I've bled my Avid Elixir 3 brakes a few times but find it very difficult to get good results. In general I understand what the different steps of the procedure do and I'm sure that I'm mostly doing it correctly. As I said though, I'm not getting good results.

One piece of advice I read said to start off with the lever adjust as close to the handle as possible. I was starting with the lever in the 75-80mm range, as instructed by Avid. One time when I tried to bleed my rear brake I started with the lever at the lower end of the 75mm range and didn't get any pressure in the brake after the bleed. I'm not sure why.

One thing weird that I notice happens after I de-gas the rear caliper, unhook the brake lever and press in the rear syringe while letting the lever return outward: the lever will be maybe 90% to 95% out and pressing on the syringe any more doesn't do anything (feels like the lever is fully out), so I let go of the lever with my finger and it pops outwards a small amount. The syringe doesn't seem to move at the same time. It happens every time. I think this is partly due to the pivot mechanism on the lever, it doesn't allow the lever to pivot smoothly. So I wonder if this might be causing my problem.

So I'm looking for advice on any of:
1. bleeding brakes starting with the lever adjust < 75 mm
2. keep trying to slowly expand lever so it retracts under syringe pressure all the way (have you had this difficulty?)
3. any other problems that seem to pop up in the elixir bleed procedure that I should be aware of?

thanks

Travel Here, or read the manual?

I've read the manual and followed the Avid videos as well. I'm sure I'm doing their steps, so either this is one finicky brake to bleed or my technique isn't quite correct.

It is extraordinarily finicky. Many first-time people draw too hard on the syringe at the lever, and suck air in through the push-rod assembly, depositing it in pretty much the worst spot in the system for the design. That is really the only thing to watch out for--you will hear squelching if you put your ear near the lever.