The lines can't be cracked open. They are o-ring connections held in place with roll pins.
Nothing about this deal seems to be easy. Yesterday we set the assembly up on the bench with the slave cylinder low and the reservoir tied off high. Every hour or so I would compress the slave cylinder against the bench & lean on it while pumping it back out with the master cylinder. Repeat a few times & them let it set awhile, while I went back to work on my own car. I got a few bubbles every time I went through this routine. Jeff took over when he got off work. He said the last couple time he didn't see any bubbles, so he's going to reinstall it today & try again.