Moving right along. I’m getting ready to replace the hydraulic brake fluid on the Voyager–something that it really needs, as the brakes were feeling a bit spongy at the end of last season. I picked up some decent DOT 4 fluid and got some nylon tubing rated for chemical use. I love Rural King!

Initially, my process was going to be straight from the manual: empty the lines, replace the fluid and bleed the system with my MityVac (MV6820) pump. Then I read the brake chapter in Mark Zimmerman’s Essential Guide to Motorcycle Maintenance. I learned a new trick! According to Mark, a simpler way to replace brake fluid is to not flush the system of old fluid first. Rather, do the bleeding process while adding fresh fluid at the master cylinder. Then, when the new fluid begins exiting the bleeder tube the job is done and no “bleeding” is necessary. I like this approach because it saves time and won’t introduce air into the system as long as the master cylinder stays filled.

So I’m going to do it Mark’s way.

Of course, everything isn’t so simple. The problem with brake fluid is that it’s highly toxic and eats though paint on contact (don’t ask me or my ‘77 GoldWing how I know that). Thus, I will be taking the usual precautions–eye protection, plenty of rags and appropriate containers so that the old fluid can be handed over to the good folks from the Three Rivers Solid Waste Management District at our next Tox-Away Day here in Henry County.

Next post: the brake fluid change …