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I changed the front break pads on my XJ650J Maxim and decided to also change the break fluid. I drained the line and cleaned the remaining fluid from the reservoir. I added new fluid and tried to bleed it through the break line, but the fluid will not go into the line. The line is not plugged and as far as I could tell nothing got into the hole to plug it. Is there some secret technique to get the break line primed and the breaks working again?

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

So, you're pulling on the lever but the fluid won't move down the line? Is the brake bleeder valve open?

Pump the lever 5 or 6 times w/ bleeder closed

while holding lever, open bleeder

close bleeder, pump the lever.

Repeat as necessary - works best w/ 2 people.

If you really want to get the fluid flowing fast, Loosen the banjo bolt instead of the bleeder the first couple of times. Have lotsa rags on hand...

The bleeder valve is/was closed. I did have a mechanic friend of mine helping me. We did the open and close the bleeder technique but no luck. We took the banjo bolt off at the master and pumped the breaks and no fluid came out. He thought the fluid should have poured out doing that. He builds race cars but hasn't worked allot on motorcycles so he thought there might be some technique about bike breaks he might not know about.

with that banjo bolt loose all you will get is air--take an oil squirt can and clean it out thoroughly and fill it up with brake fluid --then attach a piece of rubber hose from the squirt can to the bleeder--barely open the bleeder screw and squirt fluid backwards into master cylinder--when master cylinder gets full tighten bleeder screw--this will get you where you can bleed the brakes with the lever--dont let master cylinder run over when pumping squirt can.

Do I need to have the break lever engaged to reverse fill the master, or can it be released?

Hi,
I had the same problem posted on this forum "Look for Rear MC Bleeding" Here's what worked for me.

First spray some break caliper cleaner down the line and make sure it trickles down through the MC assembly and out of the banjo bolt at the other end. Next connect the line to the caliper assembly:

1) Open the bleed valve.
2) Pump the brake, and hold the lever.
3) Hold the brake lever, and close the bleeder
4) Release the brake.

Repeat all 4 at least 4-5 times, and you should eventually see the brake fluid seep down. remember to keep refilling the MC every time you pump. When you close the bleeder and release the lever, you should actually see the fluid level go down slightly in the MC assembly (at least the first couple of times until the brake line fills up). It should be a one man job, but having help makes you look like less of a circus contortionist.

Thx to all the guys who replied to my thread BTW.