bleeding mare !!

[garry]

on my last trip, lost the back brake completely, on return, no amount of bleeding will sort it, even tried reverse bleeding.. no change.. as though the cylinder isnt pushing out through.. i back off one of the banjos on the abs pump, full of air and bubbly fluid..

Q - how to bleed the abs. i believe there is a banjo bleed nipple available, but will it actually clear the tank, doesnt seem to be a lot of room..

anyone else have this issue ?

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af44/garry-williams/20170710_195447_zpsnebi3nrr.jpg (http://s992.photobucket.com/user/garry-williams/media/20170710_195447_zpsnebi3nrr.jpg.html)

[Luddite]

Sorry you're having trouble bleeding the rear brake. I did mine earlier this year after I had to reposition the hydraulic brake light switch and it's a complete PITA to bleed as the nipple is on the bottom of the caliper. I've found it helps to remove the caliper, flip it over so the nipple's on top and slide it on the top run of the disc (put some protective tape on the caliper to stop it rubbing on the swingarm). If you've got a vacuum bleeder or even a syringe to help draw the fluid through, that speeds things up.

It does take three or four reservoirs full to get a firm pedal but, once bled, mine will lock the rear wheel with the ABS off.

I didn't disturb the ABS unit itself but, reading the workshop manual, I think you may have a problem as a result of loosening the ABS banjos. This is what the manual says:

"Bleeding of the ABS hydraulic system
If some 'sponginess' is detected on the brake control, due to air bubbles in the system, bleed the system as indicated in Sect. 4-3, Changing the brake fluid.
Before bleeding a brake pump, move back the calliper pistons to drain in the pump the air collected near the ABS control unit.
Bleeding must be carried out by means of the corresponding joints placed near the callipers and the brake cylinders.

Important
Do not undo the fixing screws of the joints of the pipes on the ABS hydraulic control unit, unless control unit replacement is necessary.

Important
If the ABS control unit is replaced, this must be supplied with secondary circuit already filled with fluid; the control unit must be fitted and the system filled and bled as a traditional system."

So it seems from this that the ABS pump is supplied pre-filled and must be kept as a sealed unit, which must not be opened. Consequently, I think you're going to need to see a dealer about this.

[Luddite]

A bit more research...

Have a look at this thread where an Evo owner has bled the ABS unit by loosening the banjos:

http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=70164.0

And also here where someone has fitted banjo bolts with bleed nipples to a 1200 MTS ABS unit:

https://www.ducatiforum.co.uk/threads/soft-bad-poor-brakes-brake-back-or-and-front-simple-low-cost-modification.13343/

So bleeding the ABS unit does at least seem possible.

Whether the banjo bolt bleed nipple would fit is another matter. Could you stick some plasticene/blutak on top of the banjos and see how much, if at all, they get squashed when the tank is in place? That might give you some idea of the available clearance.

Hope you manage to sort this quickly.

[garry]

so after multiple attempts on the back caliper... zero result.

in desperation i backed off the banjo on the abs, just foamed fluid........

ordered a banjo bolt with bleed nipple onnit.. see if i can do that.. obviously the manual says it needs to be done via a laptop on duc diagnostics.. stuff that.

[Luddite]

Good luck! Let us know how you get on and a photo of the unit with the bleed nipple installed would be useful for future reference.