How do you remove a rounded over brake bleeder valve?

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dbtroudy
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How do you remove a rounded over brake bleeder valve?

#1

Post by dbtroudy »

This afternoon I started to rebuild the front brakes on my '76 Yellow. I discovered that the brake bleeder valve on the left side brake caliper was rounded over and an 8 mm wrench or socket would not grab the valve to remove it from the caliper body. I tried heat, PB Blaster and taping the valve - no luck in budging it. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Don
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Re: How do you remove a rounded over brake bleeder valve?

#2

Post by tomk1960 »

Since the bleeder is ruined, I'd heat it up good, then grab it well with vice grips and try to break it loose. Try moving it a little bit, then heat some more, move a bit more, etc.
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Re: How do you remove a rounded over brake bleeder valve?

#3

Post by pjlogue »

When it's hot hit is with PB blaster. Try this a few times and then try the vice grips. cycling it hot-cold with PB blaster will help the stuff get down into the threads.

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dbtroudy
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Re: How do you remove a rounded over brake bleeder valve?

#4

Post by dbtroudy »

I did take a propane torch to it and got it pretty hot. I then used both a large and small set of vice grips without success. Tomorrow I’ll pop out the piston and remove the rubber seal and give it another try.
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Re: How do you remove a rounded over brake bleeder valve?

#5

Post by wog »

Sounds silly, but drill a hole in an icecube less than the size as the bleeder, heat the caliper area nice and toasty, place the ice on the bleeder to cool (shrink) it, and remove with pliers.
Great to keep these old 'Wings flying on down the road.
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Re: How do you remove a rounded over brake bleeder valve?

#6

Post by JamesPal »

Good idea getting the piston out first.

Try filing some flats on the bleeder. Get them as close to the base as possible. The flats should give your vice grips some purchase on the caliper body. The body is aluminum alloy and the bleed valve is steel. Heat will cause the aluminum to expand more than the steel. Hot and cold cycles will break the corrosion.
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Re: How do you remove a rounded over brake bleeder valve?

#7

Post by calif wingnut »

I snapped off one trying to remove, so I drilled it out with the next size smaller bit and picked the threads out. You could also try heating it and using candle wax.
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Re: How do you remove a rounded over brake bleeder valve?

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Post by 5speed »

dbtroudy wrote:I did take a propane torch to it and got it pretty hot. I then used both a large and small set of vice grips without success. Tomorrow I’ll pop out the piston and remove the rubber seal and give it another try.
Heat the caliper up really well around the bleeder screw then hit the bleeder screw with pb blaster.
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Re: How do you remove a rounded over brake bleeder valve?

#9

Post by SnoBrdr »

calif wingnut wrote:I snapped off one trying to remove, so I drilled it out with the next size smaller bit and picked the threads out. You could also try heating it and using candle wax.
Candle wax as lube or ??

Please explain.
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Re: How do you remove a rounded over brake bleeder valve?

#10

Post by dbtroudy »

I took my Dremell grinder and squared up the sides of the bleeder so I could put a 7 mm wrench on it. I also removed the piston and rubber seal and filled the bleeder hole with Liquid Wrench. I’m going to let it sit for a while and then heat up the caliper with my propane torch and see how it goes from here! :shock:
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Re: How do you remove a rounded over brake bleeder valve?

#11

Post by 5speed »

SnoBrdr wrote:
calif wingnut wrote:I snapped off one trying to remove, so I drilled it out with the next size smaller bit and picked the threads out. You could also try heating it and using candle wax.
Candle wax as lube or ??

Please explain.
the wax melts and gets down in the threads and free's it up.
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1976 GoldWing. running but not on the road
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dbtroudy
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Re: How do you remove a rounded over brake bleeder valve?

#12

Post by dbtroudy »

Using the suggested methods of grinding flats on the sides of the bleeder, heating the caliper with a propane torch and shocking the bleeder valve with ice, I was able to break the bleeder loose and remove it from the caliper.

Thanks everyone for your help!! action1

Don
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Re: How do you remove a rounded over brake bleeder valve?

#13

Post by Oldewing »

wog wrote:Sounds silly, but drill a hole in an icecube less than the size as the bleeder, heat the caliper area nice and toasty, place the ice on the bleeder to cool (shrink) it, and remove with pliers.


Now I got a picture in my head of you in your shop, drilling a ice cube....


but, if you are suggesting it, I am sure it works, but the picture is still funny lolol lolol lolol
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dbtroudy
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Re: How do you remove a rounded over brake bleeder valve?

#14

Post by dbtroudy »

Believe me, it worked. A hole in an ice cube and all!!
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Re: How do you remove a rounded over brake bleeder valve?

#15

Post by wog »

Oldewing wrote:


Now I got a picture in my head of you in your shop, drilling a ice cube....


but, if you are suggesting it, I am sure it works, but the picture is still funny lolol lolol lolol

Yeah, but I do it with the CNC mill, got to be extremely precise when machining frozen H2O! lolol

Dbtroudy, glad it worked for you. anim-cheers1
Great to keep these old 'Wings flying on down the road.
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