Why wasn't I told?

[JPSmit]

That it was possible to gravity bleed brakes? Did I miss the memo? Are you holding out on me? making fun of me behind my back?

Harumph harumph harumph

PS it worked, pedal is hard again

 

[JHaydon]

Gravity is a wonderful thing when it's on your side!

I'm still trying to convince people that I don't bench-bleed my master cylinders. Maybe it's "necessary" on a modern dual-circuit master, but I've replaced a few of those too and never bench-bled any of them.

 

[JPSmit]

Gravity is a wonderful thing when it's on your side!

I agree though it does have a down side.

 

[Bayless]

I agree though it does have a down side.

And here it goes again.

 

[DrEntropy]

Gravity bleeding... it works, but it's BORING!!

 

[JPSmit]

Gravity bleeding... it works, but it's BORING!!

Pretty much how Mrs JP describes me.

 

[JPSmit]

Seriously though Doc while you are correct about the boring part, as I was watching the Moss video they were talking about classic car people using this because the traditional - push and hold the pedal can push the inner gubbins past their normal range which can be problematic for cars where the bore isn't smooth beyond the normal range and the MC might not be easily repairable/ replaceable.

 

[LarryK]

Didn't ask! I use all methods. Once at a light aircraft shop the mechanic and an A&P couldn't get the brakes bled on a Stearman. After a few minutes the boss asked if his plane was ready, they said, no! More bleeding, more gravity bleeding, still no brakes. While watching, I finally said hit the caliper with a long wrench while pressuring. Sure enough the bubbles came out. The question was, after trying to bleed for an hour, you never said anything. I responded with, got tired of watching and you did not ask.

 

[DrEntropy]

The question was, after trying to bleed for an hour, you never said anything. I responded with, got tired of watching and you did not ask.

That's gotta be classic, Larry!!

 

[DrEntropy]

For many years Rolls Royce used a mineral oil in their hydraulic systems. The pressures were kind of outrageous, bleeding the system required some attention to detail. The "self-leveling" system at the rear of the cars was part of the hydraulics and there were naive shops taking in a Rolls for brake work, not considering the leveling system as part-and-parcel of the overall... we saw a number of cars come to us after having in some cases, GALLONS of expensive "Rolls exclusive" fluid run through the brake system, still with sub-standard brake pedal.

They didn't ask. We didn't tell.

 

[LarryK]

This was in Crestview, Fla., Red River Cessna repair port. I was sitting nex to Retired General McCutchen, who's Dad flew Tigers and Corsairs in China and WWII. Had another older gentleman sitting with us talking planes. Pennsacola has a rather rich aircraft history. Very interesting place.

 

[DrEntropy]

Of Pensacola and their aircraft history, I was somewhat surprised at this news a year ago.

I flew with a number of the AC-130 Spectre gunship missions out of Ubon, Thailand, back when they were sharing space with 16th SOS. Now they're out in Basil's neck-o-the woods. And a much more formidable weapons platform than back then... tho plenty effective even then.