Clutch fluid a little low

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hornetrider · #1 Post by **hornetrider** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 10:28 pm

Done a search but haven't really pinged up an answer.

I've noticed that my clutch fluid is a little low - it's at the 'min' level on the master cylinder. I've noticed a little bit of orange-y goop on the clutch lever so presume I may have a slow leak? Can I just replace the seal and top it up with any old clutch fluid?

Apologies for the dumbass question - I'm no mechanic!!

D-Rider · #2 Post by **D-Rider** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 10:45 pm

Probably the slave seal - that's the usual one.
Renew it or fit an MPL slave if you're feeling flush.

Clutch fluid .... well not any OLD fluid. New fluid is necessary as it'd hydroscopic and sucks in moisture which then makes it pretty useless.

DOT 4 or DOT 5.1 is what you need

Do NOT use DOT 5 - it's completely different chemistry and if you put it in you will need to completely flush the system.
Do a search if you are interested, it's explained on here somewhere ... if not just get some DOT 4.

Of course you'll need to bleed the clutch once you've replaced the seal - that can be tricky. kzmille's (AF1 forum) guide is the best for this - again there's a thread on here .... I'll find the link.

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

hornetrider · #3 Post by **hornetrider** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 12:41 pm

Right, I've never done this before but as a short term fix before I do the slave seal, I've bought some fluid to top up for the time being. I removed the top of the master cylinder on the bar and poured some fluid in, but.... it just appears to be sitting there? The fluid level that I can see through the plastic hasn't risen. This is probably dumbass 101 but what's going on? I've tried pumping the lever quite a bit but nowt.

D-Rider · #4 Post by **D-Rider** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 12:51 pm

When you removed the reservoir cover, you did remove the rubber diaphragm in the top of the reservoir before topping up I presume?

Can't think of another reason why putting fluid in will not change the level.

Syltiz · #5 Post by **Syltiz** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 1:31 pm

Hang on - if the orangy goop is on the clutch lever then its not the slave thats leaking... its the master cylinder up top?

And Hornetrider... im sorry, but if you poured fluid on top of the rubber diaphragm I might piss myself laughing

D-Rider · #6 Post by **D-Rider** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 3:16 pm

Depends what is meant by this orangey goop. If it's just a bit of a stain and sometimes leaves a drip on the fairing while parked up overnight (especially when the bike's got wet) then it could be that the clutch pivot needs cleaning up and greasing.

Mine does this - had a similar thing with the front brake too - had to do something about it when the lever didn't pop back quite far enough to turn the brake light off.
It's an easy job.
BTW when unscrewing the pivot, make sure you notice the locknut underneath that needs to be removed before you unscrew the pivot.

hornetrider · #7 Post by **hornetrider** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 8:16 am

I did indeed pour it on the diaphragm

Anyway, let's move on shall we, let us not dwell on such trivial matters.

Let's move on to the fact that I realised my error shortly afterwards. After I had been out for a ride and found that despite pulling the lever all the way to the bar, the clutch would not engage. So I limped her home 20 miles without stopping (across several roundabouts and taking a 6 mile detour to avoid a traffic light controlled crossroads!) and managed to get it onto my drive.

I topped up the fluid, but the clutch still doesn't work - the lever pulls to the bar without engaging. Thoughts? Does it need a good bleed?

D-Rider · #8 Post by **D-Rider** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 8:57 am

hornetrider wrote:I did indeed pour it on the diaphragm

..... no, I'm sorry ...... but ......

Bet you won't do that again

hornetrider wrote:
I topped up the fluid, but the clutch still doesn't work - the lever pulls to the bar without engaging. Thoughts? Does it need a good bleed?

I'm guessing the fluid got so low that you started pumping air into the system.
It will need a good bleed - and they can be a bit of a pain.
Kzmille's method is the best - reverse bleeding from the bottom.
https://www.ridersite.com/viewtopic.php?t=3763

A bleed valve added at the top is a good thing too (I've bought one but not added it yet)

hornetrider · #9 Post by **hornetrider** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 9:07 am

Does D-Rider actually exist? Or is he an autobot that replies to everyone's woes within the hour?!

Cheers fella. As you can guess I'm not the most mechanically minded. I'll take a look. It's booked in for a service on Thursday anyway so no dramas if I can't sort it before then.

Fausto · #10 Post by **Fausto** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 4:18 pm

Anyone can make a mistake....

just do a search for a certain D Rider removing his sidestand while the bike was still leaning on it

Samray · #11 Post by **Samray** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 4:54 pm

Aladinsaneuk · #12 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 5:20 pm

you have brightened my day considerably.....

hornetrider · #13 Post by **hornetrider** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 6:11 pm

Well, thanks to D, kzmille and despite my total incompetence - job fecking done! Bosh!

I'll be keeping a close eye on the level and any signs of leakage - I still think it might be the master cylinder due to the goop around the lever.

D-Rider · #14 Post by **D-Rider** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 10:06 pm

hornetrider wrote:Does D-Rider actually exist? Or is he an autobot that replies to everyone's woes within the hour?!

Someone has to be on hand to sort out the things that some forum members end up doing ......

Fausto wrote:Anyone can make a mistake....

just do a search for a certain D Rider removing his sidestand while the bike was still leaning on it

Oy .... I'll have you know that I wasn't removing the sidestand. Someone had asked me for dimensions of the bellypan fixing brackets and I was removing them to measure them.

The fact that one of them may have been bolted to the sidestand mounting bracket and I undid the bolt is neither here nor there

Anyway I did catch the bike and with one hand I managed to get the bolt back in ..... and I won't be doing that again

Syltiz · #15 Post by **Syltiz** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 5:10 am

hornetrider wrote:Well, thanks to D, kzmille and despite my total incompetence - job fecking done! Bosh!

I'll be keeping a close eye on the level and any signs of leakage - I still think it might be the master cylinder due to the goop around the lever.

Well done on getting it sorted, its great that you sorted it all yourself - its the best way to learn.