So I’ve got a pair of xt m785’s and after a year off the bike I’ve just tried giving them a bleed. Is there a trick people finally figured out to get around this as I remember it being a problem when they came out.

I tried using the cup and just flicking the lever, tapping the cable etc (lever elevated in regards to callipers and turned so parallel to ground). Also tried with a tube attached to calliper and forcing fluid through by braking.

Brakes still need almost priming before use. Goes almost to bar on the 1st pull but then fine for the 2nd? Any help is appreciated, Cheers.

Syringe from the caliper into the cup.

Crap, can’t find the syringe that I used to have

I found only opening the nipple on the caliper a fraction. Instructions say 1/8th of a turn. I was opening it far too much to start with and was getting nowhere.

So you opened the calliper nipple only slightly and then just pulled the lever to force fluid out as normal?

Either gravity like Marshy above, but tidy into a tube and bag, or syringe from caliper to lever is fine. Both need plenty of lever flicking at the end once the bleed nipple is shut and you still have the cup on the lever.

So you opened the calliper nipple only slightly and then just pulled the lever to force fluid out as normal?

Yes, then just bled as normal. I must have gone through about 100mls of fluid before I realised my error. I was surprised