[Shop-talk] Pneumatic Brake Fluid Bleeder (Harbor Freight) review!

[Arvid Jedlicka]

I have the Motive bleeder, the Harbor Freight bleeder and a great wife.

The HF works great if you have a compressor handy and can suck the brake 
fluid thru the system. Works most of the time but on occasion I have not 
been able to generate enough vacuum to pull the fluid thru the system. I 
suspect the resistance might have been the speed bleeder's but did not 
bother to investigate where the resistance might be. I simply asked my wife 
to come and pump the pedal and moved on.

Another advantage of the HF system is that it really is a 'general purpose 
liquid vacuum'. Lets assume you want to change the lube in your new lathe 
gearbox. You drain it as best you can and then take off the top of the 
gearbox to really get at it. You duct tape a chip brush to a paint stir 
stick and duct tape the tube from the HF system to another stir stick. Pour 
some kerosene into the gearbox and you can now brush the gears and shafts 
clean and suck the cleaning fluid and all the crap out with the tube. I am 
sure there are other 'sucking' situations where it can be applied. Just be 
careful when sucking. If the HF reservoir fills up I can verify that it will 
act like a paint sprayer and you will need to wipe the kerosene mist that 
had gone everywhere.

The Motive bleeder works great if you do not have a compressor and can get a 
good seal on the master cylinder reservoir. The pressure you can generate 
with the Motive bleeder is greater than what you can get just from 'sucking' 
... limited at best to atmospheric pressure ... so minor restrictions is not 
an issue. However getting a good seal on the master cylinder reservoir has 
been an issue. For many vehicles they offer a cap that fits the reservoir 
and does the job. For other vehicles their "universal fit all" adapter might 
work. In my case they don't make a cap and the chains used to attach and the 
overall size of the "universal fit all" adapter prevent it from fitting on 
the reservoir. In that case I simply asked my wife to come and pump the 
pedal and moved on.

In summary, the HF is used on the GSXR 750, the Yaris and other sucking 
needs.

The Motive is used on the GMC pickup.

Bev is required for the MR2.

Arvid

-----Original Message----- 
From: Scott
Sent: Friday, February 28, 2014 10:15 AM
To: shop-talk at autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Shop-talk] Pneumatic Brake Fluid Bleeder (Harbor Freight) 
review!

I literally just bought the Motive bleeder, hope to use it this weekend.
Wish I'd seen the HF one sooner.

Anyone got tips for the Motive, or is it more-or-less idiot-proof?

On 2/28/2014 11:06 AM, John T. Blair wrote:
> At 10:15 AM 2/28/2014, eric at megageek.com wrote:
>
>   >I don't normally don't do reviews here, but I do want to let you
> know about this
>   >little gem from Harbor Freight I stumbled upon.
>   >Here is the
> link...   http://www.harborfreight.com/brake-fluid-bleeder-92924.html
>
> Eric,
>
> Thanks.  Looks interesting and the price is right!!!!  If it only
> works a few times,
> it will have paid for itself.
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