Wrong Brake Fluid

[Ironpig9]

  Ok. I admit it. I f-ed up and didn't refresh myself by reading the shop manual. I was installing new handlebars which required a longer hose from the reservoir to the brakes. It was also time for new fluid, only after all is done I read the manual and find that the Dot 5.1 I installed is not to be used (2002 RK). Use only Dot 5. The two are not compatible.   So, what's the best way to flush out the Dot 5.1 and replace it with straight Dot 5? Help!!!!   

[smoserx1]

Well obviously a disassembly and cleaning would be the best way to go, but if you don't want to do all this, here is what I would do.  Get a syringe and suck all the 5.1 you can out of the MC reservoir. Take one of the calipers apart and using small c-clamps, loosen the bleeder screws and press the piston(s) inward as far as they will go.  Do the same for the other side.  This should get most of the 5.1 out except for the hoses.  Then fill the MC reservoir, close off the bleeder(s) on one caliper and pump new fluid through till it emerges.  Close those bleeders and repeat the process on the other caliper.  Now depending on your degree of perfection/paranoia, repeat the entire procedure...but if it were me I would try out the brakes (carefully) for a week or so before doing it all over again.  Good luck, and if you are not comfortable with this, take it all apart and clean and flush, but I bet you will be fine doing it like this.  One caveat though, I cannot speak from experience on this one.

[Hossamania]

Well obviously a disassembly and cleaning would be the best way to go, but if you don't want to do all this, here is what I would do.  Get a syringe and suck all the 5.1 you can out of the MC reservoir. Take one of the calipers apart and using small c-clamps, loosen the bleeder screws and press the piston(s) inward as far as they will go.  Do the same for the other side.  This should get most of the 5.1 out except for the hoses.  Then fill the MC reservoir, close off the bleeder(s) on one caliper and pump new fluid through till it emerges.  Close those bleeders and repeat the process on the other caliper.  Now depending on your degree of perfection/paranoia, repeat the entire procedure...but if it were me I would try out the brakes (carefully) for a week or so before doing it all over again.  Good luck, and if you are not comfortable with this, take it all apart and clean and flush, but I bet you will be fine doing it like this.  One caveat though, I cannot speak from experience on this one.

That is how I would do it (and did do it when I put dot4 in my dot5 system).

[JSD]

I run dot 5 in all. Cant hurt i hope?

[Hossamania]

I run dot 5 in all. Cant hurt i hope?

Not if that is what it is supposed to be used.

[Ironpig9]

Dang. Thanks smoserx1 and others. I really did F-up. One more question. I've always used alcohol to clean up brake fluid. Is that the cleaner for this job? Damn, double damn.

[smoserx1]

No chemist here but all of the brake fluids are glycol based except for dot 5 which is silicone.  Glycols are in the alcohol family (like antifreeze) and they mix with water so alcohol is good for cleaning them up.  Silicone (dot 5) is an oil, and it won't mix with water (and thus won't mix with any other brake fluid either).  If you have elected to take things apart and try to get every bit of the 5.1 out I don't believe I would use alcohol to clean that if you are planning to replace with dot 5.  Maybe just wipe out real good with cloths or paper towels, but make sure everything is dry.  You didn't mention just flushing everything and going forward with 5.1.  that will mix with all the others except dot 5.  Somebody might jump in and say that the internal parts like hoses and seals are are fluid sensitive and designed for a certain type fluid but I have a feeling that is largely a myth.  How is Greensboro doing?  I have a part time remote job there and the Triad used to be home for me.

[Hossamania]

Dang. Thanks smoserx1 and others. I really did F-up.

Don't beat yourself up too bad. You're not the first to do this, like I said, I've done it too. You didn't break anything that is expensive to replace, you didn't crash, you caught it before any real damage happened. A couple hours added to your project and a bottle of brake fluid is about all it cost, no big losses.
Good luck!

[calif phil]

Suck out the 5.1 like mentioned, flush and bleed, ride for a few hundred miles, bleed it a few more times and might as well do the rear brake at the same time.  Ride and don't worry about it.

[Buglet]

  Brakes are the most important on a motorcycle that said. I would disassemble the complete brake system wash it out all parts with lines install what needs to be replaced. Then you won't have to worry about the next time you have to stop.   

[hogpipes1]

 I ruined a master cylinder Using Synthetic Dot 5 Instead of Silicone Dot 5    Rubber O rings swelled up and Pedal was slow to return . Thought I  was getting a real super deal with that can at half price . Took me a while to figure out What the hell it's silicone dumb ass not synthetic.


 

[Dan89flstc]

I ruined a master cylinder Using Synthetic Dot 5 Instead of Silicone Dot 5     

DOT 5 is DOT 5, no matter what formula they use to make the fluid.

It must meet the same specs and be compatible.

[Coyote]

I ruined a master cylinder Using Synthetic Dot 5 Instead of Silicone Dot 5     

DOT 5 is DOT 5, no matter what formula they use to make the fluid.

It must meet the same specs and be compatible.

Dot 5 and Dot 5.1 are not compatible.

[76shuvlinoff]

I switched the shovel to dot 5 when I installed GMA components, later I installed a 2000 and up front end with 2005 dual calipers (used) and an 07 RK front rim. I cleaned out all the old brake parts with denatured alcohol and went in with Dot 5. It's been more than a few years now. No issues.

[Karl H.]

I ruined a master cylinder Using Synthetic Dot 5 Instead of Silicone Dot 5    Rubber O rings swelled up and Pedal was slow to return . Thought I  was getting a real super deal with that can at half price...

Could you give us more details about the ,,Synthetic Dot 5" you used?

Karl

[Hossamania]

I ruined a master cylinder Using Synthetic Dot 5 Instead of Silicone Dot 5    Rubber O rings swelled up and Pedal was slow to return . Thought I  was getting a real super deal with that can at half price...

Could you give us more details about the ,,Synthetic Dot 5" you used?

Karl

According to the Google, dot5 is synthetic based, dot5.1 is glycol based.

[cheech]

Could you give us more details about the ,,Synthetic Dot 5" you used?

Karl

Just a guess he grabbed 5.1 instead of 5.

[cheech]

According to the Google, dot5 is synthetic based, dot5.1 is glycol based.

Did you read silicone or synthetic based?

DOT 5 is silicone based.

[Hossamania]

According to the Google, dot5 is synthetic based, dot5.1 is glycol based.

Did you read silicone or synthetic based?

DOT 5 is silicone based.

Nope, that would require I pay attention, according to my wife, I do not. Or something like that, I wasn't really paying attention to her.

[FSG]

Nope, that would require I pay attention, according to my wife, I do not. Or something like that, I wasn't really paying attention to her.

THAT'S GOOD   

[hogpipes1]

I ruined a master cylinder Using Synthetic Dot 5 Instead of Silicone Dot 5    Rubber O rings swelled up and Pedal was slow to return . Thought I  was getting a real super deal with that can at half price...

Could you give us more details about the ,,Synthetic Dot 5" you used?

Karl

According to the Google, dot5 is synthetic based, dot5.1 is glycol based.

I can't recall all the details as it's been 10yrs or more . Just the syn dot5 did ruin the Master cylinder. The brake Worked fine before I changed fluid.

[Dan89flstc]

I ruined a master cylinder Using Synthetic Dot 5 Instead of Silicone Dot 5     

DOT 5 is DOT 5, no matter what formula they use to make the fluid.

It must meet the same specs and be compatible.

Dot 5 and Dot 5.1 are not compatible.

I didn`t say DOT5.1...

I said DOT 5 is DOT 5, no matter what formula they use to make the fluid.....

[Thermodyne]

I'd just run a 1/2 a bottle of Dot5 through each end of it, then ride it for a couple of hundred miles and repeat.

Pump it through with the levers, that will clear the other fluid from the master better than suck bleeding it. 

And even though you lose the master cylinder prime, it would probably be best to drain it first.  Then take the calipers loose and tip them over to get the 5.1 out of them.  I'm not sure if those two fluids will mix, but if they will, draining will limit it some.

[hogpipes1]

What yr did HD start using  Dot 5.1?   My bike is a 2000 Using silicone dot5 .LIke I said it's been yrs sense I grab that can of syn.Just could not get the brain to get off the syn oil,syn this and that. Ha should of had tits on my mind,then I could of had a silicone thought. In any event it swelled the O rings and rubber cup . And I am sure it was not 5.1 syn. That would of snapped me back into reality.knowing only to use  sil-5 .Just was not my day to get a can of fluid.

[HogMike]

What yr did HD start using  Dot 5.1?   My bike is a 2000 Using silicone dot5 .LIke I said it's been yrs sense I grab that can of syn.Just could not get the brain to get off the syn oil,syn this and that. Ha should of had tits on my mind,then I could of had a silicone thought. In any event it swelled the O rings and rubber cup . And I am sure it was not 5.1 syn. That would of snapped me back into reality.knowing only to use  sil-5 .Just was not my day to get a can of fluid.

I don't believe HD ever used dot 5.1
My 2000 also used dot 5
My newer bikes use dot 4
Dot 4 and dot 5 are NOT compatible.
Dot 4 and dot 5.1 are.
Only advantage using dot 5.1 as a replacement for dot 4 is a higher boiling point, probably not a factor for non-racers. Dot 5.1 is a little more hydroscopic than dot 4.
Stick with the manufactures recommendations.