Motive pressure bleeder

[Steve76Targa]

Just a quick "word to the wise" regarding the Motive pressure bleeder. It's a great tool to have at your disposal, but.... be sure to change the hose to something more durable.

The first time I used it made brake bleeding a walk in the park.
Fast forward a few years when I needed to use it again; hooked it up, pressurized it and sat down to bleed air out. My son, who happened to be hanging out in the garage with me started saying "whoa, is that supposed to be squirting liquid up in the air like that?" I jumped up and sure enough the hose blew and brake fluid was squirting up, all over the trunk and some onto my original 76 cowl paint!

So please learn from this and change your hose! I've used it again with a reinforced hose with no problems, but still have damaged paint from it.

[john walker's workshop]

On mine, I drilled a hole in it and installed a metal tire valve. Just air pressure now, no fluid inside.

[175K911]

Yup, need to change the hoses every couple of years, the brake fluid will eat away at the basic clear hose. I only use fuel line hose and replace every spring before the track season starts. Might actually try braided stainless fuel line hose in a couple of weeks this time.

[robertmark]

Fuel line hose is a great idea. I always throw a rag over where it screws to reservoir, and another rag over where it exits the unit. I've had the hose break at both fitting locations. This way it won't go everywhere.

[OldSpool87]

I took the fitting that goes on the cap along with the hose and hooked it up to a 20oz CO2 tank (paint ball tank). Easy to set pressure. I don’t fill with fluid.

[Jesse16]

As everyone else is saying, I only put fluid in the tank the first time and that was a mess. Never since for 5 or so years. Also put an little 1/8" I think ball valve from Lowes on the hose between the tank and cap so I can close it and not lose but a little pressure when topping the fluid in the reservoir after each wheel. Just a dozen or less pumps to top up each time I move. Would guess this helps the hoses last longer and of course no mess regardless of what happens.

[Leebag]

only air pressure , no fluid inside for me

[KM1966]

Originally Posted by Jesse16

Also put an little 1/8" I think ball valve from Lowes on the hose between the tank and cap so I can close it and not lose but a little pressure when topping the fluid in the reservoir after each wheel. Just a dozen or less pumps to top up each time I move.

Good idea!

[KTL]

Me too experienced the brake fluid hose rupture saga. That was fun......

I bought some yellowish tygon tubing from McMaster to replace the original hose.

https://www.mcmaster.com/5552K26

[Jesse16]

1/4" valve.

[cellison]

good tips....

['78 SC]

When John Walker switched from gravity bleeding to pressure bleeding, I decided that was the way to go.

Here's my home-built pressure bleed system. It connects via the master cylinder reservoir overflow nipple. Instead of clamping off the overflow hose, I disconnect it and replace it with the hose from the pressure bleeder. I set the regulator around 10 PSIG and there is an orifice to limit airflow in the event something gets disconnected. I usually bleed both rears before depressurizing and refilling the reservoir.



If you had to buy all this hardware, a Motive bleeder might be cheaper. I had built this to use as a leak down gauge, so all I needed was an adapter with the right size hose.

[porschenut]

I've had the tube explode once, spraying brake fluid everywhere. The problem isn't the hose itself, but the worm drive metal clamps that secure the hose to at both ends. The sharp edge of the clamp cuts into the hose over time, and that's where the rupture occurs when its pressurized. I only use it dry now.

This is such a simple problem to fix that I'm amazed that the manufacturer doesn't use a better securing method or a reinforced hose. With this many reports of the problem, surely they know about it.

[Mahler9th]

Since they started selling these things, many folks have modified them in many ways.

I have never had a hose failure, but I did replace my standard hose with a longer one.

I know the two owners of Motive personally. I have been to their facility many times. They are car guys just like us.

One of them is also a pilot, with, let's just say a pretty high level of training in some pretty high end machines. Very bright and meticulous guy.

I always recommend contacting the manufacturer if/when something goes wrong and you suspect materials and/or workmanship. That way they have the largest possible data set to help inform future product designs and/or existing product enhancements.

[dan88911]

Thanks for the tips and hose mods.
The first time I bleed the brakes a few yrs. ago I covered the trunk,fenders and windshield with plastic sheet and old towels out fear of an accident.

[911tracker85]

BTDT to most of the above.

for a full fluid flush I still fill the motive bleeder and only pressurize to 10 psi. about time to replace those hoses again. but for just a little bleeding between track events, just top off the MC reservoir and us the motive for air pressure.

[SpyderMike]

I use a typical garden pump sprayer with a hose and inline gauge into a cap for the reservoir. I pump air only.

[MSB911]

Originally Posted by Leebag

only air pressure , no fluid inside for me

I practice this as well.

[Quicksilver]

Originally Posted by Jesse16

1/4" valve.

I did the same thing. Seems stupid not to have a shutoff.

[tshort]

Originally Posted by Leebag

only air pressure , no fluid inside for me

I'm looking into buying a pressure bleeder, and have no experience using one. Presumably the Motive one is the way to go (I'm not inclined to build/DIY one). Amazon has a variety of models - any tips on which one for my '88 911 and my 996?

And more important, what is the step by step procedure for using one of these with air pressure only, as many on this thread have advocated for?

Thanks!