1150GS Clutch Master Cylinder Leak ?

[biscuit3720]

Hi,

I have a 2001 R1150GS which has a problem with the clutch. Symptoms are the same as when air gets into a hydraulic line, i.e. spongy feeling and excessive lever travel. I bled about 500 cc of fluid through the clutch line and it was still coming out with a significant amount of air entrained in the fluid. Also, the fluid in the master cylinder was a grey colour, which to me looked liked the colour you get from abraded aluminium. There has been no drop in the level of the hydraulic fluid since for at least 2 years.

Anyway, my best guess is that the clutch master cylinder piston and seals are US, so I have ordered a clutch master cylinder repair kit from MotorWorks.

Having read various threads in this forum it seems like the slave cylinder and associated pipes/connectors gives problems on the 1150GS. As my problem seems to be air in the line, and not leaking fluid, do you think that my problem is the master cylinder, or should I also investigate the slave cylinder. Don't really want to fork out for a slave cylinder unless it is really necessary.

Cheers

 

[Steptoe]

Sounds like the slave cylinder.

 

[how much]

Agree with Steptoe 100%

i wasted money on a master cylinder seal kit too

should of just bought a replacement slave cylinder in the first place


my clutch symptoms were exactly the same as yours.....

found the slave cylinder was leaking into the clutch housing (not onto the floor)


oh.....


sit down before you ring for a price on the slave cylinder.........




how much

 

[Steptoe]

sit down before you ring for a price on the slave cylinder.........

how much

Approx £75. Plus the 4 small clutch fluid line washers, and the slave cylinder/geabox gasket.

 

[biscuit3720]

Thanks For Advice - where Does The Oil Go ?

Thanks to the people who replied to my question. Was hoping it wasn't the slave cylinder, but such is life. Anyway, as I already have the master cylinder repair kit on order I will try fitting this first as it looks like an easy job.

Then will see how I get on but from what I have heard will probably need a slave cylinder as well, which seems like a more involved job.

Only concern I have is if the slave cylinder is leaking into the gearbox housing is there any chance of it contaminating the gearbox oil or getting onto the clutch plates. I was assuming that any hydraulic oil that leaked from the slave cylinder would be contained by the pushrod seals, but was not sure.

Thanks.

 

[Cornish Bob]

Thanks to the people who replied to my question. Was hoping it wasn't the slave cylinder, but such is life. Anyway, as I already have the master cylinder repair kit on order I will try fitting this first as it looks like an easy job.

Then will see how I get on but from what I have heard will probably need a slave cylinder as well, which seems like a more involved job.

Only concern I have is if the slave cylinder is leaking into the gearbox housing is there any chance of it contaminating the gearbox oil or getting onto the clutch plates. I was assuming that any hydraulic oil that leaked from the slave cylinder would be contained by the pushrod seals, but was not sure.

Thanks.

There is a felt seal on the clutch push rod, (to stop the fluid going through the hollow gearbox mainshaft which the pushrod runs through and getting on the clutch), you need to withdraw the push rod and replace the seal, also lubricate the tapered shoulder of the push rod at the clutch end with a little (I think) molybdinium grease, if you don't, you may find that you can't withdraw it in the future and then have to pull the box out. Mine didn't bypass the seal, luckily it was forced into the gearbox, so you could check the level and see if it has risen if you have been loosing fluid from your master cylinder.

 

[Voyager]

My clutch slave cylinder packed up on the way home from Morocco last October. Fortunately I managed to nurse it home at the end of the run from Plymouth to Edinburgh.

I wasn't loosing much fluid - just getting air into the cylinder. The fluid that I bled out was almost black. The 2004 bike had done about 18,000 miles by then.

You will need a set of long, ball-ended allan keys and a lot of patience. access is rather restricted but it is possible.

Order some extra alloy sealing washers. One of mine didn't seal first time as I must have nipped it (working blind).

Good luck.

Bob.