MPL clutch slave cylinders - what mods are required?

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#1 Post by **mangocrazy** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 11:15 pm

I finally got round to fitting my shiny new MPL clutch slave cylinder today, and they are a lovely piece of kit, especially compared to the frankly agricultural Aprilia OEM part. Bur when I came to refit the plastic slave cylinder/gearbox sprocket cover, it wouldn't... Am I missing a trick here, or do I have to deliberately show off my new bling and throw away the plastic cover? Or does one have to 'do a Nooj' and break out the hacksaw?

I'm sure the plastic cover could be modded to still cover the sprocket while exposing the slave cylinder. Is that what most folks have done, or am I being silly...?

Falco9 · #2 Post by **Falco9** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 11:34 pm

The MPL & EVO slave cylinders were designed (I'm told) for the RSV and Tuono.
Hence the larger sprocket cover fitted to the falco doesn't fit when you use one. Most use a std RSV sprocket cover but as you say the Falco cover can be adapted to fit.

F9

GregD-UK · #3 Post by **GregD-UK** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 12:15 am

Hi,

Buy a tuono cover around £6 and fits like a glove

D-Rider · #4 Post by **D-Rider** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 1:29 am

Yep - RSV and Tuono ones are the same ... except for the price - as greg says, buy a Tuono one.

You could cut a hole in your Falco cover but it won't look as good and you won't save much.

#5 Post by **mangocrazy** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 2:03 am

Thanks, chaps. Tuono cover it is. Where would I be without this forum?

Less poor, probably...

Falcopops · #6 Post by **Falcopops** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 11:50 am

I found a spare sprocket cover and cut a hole in it to allow the MPL slave to poke through a bit. Had to lash it up on the hurry up though and didn't make the best job of it

D-Rider · #7 Post by **D-Rider** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 1:01 pm

Oh yes, the other thing to point out is that when you fit it, there is a spacer on the old slave that you need to remove and slip on the new one ... it's not always that obvious that it's not a part of the slave itself.

The other thing is that they are a but of a sod to bleed. Reverse bleeding with syringes is the thing.

Follow the link that Pete posted up in the Aprilia Technical area ..... to save you time, here's a link to that link:

https://www.ridersite.com/viewtopic.php?t=3763

kzmille's methods work well.

#8 Post by **mangocrazy** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 1:58 pm

Yes, I figured out the spacer thing (it's a little casting that slots on the back of the slave, isn't it?), but haven't got round to bleeding it yet. It did take me a minute or so to figure out that it was needed, though. I'm just sorting out angle of controls etc. before I tighten everything up fully. I'm sure that the angle of the clutch lever is a contributory factor in aching wrists on these bikes (in fact any bike).

I've taken the precaution of fitting a bleed nipple banjo bolt on the master cylinder. That looks to be at the highest point of the system, and should make bleeding a lot easier. But I've also taken the belt and braces route of getting a syringe to reverse bleed the system as in KZMille's write up. Thanks for the link. KZMille certainly knows his stuff...

Steve_P · #9 Post by **Steve_P** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 5:44 pm

glad I read this thread I ordered an MPL slave last night, just been on ebay and ordered a tuono/mille sprocket cover!

#10 Post by **mangocrazy** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 11:24 am

Just a thought - has anyone fitted a bleed nipple banjo bolt to the clutch hydraulic line? I'm interested to know whether it's worked for anybody or if I've wasted my money. I'll hopefully find out this weekend as long as I get time to bleed the clutch...

D-Rider · #11 Post by **D-Rider** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:10 pm

mangocrazy wrote:Just a thought - has anyone fitted a bleed nipple banjo bolt to the clutch hydraulic line? I'm interested to know whether it's worked for anybody or if I've wasted my money. I'll hopefully find out this weekend as long as I get time to bleed the clutch...

Seen it reported on AF1 that it helps though I've not tried it myself.
I do plan to get a bleed nipple though and will be going down this path.

#12 Post by **mangocrazy** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 10:45 pm

Well, its 10:30 on a Saturday night and I've just finished working on the Falco. I do have a life - really...

I've been bleeding the brakes and clutch (among other things) after fitting new braided lines and an MPL slave. I've heard the merits of reverse bleeding with a syringe and I'm a bit of a fan of stainless bleed nipple banjo bolts on the clutch/brake master cylinders.

I have one comment to make on the two approaches; a combination of the two works brilliantly. Using one or the other I doubt if I could have achieved a satisfactory result. Using both, it's pretty much guaranteed.

Thankyou and goodnight.

IsleFalco · #13 Post by **IsleFalco** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 12:27 pm

Grateful for this thread too. I have been losing clutch fluid and tracked this down to the slave cylinder. This bike has only covered 8800 miles. My old one was sold with just short of 16000 on the clock with no hint of a prob from the clutch slave. Must be down to variable quality..

I "won" an MPL slave on ebay yesterday and look forward to receiving it. I have no syringes, no bleed kit and very little patience. Wish me luck.

#14 Post by **mangocrazy** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 1:40 pm

IsleFalco wrote:I have no syringes, no bleed kit and very little patience. Wish me luck.

I really, really would encourage you to invest in a couple of syringes (one to pump the fluid through, the other to remove fluid from the reservoir), some tubing and a bleed nipple banjo bolt (single 10mm x 1.0) for the master cylinder connection. Both are readily available on eBay and on t'internet.

Without that there will be tantrums before bedtime; I can guarantee it.

IsleFalco · #15 Post by **IsleFalco** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 10:59 am

Hmmm... with the aid of tubes, syringes, a fair bit of DOT4, a bit of a foul muttering under the breath and a Sunday evening spent entirely in the garage, I got the MPL slave installed and bled. I didn't get round to buying a Tuono sprocket cover and I am hoping to take the Falco down to Devon on Thursday. Thus, the drill and a hole saw will be inexpertly applied tonight to make a peek-a-boo hole in the sprocket cover for the slave. It is a nice anodized gold, so it is a shame to hide the bling factor anyway.

Thanks for the advice in this thread. Without it the muttering would have been full scale shouting. The wife and neighbours are eternally grateful.