Mighty Vac

[110164]

I've just used a Mighty Vac for the first time. I bled the front and rear brakes on my 2003 R1150R. Things went as expected, and I carved out enough of my afternoon for a learning curve.

Most of the attachments that come with the MV didn't seem to be much use for anything, and I ended up just using the clear plastic tubes.

The MV seemed to work as expected but for the life of me, I could not completely seal the bleed-nipple/tube connection. I had a good vacuum (indicated on the gauge) but still sucked in air from around the bleed nipple. I searched the web, found mixed reviews and advice, and tried all the sealing methods... Vaseline, teflon tape, springy hose clips and a mixture of all three. However hard I tried, I still got bubbles of air from the nipple connection. I went ahead and bled the brakes anyway because the bubbles only manifested when I applied pressure with the MV... it didn't matter if the nipple was open or closed... a vacuum produced bubbles from the nipple/tube connection. The suction was pulling any air towards the MV. So I continued on, finished bleeding, closed everything down, went for a 45 minute ride in the rain and my brakes worked perfectly.

Is there anyone out there that uses the Mighty Vac that has a suggestion on keeping the air bubbles to a minimum. Or has any sage advice concerning the use of a Mighty Vac?

Thanks.

 

[geobeemer]

Been there!!! And never left!!

I had the exact same problem and ended up completing the job as you did with everything working. It would have been nice to be able to connect it so that I could add brake fluid. I kept having to tighten the fitting so I could add more fluid. Curious to hear what people say.

 

[DrPaul]

"Tiny Bubbles" w/ apologies to the late Don Ho

I've just used a Mighty Vac for the first time. I bled the front and rear brakes on my 2003 R1150R. Things went as expected, and I carved out enough of my afternoon for a learning curve.

Most of the attachments that come with the MV didn't seem to be much use for anything, and I ended up just using the clear plastic tubes.

The MV seemed to work as expected but for the life of me, I could not completely seal the bleed-nipple/tube connection. I had a good vacuum (indicated on the gauge) but still sucked in air from around the bleed nipple. I searched the web, found mixed reviews and advice, and tried all the sealing methods... Vaseline, teflon tape, springy hose clips and a mixture of all three. However hard I tried, I still got bubbles of air from the nipple connection. I went ahead and bled the brakes anyway because the bubbles only manifested when I applied pressure with the MV... it didn't matter if the nipple was open or closed... a vacuum produced bubbles from the nipple/tube connection. The suction was pulling any air towards the MV. So I continued on, finished bleeding, closed everything down, went for a 45 minute ride in the rain and my brakes worked perfectly.

Is there anyone out there that uses the Mighty Vac that has a suggestion on keeping the air bubbles to a minimum. Or has any sage advice concerning the use of a Mighty Vac?

Thanks.

Those tiny bubbles are probably entering your Mity-Vac bleed tube from between the nipple and the caliper threads. A vacuum on the system with the bleed nipple open will allow small air bubbles to get through these threads. However, if the nipple is closed, no air should be able to get in. In that situation, the air would have to be entering between the nipple and tubing.

Paul

 

[brinkjm]

Those tiny bubbles are probably entering your Mity-Vac bleed tube from between the nipple and the caliper threads. A vacuum on the system with the bleed nipple open will allow small air bubbles to get through these threads. However, if the nipple is closed, no air should be able to get in. In that situation, the air would have to be entering between the nipple and tubing.

Paul

What Paul said. The air is entering AFTER the brake system, so no need to worry. As long as you get a good flow of fluid through the MV tubing, you should be just fine. FWIW, I've bled numerous cars, trucks and motorcycles with a MityVac, to the point of the insides of the plunger corroding due to the moisture present in the fluid! As mentioned earlier, be sure that you've got as tight a connection as possible on the bleeder screw and your results should be satisfactory.

Anymore, I just bleed the old fashioned way. As I have a '99RT, it seems to take less time to perform the squeeze and bleed as it does to setup the MV, tubing, etc. I will continue to use the MV for the ABS unit, as it seems to lessen the chance of a spill...

 

[KALTZG]

I use my MightyVac for every vehicle that I own and it works great. I know what you mean about the air bubbles, but as others have posted, I think that the air is entering around the treads of the loosened bleeder screw and not from the hose to nipple connection. Use the Teflon tape on the bleeder threads and not the hose to nipple surface.

Before bleeding, I remove the bleeder screw and wrap the Teflon tape around the threads of the bleeder screw being careful not to wrap past the end of the threads. A couple of layers of Teflon act as a seal between the threads of the bleeder screw and the caliper. This will eliminate most of the air bubbles that you are seeing.

In reality, those air bubbles pose no problem as they are introduced outside the closed fluid system.

 

[jimvonbaden]

It is recommended that you do NOT use the Mighty Vac on ABS equipped bikes. The vacuum can ruin the valves in the ABS unit.

You may never have a problem, but why take a chance?

Jim

 

[DrPaul]

It is recommended that you do NOT use the Mighty Vac on ABS equipped bikes. The vacuum can ruin the vlaves in the ABS unit.

You may never have a problem, but why take a chance?

Jim

That's good to know! I've never felt the Mity-Vac was particularly necessary for any phase of wheel or control circuit brake maintenance on my '02 R1150RT. Gravity seems to work just fine! Thanks!

Paul

 

[BLUWING]

The seem to work

speed bleeders.
http://www.speedbleeder.com/

 

[ANDYVH]

I have a Mighty Vac, and have never been satisfied with the brake bleeding results I got with it.

I installed SpeedBleeders on my 94 R1100RSA and have been very happy with the results. I can flush out the brake fluid on my ABS equipped bike easily in about 1/2 hour and I get good firm feel at the brake lever and pedal.

SpeedBleeders for me!!

 

[ARM74]

Amen! Speed bleeders are the way to go!
Easy installation and easier operation.

 

[kbasa]

speed bleeders.
http://www.speedbleeder.com/

Big fan here. Don't use it with a Mighty Vac as it keeps the speedbleeder open and doesn't really help much. A bit of clear tubing and an old beer bottle works just fine.

 

[dlearl476]

Big fan here. Don't use it with a Mighty Vac as it keeps the speedbleeder open and doesn't really help much. A bit of clear tubing and an old beer bottle works just fine.

Dude, next time you order SpeedBleeders, ask for some catch bags. They're fantastic. Length of tubing which fits the S-B to a sealed plastic bag. Perfect for judging when the fluid is running clear. Emptying is simply a matter of hanging it upside down like an IV bag and letting it drain into a recycle container.
Can't fall over and spill like a beer bottle.

 

[99007]

I have a Mighty Vac, and have never been satisfied with the brake bleeding results I got with it.

I installed SpeedBleeders on my 94 R1100RSA and have been very happy with the results. I can flush out the brake fluid on my ABS equipped bike easily in about 1/2 hour and I get good firm feel at the brake lever and pedal.

SpeedBleeders for me!!

My hat is off to you. I have the ABS unit and I let the dealer work on it. I am a big ole chicken.

 

[robsryder]

It is recommended that you do NOT use the Mighty Vac on ABS equipped bikes. The vacuum can ruin the valves in the ABS unit.

I would be interested in knowing the source of that recommendation and any further technical basis regarding the potential damage to the ABS valves.

I've been using a MityVac on all of my vehicles, including a 94 R1100RS with ABS, for quite a while and have not had a problem.

I didn't see any specific caution against use of a MityVac on vehicles with ABS on the vendor website.
http://www.mityvac.com/pages/info_faq.asp

 

[robsryder]

I sent an e-mail to MityVac's tech support folks regarding use of the MityVac with ABS brakes. The reply is below:

I have been told that it is because most, if not all, ABS equipped vehicles have a check valve in the servo for this type of system that cannot have a vacuum pulled through it.

Bob Shea
Technical Specialist
Lincoln Lubrication
One Lincoln Way
St.Louis, MO. 63120
Phone: 314-679-4169
Fax: 314-679-4357
Lincolns' FaxBack Service: 314-679-4689

I can only observe that I've used the MityVac successfully with my ABS bike. Perhaps the technique of use of a vacuum and continuous flow of DOT4 isn't much different than using the hand lever to "pump" the fluid througth. I've seen dealers of a number of marques use a system with a compressed air venturi system to pull a vacuum to bleed the brakes on a wide number of bikes, including ABS bikes. hmmmm.