Brakes wont keep pressure

[mike.perry]

What happened to automatic bleed valves? They had a spring inside which closed the valve when the pedal was lifted so all you had to do was slacken the valve, pump the pedal a few times then tighten the valve

[Alec]

Hello Danny,

I must have missed that you are using an Easy Bleed system. Do you get good pressure from the bleed nipple when you open it, and do you always get some air out?

The other thing to check is all joints in the sytem for a leak as this could let air back in when the pedal is lifted.

Mike, I had a set many years ago but haven't seen them for sale for a while?

Alec

[rayofleamington]

should i be concerned about the little eruption of brake fluid that squirts out?
does this indicate any issues or just normal function

Completely normal - in the rest position the pressure side is open to the reservoir. When you press the pedal the fluid moved takes the easy route back to reservoir (hence the fountain) during the first few mm of piston travel. After that the return to tank hole is covered and the remaining fluid pushed has to go via the brake pipes.

As for the tubes with a one way valve - these are a bad idea! they increase the tendency to suck back through the nipple threads - which can lead to re-introducing air in the system. You are better off using a tube to a jam jar.

I've only ever used a tube and jam jar on a minor and always managed to get the brakes sorted single handed. I have an easibleed but never needed it.
The only one I couldn't get a very good pedal on turned out to have a faulty NEW master cylinder. between myself and Cam we spent days on that car and never got it right - the m/c was replaced again a few years later and finally it was much better.

[Danny Roff]

I know its been a long time but i kicked the car and left it in the lockup for the whole winter untouched

returning to the scene....
front brakes amazing rear brakes dead, no leaks and bleeding was no help

the fool who fitted the rear hose had twisted and crumpled the inner section so the pressure was like when you twist a garden hose and the brake fluid wasnt travelling through the whole system

from the outside it looked fine but £3.75 of new hose later and some wd40 on old fittings we have brakes like never before..... bled up fine and was a dream

hope this may help any other novices out there if they have similar issues

cheers all see ya soon
alternator woes now

[bmcecosse]

Great success - and well done for coming back with the solution!
Alternator - usually just worn brushes unless there has been welding/connecting wrong polarity - anything like that?