Bleed Brakes 250 Arctic Cat 4X4

3RRL · Nov 15, 2005

My 2003 250cc Artic Cat's brakes are spongy. I have to pump them up to get full braking power. Then they work fine for a while and I have to do it again. The brakes themselves are good so I think there may be air in the hydraulic brake lines.
I was wondering if anyone could tell me how to bleed the air out of the system. Here is a picture of the Cat.
Thanks,

Yardster · Nov 15, 2005

I think you'll find (If your even a bit mechanically inclined) that bleeding the brakes is rather easy. They make tools that help you do it by yourself, but it is easier if you have another person that can help. You should only need a screwdriver and the wrench that fits the bleed screw - oh, and possibly some more brake fluid. I could describe it to you, but I'm sure there is a place on the net, or even this website that would provide schematics and better directions than I will give. Keep this in mind though, brakes don't usually get air in the line unless there has been some sort of change to the system. Have you done any brake work lately? Any damaged lines? Is the gasket on the reservoir ok? Check these things over first, then bleed the brakes.

dbelisle · Nov 17, 2005

I just got my 300 back this evening and it had the same problem . The rubber brake lines expand instead of pushing the fluid to the brakes.

They bled them and there fine now , but the problem will come back .

The shop that works on my machines redid the lines on a machine last year with the new braided lines and that seemed to solve the problem. I told him to order a set for mine. I will let you know how it worked.

Dave in NH

3RRL · Nov 17, 2005

Thanks for the input guys.
I have not done any brake work on it so I think it may be as dbelisle described. I checked the master cylinder and it seem OK. The rubber in the brake reservoir seemed OK as well.

I was wondering where to do the bleeding, although I did not thoroughly check the connections, only glanced at them...and did not see the familiar bleed screw. On most bikes and cars it is undone by a small wrench. I presume the bleed screw is on the caliper next to the brake line? And it is with screwdriver and wrench, you say?
I'll look for it. I do have a bleeding kit.
Thanks,

3RRL · Dec 6, 2005

I Checked the brake line connection to the caliper and that's the only fitting. It's connected via a banlo like fitting and a cpooer washer. No other screw or plug to bleed th brake fluid through like on regular calipers where you could suck the air/brake fluid out with the vacuum pump set up.
Do I loosen that brake line and bleed when loose? Or what?
Thanks,

Pamunkey · Dec 14, 2005

Curious about how it worked with the braided lines. My 300 4x4 has had diminishing brakes for awhile. Tried to bleed - no air but still good fluid flow out bleed valve. Changed master cylinder - no change. Brake handle will travel all the way with no resistance - fluid flows when bleeding - but no pressure build up (I can turn wheel by hand when brake handle fully applied).

kenmac · Dec 15, 2005

I just bought a new polaris 400 sportsman . they come with braided lines

3RRL · Dec 28, 2005

Dave,
Do you have an Arctic Cat 300? Does it have bleed screws on it? Mine does not, but I do have braided lines on it. Problem is that I can't bleed the brakes at the calipers.

I thought about taking the brake line off and bleeding it while it is submerged in a jar of brake fluid, but I'm afraid when I take it out to put back on the caliper, there will still be air in the line or caliper.

Any thoughts on this?