Cal-Van Tools247 One Man Brake Bleeder

I received the Cal-Van 247 in a shrink-wrapped package with no instructions at all. After looking through the Internet for quite a while for instructions without success, I spent a few minutes carefully examining the device. When I blew through the device from both ends, I discovered that I could blow into it on one side, but it is sealed on the other, so the white plastic part is a valve, with what "feels" like a rubber diaphram in the middle that works like a one-way valve. The problem was, I could suck air through the tube, but not blow into it, so the one-way was backwards from what I needed. I had just installed a clutch slave cylinder and I needed to bleed it from the bleeder nipple on the slave cylinder, so I needed brake fluid to exit the nipple, but not to let any air back in.So I took both endcaps off the device (the endcaps look like covers for voltmeter probes), took the PVC tube off the valve and put it on the other side. I then inserted the free end of the tube onto the bleeder nipple on the slave cylinder, and loosened the bleeder screw a little. I filled the fluid reservoir, and with the lid off the reservoir I started pumping the clutch from the inside of the car. After a few minutes of pumping, I started to feel the clutch engage. I then topped off the reservoir, and saw that there was fluid and a few bubbles still in the Cal-Van 247 device, so I pumped the clutch a few more times to release the remainder of the bubbles, tightened the bleeder screw, and I had a perfectly bled hydraulic system. The device worked perfectly. I am quite certain it would work just as well to bleed brakes. It is simple, but seems sturdy enough even for professional use. I can't imagine why anyone would pay hundreds of dollars for a bleeding device when for a few dollars this device works fine.

This works great. I would give it 5 stars but there were no instructions.What you need to know. The black end that has no hose on it is the end that connects to the bleeder screw. What you need to do is go out and buy 2 feet of vinyl hose at your local hardware store. I got 1/4 ID. This is a little small to slip over the black end nipple but a little heat and it slipped right on.Stick the hose on the white end into a cup or receptacle to catch the brake fluid. I found that it worked best with the bleeder screw half to a whole turn out.One last tip. When you go to push the hose over the bleeder screw put a little silicon grease around the bleeder screw nipple. Make sure you don't get it in the hole. Makes the hose go on easier.

Got this just in time to bleed the brakes on my 2003 Honda Pilot after changing the rear pads and rotors.After removing the red cap, the end of the hose slipped tightly onto the Pilot's bleeder valves. I removed the black cap and stuck that end in an old milk jug to catch the old fluid for recycling.The tube was only 12" long which I thought rather short. The valve can take another hose on the output end so if you need to go further just buy one foot of hose at an auto parts or hardware store. Remember to bring in the valve to make sure you get one that fits. I lost the hose into the milk jug once while doing this job, and it was so short it was tricky trying to fish it back out without spilling the fluid.Using this brake bleeder tool, you could easily do this as a one-man job. I had someone else pump the brakes while I adjusted the bleeder screw, watched the fluid come out, and made sure the brake fluid level in the reservoir didn't get too low. The one-way valve was installed correctly in the tool and worked fine, but did let a little fluid leak back each time the brake pedal was released. I like to watch the fluid to monitor its condition as it's coming out (and make sure the hose stays in the container), but someone could just do a few pedal pumps at a time and go look at the fluid still in the tube.When you are all done, I recommend putting this tool into a small zipper lock bag to keep it (and everything else) clean.Here's the procedure I follow to bleed my brakes:1. Open the brake fluid reservoir (under the hood) and make sure it is full. Check the reservoir cap for the recommended brake fluid type and be sure it isn't the power steering fluid or some other reservoir.2. Slide the wrench onto a brake valve screw and then the hose of this bleeder tool onto the bleeder valve, and put the one-way valve end of the tool into a container to capture the fluid. Open the bleeder screw using the wrench.3. Pump the brake a few times to push out any air and old fluid from that brake line. I do about 10-15 pumps total, but someone may want to do more (or less). Check the reservoir fluid level often.4. Close the bleeder screw - if someone else is helping, close it when the brake is pressed down.5. Pull the hose off the bleeder valve and drain remaining fluid from the tool hose into the container.6. Refill the brake fluid reservoir.7. Repeat for the other 3 bleeder valves. (Check the repair manual or online for the order recommended for your vehicle.)8. Make sure the brake fluid reservoir is closed.I don't see any reason to get anything more complicated than this to do the job. Takes me less than 30 minutes.

Used it to bleed and flush out my brake lines and clutch line on my 97 civic, on the one way check valve prevented air from leaking back BUT you need to have a tight seal where the tube connects to the bleed valve, I put some grease on the threads of the bleed valve of the brake line and zip tied the tube to the bleed valve and that helped prevent air from leaking via the threads of the bleed valve.

I was having trouble with bleeding brakes on a scooter and I purchased and also paid for quick shipping. The valve worked opposite of the way it was supposed to. I also came with no instructions, but I went online and found them. Once I reversed the valve and put tried to use it, the valve leaked. It was a complete waste of money and time.

I have had no problems with mine, it came assembled correctly and in working order. I no longer have to bug people to come and pump the brakes while I bleed the calipers and at this price nothing comes close to being as good.

I eventually figured out how to use this but I had to mess around with it. It comes in the package working backwards and you need to mess around with it to get it to work. The ad says it comes with a manual but it doesn't.Once I got it to work, it worked alright for me.

The valve flapper came through the hose making it a hose and did not function. I was credited immediately to my Amazon account.