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I'm attempting to bleed the brakes on my '82 nighthawk, but unseucessfully. The systems was completly drained of fluid. I put some in the resiovoir and began pumping. When I compressed the lever a little fluid came out and when I let it back out, it just sucked it right back. It did the same thing on the bleeder valve on the caliper. What I'm I doing wrong, please don't tell me to buy a vacuum speed bleeder, that is the backup plan.

Thanks,
Nate

First off, it's best to have a partner for this and alot of rags -

That being said, you can fill up the system quickly by opening the banjo bolt on the caliper instead of the bleeder. Pump the lever three or four times, and hold the lever while the other person cracks the banjo bolt. Then they close the bolt and you repeat.

When you've got fluid everywhere, then you can fine-tune using the bleeder.

This is how I do it and its real messy but it works great. Grab some rags and a small wrench (closed preferable) that fits the nipple on each caliper. It (the nipple) should have a rubber cap over it to keep crud off it.

Fill your reservoir and re-cap. Loosen nipple. Tighten it back but just till it stops. Pump brake lever with one hand and have the other with the wrench on the nipple. Push or pull the brake lever (or pedal) as far as you can and then open the nipple a little to release the air in the brake line. Then close it quickly. You will have to repeat this a number of times to clear the line of air bubbles. You usually will know its done when a good stream will squirt out of the nipple. You will feel the lever loosen and depress even more. Keep pressure on it and make sure you close the nipple before the stream ends or you suck air back into the line. Make sure the reservoir doesn't run dry as you might need to top it off several time s as you do this. Suck air in and you have to repeat the whole thing.

It is super simple and once you get the hang of it it will be second nature. Works the same with cars but usually a second person is needed to pump the brake.

Clean the fliud up, especially off your wheels and tires or else!