Question about brake maintenance.

[sanmo]

Managed to mess up a simple brake pads replacement job. One of the four pistons in the RHS front brake caliper popped out. Obviously I'm looking at extended bleeding procedures to undo the screw-up. Question is whether I can just pop the piston back into the caliper or will I need to replace the dust and fluid seals as suggested in the FSM. Any caveats that I need to be aware of?
A related matter is a suggestion I recall on this forum about using plumber's tape to make the bleeder valves more airtight. Will generic plumber's tape do the job? Will it hold up over time and not get affected by the brake fluid or other stresses.  Enquiring mind wants to know.....

[kzz1king]

I have not done so on this bike but have removed crusty pucks, cleaned and reinstalled before without new seals on older bikes.. I wouldnt be afraid to do so if it were mine. Not sure on the teflon tape but it should be fine.
Wayne

[ZXShan, 2015 C14 ABS]

The seals are about $7 each with tax which is cheap enough that you could replace them all (8 total (both sides of the bike)) and everything would be in tip top shape. For something that cheap it might be best to just do it and have the piece of mind that everything is good to go.

[MAN OF BLUES]

As far as the bleeder valves go, if you are using the oem bleeders, and bleeding in the normal manner, pressure on lever, crack bleeder, tighten bleeder, repeat thing with a hose and bottle with fluid,
No, no tape is required, or suggested..
That whole teflon tape thing came about due to the use of "speed bleeders" which have a built in check valve, and when cracked open, you simply pump and pump to push air out, the issue was that the threads really didn't seal off well, and threfore air was sucked back in along the threads when the check valve closes and pressure is relaxed on the lever between pumps...

In that usage, yes, CAREFUL application of a wrap of teflon tape does work, but make sure its only on the threaded area, and doesn't extend down along the straight unthreaded surface, or the tapered one.

[sanmo]

Thanks to king Wayne, Shan and Man O'Blues, the recovery was relatively painless. Whew, those brake pad clips are diabolical.
MoB's suggestion (from an earlier thread) about loosening/removing the bleeder valve prior to pressing the piston back in, was especially useful. Else I would have struggled with seating the piston thinking that the fluid loss was adequate to accommodate it. :-)

[PlaynInPeoria]

I have Speed Bleeders on both bikes and sevreal in the past. I have never required any teflon tape. Had I been in your shoes, I would have ordered them before I even started the job so that I can have them to install. I'm a big fan, they work very well and make bleeding brakes so easy. My brakes are always rock hard (mandatory, "Easy, boys")

[maxtog]

I have Speed Bleeders on both bikes and several in the past.

"on" both bikes?

I just bought a Motion Pro speed bleeder (haven't used it yet, but it seemed recommended by several people here). But it isn't "on" anything, one just connects it when it is time to use it.  Am I missing something?

[sanmo]

"on" both bikes?

I just bought a Motion Pro speed bleeder (haven't used it yet, but it seemed recommended by several people here). But it isn't "on" anything, one just connects it when it is time to use it.  Am I missing something?

I'm guessing that you are referring to the gizmo with the one-way valve that you attach to the bleeder valve. Avoids having to activate the brake, crack open the bleeder valve, etc. the old way. I use that and it works well. What Peoria is talking about replaces the stock bleeder valves and has the one-way action built into it. (Easy boys needed?).

[VirginiaJim]

I've used the speed bleeders in the past and they've worked well.  No complaints.

[maxtog]

I'm guessing that you are referring to the gizmo with the one-way valve that you attach to the bleeder valve. Avoids having to activate the brake, crack open the bleeder valve, etc. the old way. I use that and it works well. What Peoria is talking about replaces the stock bleeder valves and has the one-way action built into it.

Oh, so there are two kinds of speed bleeders- a type that replace the stock ones, permanently and a type that is used externally, temporarily.  Got it.  Had not seen/heard of the former, only the latter.

[MAN OF BLUES]

Oh, so there are two kinds of speed bleeders- a type that replace the stock ones, permanently and a type that is used externally, temporarily.  Got it.  Had not seen/heard of the former, only the latter.

Here, like these....
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/6597/i/goodridge-speed-bleeders?year=1983&make=Moto%20Guzzi&model=SP&colorid=262&SITEID=Google+SEARCH+NON-BRAND+Product+Level+Ads+-+Google+Shopping+Campaign&P_ID=3052909172&adpos=1o3&creative=93111299573&device=t&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=COjfjOGV-80CFQEdaQodLD8Cbg


It seams they got enough complaints, and began using a teflon coating on the threads to effect the seal.... good, now they don't leak...
The "original" ones, when they first came out, had no coating on the threads, and WOULD suck air in along the threads, rendering them problematic when using a vacume pump like a mini vac, to attempt to purge a system  that was just serviced, free of trapped air.

[maxtog]

Makes you wonder why bleeders don't just have a check valve in them by default.  I can't think of any advantage to NOT having a check valve.

[VirginiaJim]

I bought them for my Voyager and C10 years ago and they had the coating on them.