Brake flushing mess

[piper109]

The other day I tried to flush and change out my brake fluid. I recently bought a motive products Power Bleeder and I successfully used it on my wife's VW. It has some simplistic problems but basically it works well.
Trying to use it on the 98 Disco 1 however I had problems. Basically the cap fits the master cylinder as it should. When I pumped it up I had problems. It does not seem to seal and pushed and bubbled out the new brake fluid all over the top of the master cylinder and made a hellofa mess. It seems the cap does not seal properly on the top of the master cylinder filler hole. I need some kind of sealing washer, I'm guessing about 1/8" thick. I hesitate to take out the one from the vehicle cap.
Where can I buy one the right size ?? I live in a very small Appalachian town and I was unable to find anything. No LR guy closer than 3 hours drive.
Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[chuee]

I have the same year and bleeder. Worked but it was a hell of a time after swapping lines. Took 4 or 5 bleeds to get out a large air bubble.

I did exactly what you did and realized I had to much fluid in the brake reservoir to start with. I had to lower to stop the overflow. Not sure it helps but figuered I'd share.

Good luck.

 

[piper109]

There was a big rubber washer in the package. I used it for a lid for the catch bottle from what came out of the bleeders. Looking today I tried another idea with it. I noticed its o.d. was just right for the inside of the cap.
By cutting about 75% of the middle out, essentially making it a big washer, I was able to make a washer ring which would allow the cap to seal on the mouth of the master cylinder, essentially solving my problem.

Why Motive Products go to so much trouble to ruin a good idea for lack of a couple of items worth just a few cents amazes me. Its not like the whole thing is fancy and carefully engineered. Its pricey for what it is but with a little more effort they could have made it very worthwhile.

 

[fishEH]

My Motive came with a large rubber washer in the cap that screws on the MC. It leaked. If I tightened the cap more it would just jump the threads. Pretty disappointing. Especially since I used my friend's Motive bleeder before and it worked fine. Maybe I'll try a thicker washer, IDK.

 

[piper109]

On my second usage of it, with the big washer to help seal it, I played it safe and used the Motive Bleeder empty of fluid, just with air pressure so it if did leak again it would just be air. I filled the master cylinder to the top with new fluid after using a turkey baster to remove as much as possible.
I bled all 4 bleed screws, making sure fluid was clean, removed air pressure and then topped up the master cylinder again to where I wanted it. A bit more trouble but no clean up was necessary