Page 1 of 2
Sweaty Clutch!
Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 9:51 am
by falcofreddie
I could tell you an interesting tale about being stuck at the side of the road for several hours after what seesm to have been my meta alarm giving up the ghost. Very strange, as they usually seem to go when bike is stationary (alarm activated) - on mine, engine cut out (dash, lights etc. working) and clouds of "shorted wire" type smoke from immobiliser when I tried to re - start. Should get it sorted in next few days - BUT, I don't want to tell you about that......
A clutch related query - I've been noticing that the rubber tubing/ line connecting clutch master cylinder to the lever section/ mechanism often looks 'sweaty' (best way I can describe it!) - it seems to be clutch fluid. No problems as yet with operating the clutch itself. Has anyone else experienced this and can you advise what I need to change to sort this out/ is there a particular seal that's likely to be causing this issue?
Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 12:48 pm
by Aladinsaneuk
replace the tubing....
the rubber is starting to perish/fail
(Also have a look at the nipple on the base of the master cylinder - one of mine recently failed there - that was on an aftermarket unit though, not the original plastic one)
Re: Sweaty Clutch!
Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 6:42 pm
by D-Rider
falcofreddie wrote:I could tell you an interesting tale about being stuck at the side of the road for several hours after what seesm to have been my meta alarm giving up the ghost. Very strange, as they usually seem to go when bike is stationary (alarm activated) - on mine, engine cut out (dash, lights etc. working) and clouds of "shorted wire" type smoke from immobiliser when I tried to re - start. Should get it sorted in next few days - BUT, I don't want to tell you about that......
A clutch related query - I've been noticing that the rubber tubing/ line connecting clutch master cylinder to the lever section/ mechanism often looks 'sweaty' (best way I can describe it!) - it seems to be clutch fluid. No problems as yet with operating the clutch itself. Has anyone else experienced this and can you advise what I need to change to sort this out/ is there a particular seal that's likely to be causing this issue?
That's a coincidence - noticed the same on mine the other day. When I fitted the radial master cylinder I needed longer tubing and just used what I had lying around - think I need to find out what grade of tubing is needed and get some.
While it's just "sweating, it won't have an impact on performance as it is not really part of the braking circuit - just tops it up.
Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 6:48 pm
by Olig7475
mine did it as well whan I replaced the tube on the new clutch mc, cleaned it off and it not come back since!
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 9:59 am
by falcofreddie
Thanks for the input - will get some replacement tubing and see how that goes. Of course, alternative would be to try some RightGuard, but I've a feeling that may not be a permanent solution..........

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 10:17 am
by Aladinsaneuk
and i sympathise with you regarding the alarm....
I think my solution was good....
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 7:35 pm
by Nooj
Silicon tubing 'sweats' when you run hydraulic fluid though it, it needs to be the thick rubber tubing really, but... I put heat shrink over the silicon tubing from my reservoirs to the master cylinders (which I presume is the tubing you're talking about?) to stop the sweating and it seems to have worked.
Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 9:41 am
by falcofreddie
Thanks again for posts - I'm getting increasingly attracted to my Right Guard option (or perhaps Mum) - roll on or spray?
Have a great w/e at Mallory Pete - be interested to hear your views on track time with Maxxis!
Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 12:30 pm
by Samray
falcofreddie wrote:
Have a great w/e at Mallory Pete - be interested to hear your views on track time with Maxxis!
You wanna know how they behave in the wet then?

Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 11:00 am
by falcofreddie
A quick update on this - replaced the tubing (may have misled you before - it's the feed pipe from reservoir to lever section) and all was fine for a few weeks and then same problem came back. A quick conversation with Aladinsane put me onto HEL - as promised, Sean there was really helpful and says he will send 2 or 3 bits of tube (not sure of internal dimension of tube) cut to right length - no charge!
We'll see if it arrives, but so far, really impressed with helpfulness of HEL - as someone said elsewhere on site, you don't often get service like this!
Will post again when the promised tubes arrive
Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 11:41 am
by D-Rider
falcofreddie wrote:A quick update on this - replaced the tubing (may have misled you before - it's the feed pipe from reservoir to lever section) and all was fine for a few weeks and then same problem came back. A quick conversation with Aladinsane put me onto HEL - as promised, Sean there was really helpful and says he will send 2 or 3 bits of tube (not sure of internal dimension of tube) cut to right length - no charge!
We'll see if it arrives, but so far, really impressed with helpfulness of HEL - as someone said elsewhere on site, you don't often get service like this!
Will post again when the promised tubes arrive
yes - please keep us informed - I have the same issue and I've not investigated it yet .... your experience could save me a lot of digging around.
Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 6:14 pm
by Nooj
Adhesive lined heatshrink over the tubing. Sweating has completely stopped on my tubing.
Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 6:55 pm
by falcofreddie
Thanks Nooj - what, where, how (why and when for that matter) is adhesive lined heatshrink?!!
Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 8:12 pm
by Aladinsaneuk
Debs uses it instead of a vasectomy
Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 5:40 pm
by falcofreddie
Is it also available on the NHS?
Selection of 4 pieces of neoprene tubing (this thread is beginning to sound very strange...) arrived from HEL this morning - after phone conversation yesterday - and all this for no charge - I'm seriously impressed witn Sean/ HEL. When I said this to him yesterday, he did say to remember their customer service/ tell others, but I don't think he hoped for all of the Falco forum to descend on him with requests for free neoprene tubing so back off!!!
Will now see if any of the tubing fits and turn the rest into a wetsuit - well, I do live on the coast......