Need Help on Front Brakes XJ550

My front brakes were getting "squishy" so after talking to my local Yamaha dealer I decided that it probably needed to be cleaned. I opened the MC and sure enough there was a layer of skum in the bottom. I cleaned out the MC real well and rinsed it with new clean brake frluid. I also had purchased a rebuild kit from a company online, but the kit they sent didn't work or fit. The piston and rubber seals all looked fine though and the seals weren't cracked or dry rotted. Ok, so the problem is this, I can't get the brakes to bleed. I took out and replaced the bleeder with a speed bleeder and let the rest of the old brake fluid drain out. When I pour more brake fluid in the MC and pump the brake lever, no pressure builds up to be able to bleed brakes. I had been told to pump brake lever 4 times and then hold it in and then loosen bleeder to bleed, then keep repeating. Like I said, when I pump the break lever, nothing seems to happen. Any thoughts?

 

I have my front brake system in bits at the moment as I am upgrading to SS lines and whilst doing that, rebuilding the MC and the caliper.

Having run through all the procedures prior to dismantle, I did read that bleeding a completely dry system is a nightmare and you could be at it for days doing it the conventional way!

I understand the best way is to introduce fluid either using a system such as the Mityvac (which our pal Chacal has) or I read someone used a large syringe to backfill the lines and then complete the bleeding process.

 

Correct. Speed bleeders only work if there is fluid in the system. You'll NEVER get the system filled with speed bleeders fitted.

The MityVac is commonly available and chacal does carry them. Beware imitations, some are not impervious to brake fluid.