Safe to ride with air in the ABS solenoid?

[-Ralph-]

I've had to completely drain my brake system today, overhaul the calipers, and fit new discs and pads.

Before removing the calipers I sucked all the fluid out of the bleed nipples using a Mityvac.

Get everything back together, refill and bleed the brake system, and I've got good pressure at the lever and everything seems to be working fine.

THEN! (Doh!) I start googling for how to bleed the ABS system, and find out it needs to be done using computer software to get the ABS solenoid to actuate while you bleed it.

I don't have the computer software. It costs £60 to buy it, but I need to be ready for a trip to France by Thursday night, so by the time I order it and get it delivered, I won't have time to do the job.

So, it's off to a dealer or Triumph specialist this week (whoever can fit me in) to get it bled.

Is it safe to ride the bike to the dealer?

[Billy Bananahead]

Can you turn off the ABS function on the dashboard?

[-Ralph-]

Can you turn off the ABS function on the dashboard?

Possibly in the menus, I'd need to check the manual.

[Tonibe63]

A mate is a BMW tech and when I spoke to him about bleeding my system he said it would be fine to ride from my house to him which is approx 30 miles but I've yet to do the job so can't give first hand experience.

[-Ralph-]

I can disable the ABS on the dashboard computer. I guess that would stop the ABS system trying to pump air into the brake lines of if it were activated.

Unless there is a one way valve on the ABS system to let air in at that end, I can't see how I could have sucked any fluid out. And if I had air in the line which runs from the T piece on the main brake line, back to the ABS unit under the seat, I can't see how I'd be getting good pressure at the brake lever. So my conclusion (in my simple brain, possibly wrong?) is I must still have old fluid in the line from the T piece to the ABS solenoid.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

[Peirre]

Is there a feature in TuneECU to actuate the ABS pump?

[Old Git Ray]

ABS systems by their very nature have to be "fail safe". By this I mean if the elecrtronics fail suddenly while you are riding at 70mph, the brakes will just work as though there were no ABS system on the bike (i.e. like a conventional bike).

So, provided you have pressure on both lever and pedal, and they actually work the pads you should be fine to use it.

On top of this, if you have a linked braking system (like on the S10 - not sure about the Triumph) a system failure will not connect the front to the back so if one works and not the other, you can still ride it carefully in an emergency with one braking wheel.

TBH, the best thing to do is try it out - but carefully !

If you are at an experience level where you can strip calipers, this should be no problem for you. (thumbs)

[viince]

where abouts in this big land of england are you

I have unlocked triumph version of dealertool you could try

I'm near southend

[V_King]

apart from brakes being spongy, eg poor braking performance, there is no damage could be done to the ABS modulator. the legality of riding with malfunctioning brakes is another matter :whistle:

it is always a good idea before fully overhauling a brake system with ABS, just simply disconnecting the ABS modulator and keep the brake fluid in it untouched and then after reconnecting the brakes lines the small left over air bubbles bleed out.

[-Ralph-]

Is there a feature in TuneECU to actuate the ABS pump?

I don't believe so, but I haven't yet plugged in the latest version.