Can modern Shimano brakes be bled without the funnel?

I’ve only got older models but have offered to bleed a friends. Just realised they are a bit different and I don’t have the funnel. Any good bodges?

Just take the cover off the master cylinder. Rotate so it’s level and then fill it to the brim before putting the cap back on – a bit messy, but it does work
Hth
Marko

50ml syringe without the plunger. IME can be gently screwed in to the hole but take care not to belt it mid bleed. 🙄

Order a funnel – sooooo much easier with the correct tools.

Agree get a funnel way easier.

They can be bled without the funnel. See our online guide here:

http://www.epicbleedsolutions.com/blog/how-to-bleed-new-shimano-brakes/

I’ve used the syringe thing as well – works well. The funnel would probably be a bit less messy (it’s hard to unscrew the syringe without losing oil everywhere) but it’s not necessary for a decent bleed.

@superficial

Yes, it’s tricky to avoid spilling oil when you unscrew the syringe, which is why the funnel comes with a way of sealing the nozzle before removal.
They’re only a few quid, so it’s not worth quibbling over.

Simply aspirate the fluid in the lever syringe with your injection syringe after disconnecting it from the bleed nipple. See our Shimano bleed guide for detailed info:

http://www.epicbleedsolutions.com/blog/how-to-bleed-new-shimano-brakes/

The funnel does have the advantage of allowing you to unscrew it with fluid in it. But you’ve still got to empty it to dispose of the fluid somehow.

Oops. Didn’t mean for this to become a spam magnet. Managed it fairly easily in the end. Popped the cap off then did it old school. Just kept it topped up while pumping it through with the lever while opening/closing the port on the caliper. Worked fine.