinder?

As far as the single to dual methods;
I imagine that the dual brake system would merely require a 'T' fitting down on the supply line to the bleeders, that and more time for the t fitting restriction to the flow and twice the line to fill. Still an excellent idea.

Post edited by: Qdude, at: 2008/03/04 14:32

del

Cheers !!!

Easiest way i found to do it is put the tubing over the bleeder then put the other end in a bottle of brake fluid and start pumping the brake lever this will push air out and pull fluid back in when the lever is released do this for about 5 mins and close the bleeder and see how the brakes feel be sure and dont let the M/C run out of fluid or you will hafta start over.