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Brake issues

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trotti said:
No luck after bleeding the master cylinder - I'm fairly stumped. Adjusted and then bled the brakes, still have a low pedal.
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Healey brakes are known to be hard to bleed (Why? They're BRITISH!). I have been able to pressure bleed--with a Shrader valve in a reservoir cap--but, if I don't get a pedal I like I use the tried-and-true pump-the-pedal method. Give it a try.
 
Finally! Pressure bleeding? Didn't work. Syringe bleeding? Didn't work. Mityvac? Didn't work. Tried and true "up, down, up, down" partner method? Didn't work.

Finally, got desperate and tried the version of the partner method where you tell them to jam the brakes like their life depended on it. Had my girlfriend stomp the pedal and air came spilling out.

Part of the diagnosis I wish I'd of tried earlier was using fluid line clamps. I clamped down all three lines (front left, front right and rear line serving both rears) and got a rock hard pedal. Note: must use fluid line clamps ($4 from Harbor Freight), pistol grip wood clamps were ineffectual and C ("G" in the old country?) would be rough on the lines. I took the clamps off one by one and found weak pedal for two of the three clamps (right front and rear) so I knew I had air in those lines. That meant I had to try a different method so I pulled out the "emergency stop" bleed method. Worked quickly. Brake pedal is now high and firm.

Thanks everyone so much for the suggestions, observations and encouragement. It kept me going. I'm sure all the other methods work, just for some reason not in this instance.
 
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