Running magura's on water?

[girlonbike]

Is this for real?! We have this thing in the States called April fools day. Is there a British equivalent because I just don't get why you can't or won't spring for a couple ounces of oil? These are your brakes you're taking about. Its really not something to mess with just to mess with it for boredom sake.

Maybe I have no sense of humor but this is nuts!

 

[We_are_Stevo]

Of course it would make a difference the viscosititys are miles apart. Take a maccy d's straw drink some coke through it easy then try sucking a milkshake. there are still norrowings inside the system for the fluid togo through so a runnier liquid will flow more easily.

I think you'll find the effort is the same once the straw is full??

try it.

Good idea; I'm off to McDonald's for breakfast...

 

[greenstiles]

I know people that used washing up liquid. BUT the stangest thind i came across in a hydrolic brake was BEER ! Yup two guys came into the shop looking sheepish, said they ran out of fluid so used Stella, and yes the liquid that came out stunk of beer :shock:

 

[jamabikes]

Maybe I should of mentioned it was on a trials bike.

 

[02gf74]

While we are on the subject, if anyone is still running cable brakes i've got some really heavy duty fishing line to sell you that works really well on canti's instead of brake cable. :roll:

Ahem

http://www.powercordz.com/index.htm

you see... some charlatan is already selling people fishing line as brake cables!

what diameter is the fishing line? if it is 1.2 mm then can I scrounge a couple of meters?

by weird coincidence I posted question about using fishing or strimmer line for gear cable on another forum. It should be more than strong enough and depending on how much it stretches, it may not work on the rear but the front mech would be less affected.

the powercordz are not like fishing line - they consist of tiny filaments of kevlar or some other "high tech" stuff and covered in a plastic coating. I have a set on 1 bike and they work as well as steel wire but the price is a bit eyewatering hence looking at the cheaper alternative.

BTW I see no reason why fishing line cannot be used for brake cable as long as it is of the same breakng strain as the steel calbe which would mean it would be far too big to fit the brake outers, levers etc. and it may feel a little bit more spongy.

 

[DeletedUser006]

I would only use water as a break fix.

Surley Water will corrode any internals and has little lubricating properties , I won't buy magura blood as its too ££££ but halfords do a litre of Citroen hydraulic suspension fluid which is identical to magura fluid and a fraction of the price I have bled 3 sets and have loads left

 

[poweredbypies]

So what were all saying is it can be done but probably shouldnt and stop being a tight arse and but the proper stuff.

Anyone know if standard bleed nipples (car/motorbike calipers) are the same thread?

 

[Jussa]

So what were all saying is it can be done but probably shouldnt and stop being a tight arse and but the proper stuff.

Anyone know if standard bleed nipples (car/motorbike calipers) are the same thread?

Nah, it's good to Talk, BITD if Fairy Liquid was all you had then that's what you used, Water, well it's got Pro's & Con's but I'm guessing if you can use the 'Correct' fluid then that's the best route forward, and doesn't have to be an expensive route good healthy discussion that's what it's been

 

[merckx]

you can top up modern shimano disc brake reservoirs with rock and roll chain lube. i know this for a fact, as i have done it myself, and the brake felt as good as it does with brake fluid.

it was an emergency fix when i was up in the australian alps one weekend, with no shops or mechanics anywhere remotely close...

 

[kaiser]

I believe you can use Citroen hydraulic fluid, much cheaper than magura blood. Also if you have access to a lathe IIRC I made my own bleed kit. I recall drilling a hole up a bolt cutting the hex off and attaching to a syringe and tube. Also the magura forums are very very helpful.