1150 Adv - Clutch slave failure?

[MikeO]

Hi there,

I think the clutch slave cylinder has failed on my 2003 1150 Adv. It was a new unit in early 2013, when I had a gearbox fitted by Steve Scriminger. Symptoms are similar to a cable clutch being well out of adjustment, with the drag gradually getting worse until it's impossible to disengage drive other than by pumping the clutch lever half a dozen times.

Thankfully it happened on the motorway journey back from my holiday.

Is there anything else that might cause the same symptoms? Leaking clutch line for example?

I'm minded to drop it in to my local(ish) BMW independent and get him to look at it, as my garage is not a friendly working environment at the moment.

I'm also considering getting a replacement clutch line whilst I'm at it - the original isn't braided like the brake lines - any recommendations for a source?

Cheers,

Mike

 

[jbox]

just waiting to get my slave cylinder done too
got a goodridge clutch line from one of the usual suspects........
motobins I think do it

 

[fatnfast]

Has the clutch fluid level dropped indicating a leak at all? I thought all GSA's had stainless braided clutch hose as stock (I fitted the GSA one to my standard 1150).
I would have a peek at the top of the slave cylinder to see if there are any wet patches. The BMW ally crush washers can corrode away and cause a leak. Seems to soon for the actual slave to have given up. If there is no fluid loss maybe it's an issue with the clutch master cylinder?

Not a difficult job to do especially if you have a y-piece fitted to allow better access.

 

[greenlaningxt]

I just got a venhill replacement hose from motobins, well made and a good price compared to what's around. My old one is very rusty at slave end, also found pushrod worn at clutch end and bearing in slave cylinder well worn. Not a job I am looking forward now it's all back together as it looks quite tight.

 

[DrAlf]

I just got a venhill replacement hose from motobins, well made and a good price compared to what's around. My old one is very rusty at slave end, also found pushrod worn at clutch end and bearing in slave cylinder well worn. Not a job I am looking forward now it's all back together as it looks quite tight.

IIRC you can remove the slave cylinder without even taking the shock off - however you do need a good set of long ball headed hex keys. It's not a difficult job. If you're going to dismantle the slave cylinder to try and replace the bearing be warned that the spring is under quite a bit of pressure - safety glasses recommended. When I last had issues with the slave cylinder I had to replace the entire unit - individual parts were not available at the time from BMW - possibly available from other sources but I didn't have the luxury of time. Good luck

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I'm also considering getting a replacement clutch line whilst I'm at it - the original isn't braided like the brake lines - any recommendations for a source?

Cheers,

Mike

Both my 2005 GSA's have braided clutch lines, just like the brake lines

Perhaps yours was swapped for a 1150GS rubber one at some point, before your ownership - seems strange

 

[MikeO]

Both my 2005 GSA's have braided clutch lines, just like the brake lines

Perhaps yours was swapped for a 1150GS rubber one at some point, before your ownership - seems strange

Neither of mine had - just ordinary black hydraulic lines.

New stainless one arrived from Motobins this morning - bike is off to my local independent tomorrow...

 

[MikeO]

IIRC you can remove the slave cylinder without even taking the shock off - however you do need a good set of long ball headed hex keys. It's not a difficult job. If you're going to dismantle the slave cylinder to try and replace the bearing be warned that the spring is under quite a bit of pressure - safety glasses recommended. When I last had issues with the slave cylinder I had to replace the entire unit - individual parts were not available at the time from BMW - possibly available from other sources but I didn't have the luxury of time. Good luck

Thanks Dr Alf, but I'm going to leave this with my local independent (my garage is too cramped to mess about in at the moment).

When I ordered my new clutch line from Motobins, they told me there is now a repair kit available - they suggest holding off on ordering anything until I knew what the snag was - which I'm quite happy to. I have no need of the bike for a couple of weeks, so it can be sorted in slow time.

I shall be interested to see what has failed, though - just over two years and 10k miles (in overwhelmingly good weather) hardly strikes me as a good component life...

Thanks to everyone for their advice and suggestions...

Mike

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Neither of mine had - just ordinary black hydraulic lines.

New stainless one arrived from Motobins this morning - bike is off to my local independent tomorrow...

Very weird,Mike

Both mine have silver stainless braided lines, with stainless steel banjo's at both ends - built in April or May 2005

I thought all Adv had them, but there may have been a cross-over in build, when BMW realised the deficiencies of the rubber hoses - all 1200's have stainless clutch and brake lines

 

[MikeO]

Very weird,Mike

Both mine have silver stainless braided lines, with stainless steel banjo's at both ends - built in April or May 2005

I thought all Adv had them, but there may have been a cross-over in build, when BMW realised the deficiencies of the rubber hoses - all 1200's have stainless clutch and brake lines

Could be - my first Adv was a launch date model, this one is 2003...

 

[MikeO]

 

[Udders]

Hi Mike, who is this local independent you speak of? I need someone to take a look at my final drive / wheel bearing area. There's movement where there shouldn't be.

 

[MikeO]

Hi Mike, who is this local independent you speak of? I need someone to take a look at my final drive / wheel bearing area. There's movement where there shouldn't be.

It's KRF - Kevin used to be one of the BMW techs at Lind before they stopped selling bikes (and then - long after - started again).

07501 275345

Unit 3 Bessemer Road
Norwich
NR4 6DQ

Cheers,

Mike

 

[Slipperyeel]

Mike. Your clutch line almost looks like a cable . If it wasn't for the banjo bolt I would have sworn it was.

But could it be a braided line but with a black sheathing?


Sent from my SM-N910F using Tapatalk

 

[MikeO]

Mike. Your clutch line almost looks like a cable . If it wasn't for the banjo bolt I would have sworn it was.

But could it be a braided line but with a black sheathing?


Sent from my SM-N910F using Tapatalk

It could be, but from JB's description of the line fitted to his bikes, it's probably not...

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

It could be, but from JB's description of the line fitted to his bikes, it's probably not...

Yours looks like a 1150GS clutch line for deffo

 

[Udders]

It's KRF - Kevin used to be one of the BMW techs at Lind before they stopped selling bikes (and then - long after - started again).

07501 275345

Unit 3 Bessemer Road
Norwich
NR4 6DQ

Cheers,

Mike

Ta muchly.

 

[Ash]

My July build 03 GSA has the same as Mike's picture above. ..

 

[Welshman]

If I remember rightly, many moons ago St Eptoe reported on a similar issue, not the hoses, not the slave, the aluminium crush washers at the slave had corroded away due to your salty roads and were weeping.

 

[Steptoe]

If I remember rightly, many moons ago St Eptoe reported on a similar issue, not the hoses, not the slave, the aluminium crush washers at the slave had corroded away due to your salty roads and were weeping.

Yes, a pretty common problem .. Early ADV models had the same clutch line as the standard GS- the problem isn't with the actual "line", but with the banjo Union which corrodes under the rubber sleeve . Easily cured by cutting away the rubber sleeve so no water can get trapped. Do that and you'll never have a problem, as I've previously posted over the years .