1150 clutch release

[Richard J]

Any advice would be good chaps.

2003 1150 @40000 miles

The clutch lever needs to be pulled almost right back to the bars to disengage drive. Gear changes are getting more clunky (so its probably not disengaging fully) and there is a squeaking sound (in neutral or gear)when the clutch is released(goes as soon as the lever is pulled back slightly)
The clutch is not slipping

Is it big strip time or just a hydraulic problem (fluid level seems OK and no obvious signs of a leak)?

Thanks

 

[Ugly Cow]

Clutch not clearing properly may just be excessive air in the system, just bleed it. No idea what the noise could be though.

 

[craig10]

The same thing happened to mine, lost half the lever travel, had to adjust the span to be able to engage gears, 100 miles later lost all the lever travel, the clutch slave cylinder had packed up totally. They seem to go at about 30-40000 miles, do a quick search on here to see for yourself.

The noise is maybe the (miniscule) clutch release bearing (built into the slave cyl) squealing.

Sherlock was quite a bit cheaper for the new slave cyl as I remember. No need to remove the swingarm but it's a very fiddly job to get to the allen screws if you don't, think I used a spanner on an allen key bit to get to one of them. Also the cyl will only come out at just the right angle as well.

Have fun!

 

[GSART]

just done mine. took about an hour or so, changed the standard clutch hose too as the corrode at the bottom.

 

[craig10]

changed the standard clutch hose too as the corrode at the bottom.

+1, mine crumbled apart as I undid the banjo bolt

 

[craig10]

+1, mine crumbled apart as I undid the banjo bolt

Changed for a stainless braided hose from the 1150 Adventure

 

[Welshman]

Changed for a stainless braided hose from the 1150 Adventure

I live in Johannesburg, nothing corrodes here, that hose did, its designed to, you finish a dirty dusty or muddy ride, hose it off the rubber cover on the hose makes sure it keeps it damp so it can rust, but it lasted 10 years

 

[Richard J]

Thanks for all the replies
I had a better look under the back of the bike tonight and sure enough there is a ring of dampness (clutch fluid) and corrosion around the pipe.

So that needs to be replaced BUT is it worth changing the slave cylinder at the same time or pull it out and check it then wait for the parts if needed

 

[Steptoe]

Thanks for all the replies
I had a better look under the back of the bike tonight and sure enough there is a ring of dampness (clutch fluid) and corrosion around the pipe.

So that needs to be replaced BUT is it worth changing the slave cylinder at the same time or pull it out and check it then wait for the parts if needed

If you have a squeak and the lever has changed it's biting point i'd say the thrust bearing in the clutch slave cylinder has failed - Replace the slave cylinder.
Check the colour of the clutch fluid. If it's a silvery/greeny/grey colour then it definatly has failed.

A ring of dampness doesn't mean the hose has failed, it's usually caused by the 4 small ali washers used on the bleed pipe and the main pipe banjo bolts that have corroded.
If you replace the slave cylinder you must use new ali washers.

 

[Boxergs]

washers

I had similar issue last year although it was p!ssing fluid out. Got a replacement slave cylinder but it was the aluminium washers that had corroded. Replaced with copper ones and put new slave on. Old one is still in the garage.

Bloody annoying that BM didn't use copper washers in the first place tho.

Pretty sure Steptoe correctly diagnosed mine as well