Having a problem bleeding the front brakes.  I took master apart and put in new brake fluid.  I opened bleeder screw and pumped the brake handle several times but no pressure.  What am I doing wrong?

If you've ever done a car, it's a 2 handed thing with the bike.

Pump, pump...squeeze....open....close....pump, pump...squeeze...open...close....(watch the bubbles and fluid)

You get a sequence going.  Good to have a container with fluid in it so that you keep air out of the bleeder line in case you miss a beat.

Keep track of the reservoir level too...don't want to pump air in the line.

I do remember having trouble to start the refill after changing my brakeline.  But don't remember exactly what I did.  I may have removed the brakeline and using my thumb to do the open close thing.  Or I may have used the palm of my hand over the top of the reservor to pump it through.  But a pump should do the job.  Once it started, I just put everything back together and it went ok.

Got it.  Will use pump and let you know.  Thank you all.

Be advised that the master cylinder itself needs to be bled if it has been disassembled.

Be careful with the pumps.  I tried using a Mity-Vac on mine and it just pulls too much fluid at once.

Lots of good ideas here, but I know what the problem is.

You have too much air in the brake hose and it's hard to get it out.  The hose needs to be mostly full of fluid to get any action out of the master cylinder when you pump it.  Otherwise you are only pumping air, and no fluid is running out of the reservoir into the hose.  Kinda like holding your finger on the end of a drinking straw.

(I'm assuming there is nothing wrong with the master cylinder seals)

I wish that I had a photo, but let me try to describe a little trick.  Since it is hard to pour fluid into the top hose banjo fitting, this will work but it can be a little messy (so cover your tank and fender).

Disconnect hose from master cylinder.  Get a "ziplock" sandwich bag and cut a small hole in a lower corner.  Slide that hole over the hose end and wrap a rubber band around the bag to seal it as tight as possible to the hose.  Now, put about a 1/2 cup of fluid in the baggie and close the zipper....follow me?

You might need a helper at this point...to hold baggie and hose upright.  Then put a container under the brake caliper and open the bleed screw.  Now wait.  The fluid will run down the hose and out the bleed screw enough to remove most of the air.  Don't let the baggie run empty.  Then close the screw, grab a rag and remove the baggie from the hose.  Put hose on master cylinder without spilling too much fluid from the hose.

Now go back to the regular bleeding process.

Good luck