Assuming I need to rebuild front brake slave cylinder, but want verification...

[Serk]

The front brake master cylinder on my new to me 1999 Interstate had screws that were hopelessly stripped, so I just bought a new master cylinder assembly.

Hooked up the Mity Vac to the front right caliper and drained as much fluid out as I could, closed it up, went to the front left and hooked it up, opened the bleed nipple and nothing. Nothing at all. I put a ton of vacuum on it and nothing came out.

I proceeded with replacing the master cylinder, and went ahead and started filling/bleeding it, same thing, absolutely nothing comes out of the left side.

I put a drain pan under it and loosened the banjo bolt, fluid dripped out, so it doesn't appear to be a blockage in the lines, but in the caliper assembly itself, or so I'm assuming?

Just wanted a sanity check before I order the caliper rebuild parts and get going on that...

Thanks!

...the joys of a 21 year old bike with an unknown maintenance history.....

[da prez]

Do it now , not on the side of the road. Have someone squeeze the brake while you hold a finger on the caliper to feel for movement.  Pull caliper loose and pump till pistons come most of the way out. Leave one brake pad in caliper . Repeat on other side.  Get the rebuild kits and clean calipers and grooves. Thick o ring goes in first.

                   da prez
 

[Serk]

Do it now , not on the side of the road. Have someone squeeze the brake while you hold a finger on the caliper to feel for movement.  Pull caliper loose and pump till pistons come most of the way out. Leave one brake pad in caliper . Repeat on other side.  Get the rebuild kits and clean calipers and grooves. Thick o ring goes in first.

                   da prez
 

Rebuild kits ordered, figure if I'm tearing everything down I'll go ahead and do both calipers even if one side is working...

Thanks!

[3W-lonerider]

seen it many times. the bleed nipple can get clogged with crap. take the nipple out of the caliper and run a wire down threw it to open it up. then you should get fluid.

[The emperor has no clothes]

seen it many times. the bleed nipple can get clogged with crap. take the nipple out of the caliper and run a wire down threw it to open it up. then you should get fluid.

This is what I was thinking also.

[Serk]

seen it many times. the bleed nipple can get clogged with crap. take the nipple out of the caliper and run a wire down threw it to open it up. then you should get fluid.

Woot! We have a winner! I just swapped the bleed nipple out with one of the spare seized up calipers in my dresser drawers full of take off Valk parts I can't quite bring myself to get rid of, and everything ran normally.... Took for EVER to finally bleed the air out, but I guess that's normal with a brand new master cylinder.

I'll still do the caliper rebuilds, but they've been moved from "Do before riding again" to "Do before a major trip" status...

Thanks!

[3W-lonerider]

Glad thats all it was. Now go for a ride and enjoy with a big ole smile.

[ridingron]

I'm a firm believer in the "Try the easy things first." manual.