Posted for "Leighton" <leighton@teleport.com>:

Over the years I've tried several means to bleed brakes and have finally
settled on the simplest method I've tried. I use a squirt can available from
any hardware store for about six bucks and a piece of appropriate tubing that
fits nicely on the bleeder valve. Fill the can, slide on the tubing, crack
the bleed valve open with a 1/4" wrench, and pull the trigger. If the system
already has fluid in it it's best to pump all the air out of the tubing before
connecting it to the caliper. I feel the brake system is one of the most
important parts of a Lancair because failure of either side can easily cause
an unexpected trip off the runway. To minimize potential failure points I run
a continuous -3 ss/teflon hose from the master cylinder to the caliper without
any intermediate connections. No connections, no leaks. From the reservoir
to the master cylinders I use the clear Nylaflow tubing supplied with the kits
and that way when pumping the fluid from the calipers you can see when the
fluid has filled the lines and can see any air bubbles. By repeating the
procedure on both sides the bleeding takes only a few minutes and has worked
well each time. After both side pedals are firm, pump some extra fluid to
fill the reservoir. Needless to say, the pump must not be allowed to run
empty or air will be introduced into the system. Simple, cheap, quick, and
effective. All my favorite things.

Leighton Mangels