Automatic Bleed Valves

Post by **mike.perry** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 3:09 pm

Are automatic bleed valves for the brakes still available? I had a set fitted to my Minor many years ago and bleeding the brakes was a doddle, just slacken the valve a turn and pump the brake peddle a few times. Much easier than messing about with jars and tubes opening and closing the valve whilst someone pumps the peddle. I know you can get bleed kits but they never seem to stay in place.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 9:38 pm

I suppose they are - but I've never had any problem just using gravity bleeding. And even if you fit these 'valves' you will still need tube and bottle or the fluid will spray everywhere.
Be aware the rear cylinders are 3/8" BSF thread and the front cylinders are 3/8" UNF - a finer thread. That may your difficulty - getting the BSF thread valves, it's a very non-standard thread while the UNF thread was very common although now wiped out by use of Metric M10 x 1 on many cars.

Post by **mike.perry** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 10:21 pm

Thanks for that info. I've just bled the front n/s brakes on the traveller after replacing the wheel cylinders and ended up with nearly as much fluid on the garage floor as in the jar. Still I'll just scatter a bit of "kitty litter" over it tomorrow.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 10:43 pm

I just put tube on nipple and into jar - open nipple - sit back and drink a cup of coffee! It flows through by gravity. Just sometimes I have had to start it by pressing the brake pedal - once.

Post by **mike.perry** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 12:28 pm

Unlike the Wolseley bleed nipples which are horizontal the Minor nipples point upwards (keep it clean!) so a pump on the pedal would start the syphon effect over the upward curve in the tube. Hopefully I will not need to touch the brakes again for a while. Cheers.

Post by **Dean** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 1:07 pm

bmcecosse wrote:I just put tube on nipple and into jar - open nipple - sit back and drink a cup of coffee!

Nipple on the moggie I presume?

Seriously though, when I come to refill my brake system I'll give this way a go.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 8:30 pm

I'll give this way a go.

only once though.

Post by **les** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 10:09 pm

I've been having a spot of bother bleeding my brakes this time so when I read of this gravity/coffee method I was intrigued. Does it really work that way, I think the rear nipples are higher than the m/c, would capillary action overcome this and what if you only drink tea!

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 11:55 pm

Tea is fine - it works because the pipe-in-jar creates a syphon. It works for me !