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I've experimented with a variety of ways to bleed the brakes on my
Legacy. Some worked, some didn't. Here's one that worked:
The galvanized steel bucket is a pressure pot I bought at a garage
sale. House painters use them. If you're not lucky enough to find
one at a garage sale, Harbor Freight often has a two quart model on sale for
$30, which includes a paint spray gun, too! The two quart pot would
actually be a little more convenient than this big and heavy five quart
pot.
The key to the system is this fitting I bought from Aircraft Spruce:
This brake bleeder fitting attaches to the brake bleeder on the Cleveland
brake assembly. Tightening the black part of the fitting forces a part
inside the fitting against the brake bleeder, creating a relatively leak free
connection.
Here's how it works. Put a quart or so of brake fluid into the
pressure pot and tighten the lid. Connect one end of
a plastic tube from the outflow of the pressure pot and
connect the other end to the brake bleeder fitting
#87-5. Tighten the #87-5 fitting to the brake bleeder on
the Cleveland brake assembly. Remove the plug on the top of
the brake fluid reservoir on the firewall and replace it with a threaded
fitting and a piece of plastic tube that empties into an empty oil
can. Apply 15 psi air pressure to the pressure pot and open the brake
bleeder a quarter turn. The air pressure slowly forces the brake fluid out
of the pressure pot and through the brake lines and out the reservoir. Let
it flow out the reservoir until all the air is gone, then close the brake
bleeder and remove air pressure from the pressure pot. Remove the plastic
tube connected to the reservoir and use a syringe to suck about half the brake
fluid out of the reservoir.
This picture shows the overflow tube coming out of the reservoir and going
into an empty oil bottle:
I did it by myself without any trouble, but you might want an assistant the
first time you try it. Do not allow the pressure pot to run empty, which
will force air into the brake lines. Then you'll have to do it again to
get rid of the air. Don't put too much pressure on the lines. Keep
one eye on the pressure pot and the other eye on the overflowing fluid coming
out of the reservoir. Have plenty of rags on hand, just in case.
Good luck,
Dennis Johnson
Legacy, first annual inspection complete and back in the air!
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