Originally Posted by Floyd

I would be writing this up for my website, but I don't have one yet, so I'll post here instead.

I bought a Motive Products pressurized bleeder system a while ago and used it only a couple times because I wasn't happy with the way it works. The universal adaptor that fits Hondas is strapped on to the brake fluid reservoir with a chain and some J-bolts with wingnuts. (Those European bastards get a cap that screws on. )

Here is a pic of the standard cap:



The bottom side of the black piece has a rubber mat, and the J-bolts come up through the two holes to strap it tight onto the opening of the reservoir. You then pump up a tank that you fill with fresh fluid, and it forces the fluid into the reservoir and pressurizes the whole system. Then you go from wheel to wheel and open the bleed screw and sit back and relax while the old fuid gets replaced by the new.

The concept is good, but when I tried to use it, I had mixed results. The problem I had was brake fluid leaking at the seal where the rubber mat under the cap meets the reservoir opening. And when your system is under pressure, this can result in quite a mess. If you don't tighten the thumbscrews enough, you won't get a good seal, but if you overtighten them, the black piece flexes and you won't get a good seal.

So, I went to my local Home Depot looking for parts that I could use to strengthen the cap and improve the seal at the reservoir, and look what I found in the plumming isle:



A 3" galvanized pipe flange! [Edit: Or was it a 2 1/4" pipe flange! I'll double check.] As it turns out, this is just what I needed to do the trick. I also picked up a small hose clamp, 2 more J-bolts, matching wing nuts, and some better chain.

The first step is to remove one of the clamps that hold the tube that goes from the pump to the black cap, so you can feed the hose through the hole in the pipe flange. I learned the hard way that the nipple that the hose is clamped to on the black pice is pretty weak, so I recommend removing the clamp on the pump side with a hack saw (and not trying to pry the clamp off of the cap side with a flat-tip screwdriver and a hammer. )

Slip the hose through the flange (the right way) and clamp the hose back to the Motive pump, and you're done. Install it on the car, and this is what you get:



Because the flange is putting all of the force on the black cap right above the rim of the reservoir opening, and not on the outside, you can really tighten those suckers down. And since you have two chains, and four J-bolts, you can do a better job of adjusting the pressure so it is even all around.

I was quite happy with the results, and I was able to do a complete brake flush without a single drop of fluid leaking at the seal.


[Modified by Floyd, 11:39 PM 6/13/2002]


[Modified by Floyd, 10:00 AM 8/26/2002]