+jeff brown Thank you Jeff, that is very kind of you and very generous of you to say, simple stuff and something we can all do ourselves with a little care and attention to detail, can save you a lot of money and bring that peace of mind that the bike underneath you is being well cared for ... all the best, Del & Pennyx
Thank you once again, Brother...The world needs more people like Del. It's evident that he does these tutorials with our safety in mind. A safe bike is a reliable bike, and a reliable bike is one that is properly maintained.
Yo, idk what it was, my brake wouldn’t catch a bite to the disk at all when pulling the handle. I watched your video and did everything exactly like you did and followed everything to a T. Brake works, catches a solid bite to the disk and now all I gotta do it get title, safety and registration done. Again idk what it was, but THANK YOU, YOUR VIDEO WAS A GOD SEND.
Thank you. I know this is old but it is an excellent explanation of brake fluid maintenance. This concept works in automobiles as well and regular removal of fluid from the reservoir of my clutch system, (I use a big syringe but a turkey baster works too), wiping out the reservoir, and then adding fresh fluid to the reservoir keeps the system clean and delays inevitable damage and leaking in the master cylinder. I do it every oil change.
I must have to say i have been looking for a detailed video of how to change bleed the break oil. This one is very detailed ,its a great tutorial. After watching it i feel more confident to do this myself on my 2014 Sportster 883. Thanks
I normally spray some soapy water on the reservoir to neutralize the brake fluid and the wipe it dry then keep a close eye on it for the next few rides. Thanks for the video.
Great play by play on fluid change !! I like the clamp technique for the rear break and the bungee idea is a first I've heard but makes perfect sense. Take a look at 24:25 Del, because the rubber gasket got pinched in as the white backer was placed on top. This is on the tank side of the reservoir.
Just purchased my 1st Harley and watched many many many videos on everything. By far this is the guy to watch. A wealth of knowledge and makes sense the way you present it. Definitely my go to guy! Keep up the excellent work.
You might want to check the front brake diafragm. At 24' it looks like the spacer cap pushed de diafragm into the reservoir. Great video by the way, reminds me to do the same to my bike.
Another great video Del. Bought my bike last summer. It had been serviced just a few hundred miles earlier but not been ridden much so the service was some time previously. Unaware of the hygroscopic nature of brake fluid I just changed the engine oil and got on. Having watched your video I've now changed the fluid which was a bit like beer in colour I'm ashamed to say. Very easy with your clear instructions and brakes feel much firmer now. Thanks for keeping us safe with your informative videos.
+Kangaroo6 Hey buddy, glad the video was able to help out, the brake fluid is so often forgotten and left untouched for years...and as you saw, a quick change and freshen up and it improves the feel and efficience no end... take care buddy and thanks for watching.. Del.
As an engineer and auto guy I love the amount of detail you put into the explanation. Amazingly well done video. And the trick for the residual bubbles!! Amazing tip
Omg..your the best explainer ive ever seen on youtube, Mate!! love all your vids! ps- your girl is awesome with the camera too, very steady hand-nice and clear!!!
Hey Delboy. It's Dulema. We've spoken a few times before. This is my new channel "TheMotorcycleBoss". I've been a fan of yours for years and you've inspired me to come up with a mechanic channel that focus' a bit more on sportbikes. I'm using the info you've given me and the knowledge i've learned on my own, to fix my bike and others alike. Although i dont have many videos, i keep adding more as time goes on. I'd greatly appreciate your support and subscription to help me exceed in the youtube world. I dodn't forget about you Penny. Just wanted to say hi. You two are great people.
+TheMotorcycleBoss Hey buddy, subbed and clicked for updates so I can follow your videos, good luck with your venture, just keep adding more all the time and you'll soon build up a following... thanks for your very kind comments my friend, its really good to have such kind support.. all the very buddy... Del.
Really enjoy your videos Del. You are an outstanding teacher and have given me the confidence I need to do these kinds of jobs on my bike myself. I appreciate you and Penny! Wish you both happy holidays and a blessed new year!
+Scott Solomon Thank you most kindly Sir, glad the videos can help you, have a great Christmas and try to get some riding in if you can ! All the best, D&P!
I love watching Del's vids before I start working on my bike. Sunday mornings are perfect for this! In about 10 minutes, I'm going to call the bike shop and see if they've got my ties in stock...and the Bandit's getting some new shoes! Thanks Del.
Wished I had watched this video before I replaced my brake pads. So much info I didn't know before. Great tips, good teacher, and kudos to your camera lady.
Wow I learned a lot about my brakes and how the dos and don’t I was getting ready to do some work and my bike and I was pretty sure I could handle it with knowledge I had But I decided to watch your channel and I’m so glad I did you sure saved me a bunch of grief and maybe my life Brakes are underrated sometimes that better brake pedal and stopping distance Can only be appreciated the most in an emergency and when action is needed and brakes fail .(beep bottom boom)it’s too late. You are amazing your knowledge and methods of teaching is priceless Bless you
Thank you for our kind words Gary, we're glad the Channel can help you, take care and enjoy your projects, feel free to drop us a line personally any time if we can offer a second opinion you may need, all the best and ride safe!
Excellent video as always. Funnily enough I was just watching the other Harley video a couple of days ago as I plan on bleeding/cleaning the brakes next weekend as part of the pre-winter prep work. Just gave the bike a good clean and a new front sprocket this weekend.
I like how your explanations are simple and no non-sense using basic tools. Your girl sounds very cute in the background. Keep up the good work. Greetings from Texas!!!
Thank you Sir, appreciate your support, Penny enjoys making the videos with me and keeps me cheerful in the shop, take care and keep safe, we hope the sun's shining where you are!
I really like ur attitude when it is my machine/bike /generator, I like to do things the way they should be. Thanks very much again. I have worked on my Sporty, somehow I lost the red wire from fr. be. sw, to tail lite, the book shows the red from rear be. sw. connects with red of Fr. br. sw then to tail lite's brighter part of the 1157 lamp. Knowing how to use a voltmeter and trace to where there is no longer voltage is a huge asset to knowing bike's electrics.
thanks man. I saw 35 min vid and was wtf this only front breaks. But watched the whole 25 mins of the front break and then did my harley front breaks in about the same time. I didnt have the pipe but bleed into a bucket. Video and tips was definitely worth the watch. Thanks man
Delboys Garage, and the lovely Penny, what can one say, 10 out of 10 nope not good enough 15 out of 10, good advice, delivered in a very pleasant and easily understood way, great vids quite honestly the best, thanks both.
Oh my word, thank you so much Leslie for such kind comments, we're really glad you enjoy the videos, we put a great deal in to making them, so it's good to know they're appreciated! Take care and keep safe and well, all the very best, D&Px
I have a 2002 FXSFTDI. Deuce. After watching your video, I did exactly as you said, and the old fluid came out dark! I ran allot of reservoirs through to get the fluid mostly clear. I took my bike for a ride afterwards. What a difference! You're a great teacher. Your explanations are very educating. Your video's are great! Thank you.
Hi Keith, Glad it helped you sir, its a great upgrade you can do at least every two years and make all that difference you got.. Take care and ride safe. Del.
Thanks for doing these videos, they are brilliant. Just done the brake fluid on my SV650, it looked like iron bru. I wouldn't of even attempted it without watching your vids. Thanks
Outstanding video on a common maintenance item, Delboy! I find all of your motorcycle videos most instructional, of high quality (kudos to your videographer!), and peppered with good old common sense that may escape some of us mere mortals (well, me anyway). Many thanks for the great work and your ability to permeate my thick skull and get that knowledge in where it belongs!
BEST video I've seen on this type of service, mate! I really appreciate the tip at the end to remove air bubbles and your clear explanation why you should do this. Now I have to try this on my 2008 Road King Classic. Regards from the USA!
Thank you Sir for your very kind endorsement - it's really cool to know that we can reach out and help you across the pond... good luck with yours, and always drop us a line if you need a tip, or second opinion, always happy to try and help - ride safe my friend, all the best, Del
I will totally agree with that tip! You gave me this advice from your good self a few weeks back and it worked a treat! especially after a double caliper change, so no fluid in the calipers at all. This is exactly the kind of tip to pass on to as many bikers as you can. As you said at the start ....."knowledge is power" Thanks again Del :)
Del, I love watching these old videos. So good & still so relevant. Shame we dont hear the governor on more up to date videos, great chemistry between you👍
Thanks buddy, so much has changed over the last few years, not just life but also this platform, it certainly was a lot more fun years ago, but life goes on and we're still here.. .so counting blessings always..! Take care and thank you for your support buddy..D&Px
Great video, I've been doing it for years but never had it explained like that before........just goes to prove there's always something else to learn. Always been a bit sceptical about the need to change fluid every two years as well but you may just have convinced me!!
Hi Paul, it certainly does need changing, two years is a bit of a clumsy guide because a hot dry climate would be more like 5 years....but a wet cold climate, with the bike living outside would be more like 5 months.. Glad you found it useful mate... By strange coincidence im posting a clutch fluid change up on the XJR tomorrow, just routine maintenance..
Thank you for you've actually given me the courage to do this on my own. It's not even that difficult. Seeing how my bike only has one disc up front. I kinda knew I had a problem with the brakes for about 2 months. When I saw your video on the tiger I immediately knew what was up. So I'll cycle to the shops and buy myself some fluid and replace it so the leaver is nice and smooth again. Again thank you so much for this. Your videos have really made me a better rider because I now know my bike inside and out.
+Chrisuu Hi mate, that is such an important factor, and am so glad we could help you with it... there is enormous value in having an intimate knowledge of your bike's state of repair, not just for money saving, but also for safety... most people think their motorbike cannot 'talk' but they most certainly can talk to you, if you just know how to listen and that squelching in the brake lever is a perfect example of a tell tale problem, you listened and you fixed it and that's worth a fortune right there ! I've always believed that somebody who is even just interested in fixing their bike, regardless of their ability, is already at an advantage ! All the best buddy, keep in touch, D&P!
EXCELLENT!!!!! Super informative. I am taking notes as I watch your video and ended up with a whole page of very top notch information. I am now a subscriber!!!! And I love the way your banter with your lovely lady! Fun and loving and happy!!!!!
Thanks Delboy .. I had a brake shop fit a new braided line to my dyna after I fitted some new 16'' apes. The brakes were good and strong but the lever was coming back nearly to the bar... after removing the reservoir lid and zip tying the lever overnight it's 2 finger braking again.. Thanks for sharing your knowledge mate.
Hi Jimmy, great to hear that... I've also had that happen, but I never blame the shop cos they don't have the time to tape it in overnight, they have to fit and hand it back to you, and a lot of them would be loathe to give that advice in case people mess it up, or spill the fluid, and then blame them! Don't just treat it as a once off thing buddy, I tape my levers in every few months and it just stiffens them up nicely every now and again, it's housekeeping buddy lol... ! Glad we could help, ride safe...
Del & Penny, What an outstanding upload, for me this is better than standing next to the mechanic in a Harley Dealership while he lets you watch as he fixes your bike (NOT THAT THEY LET YOU ANYWAY)..!! Well put together del, Accurate and informative, with a touch of humour, brilliant, this is gold dust for anyone wanting to learn and save a lot of money, Thank you to both of you. Took part in "DGR" on sunday Del, such a good cause to..take care Buddy....Frank
Awesome videos, very helpful. I didn't have a clamp for the rear brake but I had an old cheap broom that has slots on the top of the broom head. It works like a champ! I took a pic of it but now way to post it! Also changed the other fluids thanks to your videos. Thanks so much!!!
+Shane Archer Ayup Shane, use what you have aye mate?? I actually took a long look at the broom stick in the corner of the garage before I picked up the wallpaper clamp lol ...
As a why guy, even a 5 year old video from you is invaluable. Just flushed my system today, didn't know about wrapping up the lever. Heading out to do that now!
Very informative and takes the worry out of doing this for beginners. Since brake fluid is such a sticky mess I would recommend setting the cap back on or a lintless rag over the reservoir to prevent the inevitable spurt all over when you grab the brake lever harder than you meant to while bleeding and secondly, I use a piece of double-sided velcro to hold the lever over night since the velcro is infinitely adjustable plus afterwards I just wrap it around the handlebars for the next time. Thanks again for a video that will help a lot of people get over the fear of messing with their brakes and save them a bunch of $ at the same time. Easily a $100 at the dealer, only your labor and cost of a pint of fluid if you do it yourself.
Great little tip at the end del, pressurising the system so the compressed air bubbles rise easier.Now I've got an excuse to stay in the garage all night tinkering. Lol
I replaced my front master cylinder last night. The old cylinder was fine, but the threads on one of the mounting holes had stripped. I've always done gravity bleeding on cars, but the bike was far different. I could not get a hard lever, and I thought there was something wrong with the cylinder. I ended up pumping the lever 5-10 times, open/close the bleeder, and repeating over and over. Finally I started started to get some lever, but still not as solid as it should be. I saw a tip online to squeeze the lever in to the handlebars and zip tie it there, and let it sit overnight. The idea is that it would allow remaining air to escape. I was skeptical about it, but figured why not. This morning the lever was finally nice and firm like it should be. Definitely a learning experience!
This was awesome help to me. I'm going through school in a motorcycle mechanics course and we are on brakes right now. I was having trouble with bleeding brakes but your technique of squeeze, crack the bleed screw, squeeze more and close the screw is going to be very helpful. Thanks for that. I will certainly be watching more.
+gary micklethwaite Thanks Gary, im glad it can help you mate.. its an old school mechanic trick, but works without needing fancy self bleeding products... good luck with your course mate... top choice.. Del.
Hey, I've been watching your video's for a short time now and have just changed all my fluids in my Harley...brake fluids has been around 9 years... I'm not a mechanic however my old Shovel turned me into a reasonably smart spanner twister...the shops seem to dive deep into your pockets when you fall into must go to the shop. Keep them coming.
Great vid as usual. Clever idea, sucking up the old fluid rather than spend time pumping it through. I've learnt something new today. I've no idea whether the fluid on the 15 year old sporty I've just bought has ever been changed so another little job for the weekend. Worth a look in the manual to check the D.O.T. spec to avoid mixing incompatible fluids.
Replaced the front brake lines on my Road King , had a "squishy" lever after bleeding , tied up the lever overnight , worked like a charm ! Tightened right up ... Subscribed ,Thanks
GREAT video !!!!!. Watched it a year ago and did the bungie trick...WORKED GREAT!!!!! Time passed but the technique held fast in my brain. Commented on another channel and cited the bungie trick, but couldn't remember where I had seen it. Now, tonight I watched you again. I will go back to that other channel and credit you for that trick. So sorry. You...and your assistant are brilliant. Thanks again.
brakes feel awesome, I will tie the brake lever up tonight. The fluid looked well bad. I installed some EBC HH pads so will have to watch I don't wear the discs out, thanks del, didn't know half of what I learnt tonight. I changed the fluid then went for a run to Tesco, they felt like new, never felt so good.. it's a Bandit 1200 .. I'm really surprised how much more braking I do compared to the divvy 600 I had before. Thanks again Del and camera girl.
+James McCreadie Thnaks James, brakes deteriorate slowly over time and we dont notice, like tyre wear....so when you make them suddenly new again, its a really nice surprise to have an instant improvement... glad the video can help you buddy... take care, Del
Hey Del & Penny, I use a mityvac hand pump when changing brake fluids on either the bike or the car. It works great and is pretty fast, just have to keep an eye on the reservoir that it does not run dry.
Great instruction. Im gonna test the overnight thing for removing the airbubbles. See if I see a difference. Makes a lot of sence. Love your clear videos.
+MrMarcie Thanks mate, while the brake hose is under pressure, you can also take a screwdriver, hold it by the blade end, and gently tap the hose with the handle, starting at the bottom, working all the way up, and that will help dislodge any little bubbles and get them moving !
Penny great idea...jump up on the bike, while shooting! luv it!Wow Del..what a difference( the ol garage, and the new one) ladd, congrats, you came a long way...and well deserved. you are a surperb mechanic!!! like one follower stated you are like "God" to a HD!! luv it!! keep em coming please...I will be watching you while I'm in my rocking chair, with my quilt over my legs..lol
I really enjoyed the video. You explained things very plainly, and had a great video person capturing exactly what you were doing. I will be watching more from yall (I am from Texas and yall is what we say other than you all or you guys) on your next projects.
Hey Floyd, good to hear from you Sir, Thank you for your kind message, anyone who knows me knows im a 'Southern focused Amerophile' ... if i lived in the USA i would have a Big Block Pickup truck, and go kick it in the sticks with my buddies... Thanks for watching. and keep in touch.. Del.
thanks for the clear and entertaining education on brake fluid...you are very good at explaining the basic mechanics and chemistry of brake fluid...I am about to attempt my first brake bleed on a 1984 Honda Goldwing where the rear brake pedal is non-exeistant. Investigating I found the resirvior bone dry!!!! Thank you for the info....keep posting helpful hints!!!
Great video, I can't wait to try compressing any trapped air of the system. But there is one thing I would like to add. I believe it was in the early 90's when Popular Mechanics had an article on why your master cylinder fails after you bleed the brakes. I look for the article but could not find it. It is something I wish I had of know about 10 years earlier after replacing a few master cylinders and rebuilding others. Over time the bore of the master cylinder will collect little bits of debris and if moisture enter the system there will likely be lite rust near the end of the bore. When you open the bleed valve it allows the master cylinder piston to stroke further than normal when this happens the piston seals travels into the dirty section of the bore. So for a car Popular Mechanics recommended placing a block of wood under the brake peddle to prevent over stroking the peddle, it will take longer to bleed the breaks but but it will prevent damaging the seals. Should be able to do the same on a bike.
You my friend "ROCK" ... these videos helped tremendously & took all the inhibitions out of doing the job myself. I did a whole brake flush on a 2002 Harley V-ROD. The 2017 Road King I own will go to the dealer for the ABS Purge done correctly as you have suggested. I just wanted to thank you sincerely bro. ... :)
Wow thank you so much Johnny, that's very kind of you, am glad the videos could help you and make life a little easier... take care and ride safe, enjoy your bikes!
@@Moonfleet41 I want to attempt doing the clutch fluid flush on the same V-ROD, however it does not have a nipple, just a Flat head top screw. Should I use this same method as it drips from the Slave? In other words squeeze lever, "unscrew flathead bleeder, then tighten Bleeder & let out lever ? ... Hate to bother ya with that, but you are the expert to me ...
@@JohnnyRoggio From what i can remember Johnny, there should be a bleed nipple on top of the slave cylinder block.. perhaps it has been replaced with a flat head screw?, not sure.. but yes, the regular bleed procedure as with brakes is the same, and should work just as well.... it can be a little more tricky because as you pump the lever it can open the clutch, but just go gently and feel the point where it bites and squeeze a little less, just enough to push the fluid through.. If it is supposed to have a bleed valve, they are pretty cheap and easy to replace, and will make a lot less mess with a tube on that a flat screw..! Good luck with it.. Del.
@@Moonfleet41 Thank you Del once again. the way the 2002 VROD started was "With" the flat head bleeder screw, then evolved to a nipple in later years. Kinda makes all thing we learned more tricky & involved. Non the less, THANK YOU !!!
Your awesome love the knowledge u offer your viewers as u work ive seen two of your veidoes so far but im now a subscriber and look forward to many more
great video del as always. just thought I'd add what I normally do. once I've pressurised system I tap calliper and hoses with the back of a screwdriver to release bubbles clinging to the hose/calliper. just a thought. cheers.
Thanks for making these videos! It really helps that you’re working on my exact model of sportster! Sorry for my smart ass comment on the other video... I wrecked bad last month and have been rebuilding with a broken arm. These videos have helped a lot!
Hi Dave... Don't remember you're comment mate, we don't dwell on the negatives, but hey, Sorry to hear about your wreck, hope you're mending fast and not in too much pain buddy.. Glad the video can help you out, and always feel free to ask if you need a second opinion aye... all the best mate.. Del.
