Bleeding Hydraulic Valves

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coffee_brake · Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:47 am

The '92 Nighthawk that I am re-assembling has hydraulic valves and the Clymers says I must bleed them before reinstalling them. Says there's a special tool that will force kerosene into the tappet.

Why? Do I need the special tool? Is there a way around it? Is there a generic tool or a homemade setup?

#2 Unread post by **Wrider** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 7:01 pm

The kerosene is to completely clean them out and flush the old oil out of them.

Not sure why you'd need a special tool on it though. If they're like the others I've seen you can just submerge them in a bath of kerosene and pump them until they're clean, then to the same in oil and reinstall them.

coffee_brake · Tue Feb 24, 2009 5:28 am

Pump them with what? What device do I use to pump the old oil from the tappets?

Johnj · #4 Unread post by **Johnj** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 8:50 am

I've used a set of channel-lock pliers.

#5 Unread post by **Wrider** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 2:18 pm

Just pump them by hand by collapsing them and expanding them repeatedly until there's no air or old oil left in them.

coffee_brake · Wed Feb 25, 2009 5:42 am

OK, I didn't even know there was a moving part in that little...thing. I can do this!...I hope.

#7 Unread post by **Wrider** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 8:52 am

you can do it! We've got confidence in you!
Cof-fee Brake!
Cof-fee Brake!
Cof-fee Brake!
Cof-fee Brake!
Cof-fee Brake!

coffee_brake · Wed Feb 25, 2009 1:21 pm