VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 Bleeding brakes

I bought the smallest pump style garden sprayer I could find that had a hose and wand on it. Cut off the wand and put a 1/4" barb to pipe thread fitting on the end of the hose. Drill and tap the appropriate master cylinder cap to accept the 1/4" pipe thread. Connect everything, fill the sprayer tank with a few ounces of brake fluid and pump it up. Every wheel cylinder is now pressurized ready for bleeding. If I remember total cost of the pump sprayer and fitting was less than $15.

This is the way to bleed brakes without all the fuss and amateur inventions:

a. Get a suitable short-throw box end 6-point Snap-on wrench. (Doesn't have to be a Snap-on but one of high quality.)

b. Fill the MC.

c. Get the missus. (Promise her a Coach purse next Christmas) Instruct her to pump the brake pedal and to hold them and to not let up until you holler "OK." Explain the the left pedal is the clutch and for her to ignore it. Then to pump and to do so again every time you yell "Pump." To do the pumping action until you yell "Hold! Upon the "hold" command (well, make it sound like a request) loosen the bleed valve. All you are looking for is a steady stream without any sputtering. Close it back when that cycle is done. Them to yell "pump" again. Ignore her "what?" Just yell louder.

d. Start at the farthest WC and work to the shortest in distance through the lines. Generally, that will be Left Rear, Left front, right rear and then right front. Get under the left rear. Get back out from under the left rear.

e. Again instruct the missus on what to do. She has forgotten by now. Don't worry, they all do. Be long-suffering. Any sense of frustration in your voice may bring on either tears and/or a job quitter. Hard to get 'em back out there after they have walked off the job. Is too. And, you can forget love and affection for a right smart while.

f. Go to the left rear with the speed that would jaw-drop a NASCAR tire changer. Wear knee pads.

g. Repeat "e" above. You were too slow.

h. Bleed the left rear. Scoot to the left front.

i. Bleed the left front. Scoot around to the right rear.

j. Repeat "e" and "g" above. It took you too long to get from the left front to the right rear. I suggest moving under the car from left front to right rear instead of around it. Much shorter distance. It will halve the elapsed time factor. (see time and motion studies.)

k. Bleed the right rear.

l. Bleed the right front.

m. Now. (This here is critical) Ask the missus if she has any "pedal." Calmly explain that you're asking whether when the pedal is pressed hard it is reaching the floor or is a couple inches off it. Repeat explanation. Give up and tell her to just mash the da-- pedal whilst you look at it. She may tear up. Ignore her.

n. If you have hard "pedal" you are done. If not, you may need a new missus.

you're welcome and Good luck,
Charlie

Excellent advice, Charlie, however:

1) The missus can no longer tell the difference between a soft & hard brake pedal.

2) Why do I have to be the one that wears knee pads?

3) I am using silicone brake fluid. Like the missus, it takes forever for the unwanted air out of the system, so I probably will bleed one corner each week.

Thanks everyone for the great suggestions. Has anyone used any of these techniques on their 38 or equivalent setup. The master cylinder in its designed location sucks makes a brake bleed quite challenging. It sounds like an adaptor to master cylinder with a clear reservoir is the key like the original gm style tool.
Thanks everyone, I your suggestions are gold.
Mike A

Unless I'm missing something here, I do not see any difference in bleeding brakes on a 1938 or my 1951.

J 713 tool for sale here. Click and Scroll down

http://www.vintageautotools.com/chevrolet-tools-brakes.html

The sight referred to is where i got the model number and picture. I didn't think they sold them, but just displayed vintage tools. I sent them a message to see if tool is for sale.
Thanks
Mike A

I saw SALE-TRADE-RENT in the ad, thinking the tools were for sale.

Good luck.

Gene would know more about this, but the J 713 tool appears to be a filler. It would be used to re-fill the master cylinder after bleeding. Without a slight bit of pressure in the bottle it doesn't seem that it would be effective for bleeding. It would be handy to fill the MC with minimal mess. I use a turkey baster myself.

It is just a way to keep the master cylinder full or nearly full while bleeding the brakes. Any bottle with hose sealed into the lid, held upside down and tube end below full level on M/C will work.

I think we have a world record for the longest brake bleeding thread ever

Ah...Specialty Tools...I have a ton of them...Used to hit the "flea markets" years ago...I use them for wall hangings...lol
I can think of one that flummoxes a lot...It's a simple burlap bag sewing gadget...It used to be a game It'd play...Bring them to the shop each Monday morning and see who could guess what it was used for...Interesting, over coffee and donuts...

Turkey basters...? Don't let the misses catch you using "hers", when you can't find "yours..."

Kevin,

It's like a Murphy Law.

If you borrow something from the kitchen or an item that is thought of as belonging to the missus, it will be missed by her before the sun goes down. Will too.

To the missus, her scissors, small funnel, any knife from the knife drawer or block, needle and/or thread (she will know how much thread was on the spool to a quarter of an inch), .her flashlight, her sponge or scouring pad, a pot (any size. The bigger the size pot to more likely you to leave it out in the rain), her light hammer, colander and yes, baster, too, etc. Anyone have anything to add?



One has to concentrate when borrowing from the missus. Go get it, use it and then take it right back. The last part is the hardest because you have to abandon whatever you're doing to take the stinkin thing back. Who can do that? I can't, either.

And, always, she know good and well you had it last. Does too!

Charlie

Even if you do put back immediately you will always catch you if you do get it out of the kitchen without getting caught.
Tony

It's much safer going to the Dollar store for kitchen supplies. Helps to keep peace on the home front!