[Closed] PSA: Total Bleed Solutions

I just bought one of those kits recently although haven't tried it yet.

[grump]Seems a little cheeky that they're doing exactly the same stuff as Epic Bleed Solutions, down to the flat spanner that epic developed, just undercutting them a little (I know, I know, capitalism).[/grump]

Yep, does seem like their R&D was "order something from Epic". Who btw is a genuine UK small business, and nice dude.

Seems a little cheeky that they’re doing exactly the same stuff as Epic Bleed Solutions, down to the flat spanner that epic developed, just undercutting them a little (I know, I know, capitalism).

Agreed, and a name designed to mimic the original. Not getting my custom

Epic for me...nice guy, answered my simpleton queries in the past and where I'll be going for future business

Thanks for the PSA.
I'd forgoten I needed a 32mm spanner so I've ordered it from https://epicbleedsolutions.com/
as he's always been really helpfull before.
It does appear that Total is directly trying to rip him off.

It does seem a bit rip-offy, but then Epic are only sourcing compatible bits cheaper and undercutting the OEMS.

I have a couple of Epic Bleed kits and would continue to buy them even if they're a bit more, but I need a SRAM Bleeding Edge tool recently and got one for £5 delivered from Total, vs. about £12 delivered from Epic. Too big a difference to ignore.

Edit: if Epic have developed something themselves and Total copied, yes that's a bit cheeky. It's going to happen though... I don't see anyone on here insist we all use Campagnolo derailleurs.

if Epic have developed something themselves and Total copied, yes that’s a bit cheeky.

They've developed a nice wee brand and it seems TBS ripped that off for a start. I opened this thready thinking it was about Epic at first

They’ve developed a nice wee brand and it seems TBS ripped that off for a start. I opened this thready thinking it was about Epic at first

This ^

But I supposed that's the free market for ya

I have an epic shimano bleed kit, can't fault it . Good kit and instructions

I have an epic shimano bleed kit, can’t fault it . Good kit and instructions

I'm pretty sure that for £16 or less you could put together a kit yourself that includes the proper Shimano funnel, which works really well.

That said I used Epic's stuff when I had Avid brakes and it was good (unlike the brakes)

Their RED [url= https://www.totalbleedsolutions.co.uk/product/bleed-block-and-rotor-tool ]Rotor Tool[/url] is a clever idea... I like the totally original description too.

You're right how did they come up such an original idea…

Heh, if you google for the parts of the description with the spelling mistake in, you see the exact same text all over the place, on aliexpress, amazon etc. If you spell it right, like on Epic's page where it was presumably cribbed from in the first place, you only get the Epic part. Everyone's copying the same copied-wrongly text from the original copyist who presumably also copied the brake block, I wonder if they're as good at injection molding as they are at spelling?

My worry is that they sell a Hope bleed kit with a bottle of mineral oil - you could easily bork your brake seals unless you knew better.

Sram also sell that bleed block tool , it comes in the sram pro bleed kit

Hope do make calipers that use mineral oil for use with shimano drop bar disc levers. So does make sense to have mineral oil as an option

My worry is that they sell Hope kit with two syringes, how does that work, my kit is a bit of clear tubing into an empty mouthwash bottle with a hole in the lid.

Older Hope brakes used a larger bleed nipple. I think the two adaptors in the Hope kit are for different sizes of bleed nipple.

I like the idea of the Hope kit. What's more, Epic don't actually offer an equivalent.

I think the point was you don't use syringes for Hope brakes.

I do. And I get a bloody good bleed doing so. You don't have to use syringes, but it doesn't mean you can't.

That's just given me an idea, the master cylinder cap from Hope's easy bleed kit is available as a spare for £7, maybe I could attach a syringe instead of their funnel, I already have epic's universal kit.

That is a good idea. I already have the cap and funnel. I already vacuum bleed the caliper like the old Avid method, but it would mean I could do the lever as well.

Despite not liking Avid brakes, I did always like their bleed method.

after stupidly popping a sticky piston

I made a wee jig for pumping out individual pistons to clean and relube, but not out far enough so they actually pop right out.

Have to use your imagination cos I cant post pics.

Looking into the caliper where pads sit is a rectangle.
Make a block of oak or other hardwood or a solid piece of plastic if youve such a thing lying about, so that it fills that space exactly. Exactly like a bleed block.

Sub divide it into 4 then cut out one of the quarters to about half its depth. Not to far to allow the piston to come right out. I did less than 1/2 as i didnt want that prob, so less than 1/2 and the piston comes out far enough to easily clean the sides with a cotton bud.
So when its placed in the slot, it covers all but a single piston.
The block and the cut away section is asymmetrical, so you need only turn it over to do piston 2, then turn it around to do 3, and again turn it over to get the last piston.
I drilled a couple of holes in it too allow the pad pin to hold it in place while you pump the lever. Again the holes are equal so turning it over the other holes in the same place.

Theres probably already one of those too 😆 but if not theres a wee job for someone with a 3D printer.(I want 50% royalties 😆 )(

That's a brilliant idea. I needed exactly this just last week but was too lazy to make something so disconnected the caliper and popped the pistons out completely. Let me know when there is an overpriced 3D printed version for Saint calipers so that I can be reminded to make something for cheap out of wood.

If you really want a 3d printed version head here

https://www.r3pro.co.uk/

I see something near identical here.

Saved meself 9 quid 😀
https://www.r3pro.co.uk/collections/bike-accessories/products/piston-release-tool-for-hope-e4-v4-calipers

I knocked one up from a old polyethylene chopping block from the recycling centre

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