Adjusting the engagement pint of a Wethead Clutch or Brake! (pictorial)

JimVonBaden

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This process is identical for either the brake or the clutch. It takes almost no time to get the engagement point either closer, or further away from the grip.
NOTE: I have aftermarket levers, but they use the stock plungers. There is no difference in the process.
First, you need to remove the T-25 Torx that holds the inside point on your hand guards. (Not needed on the RT/RS/R.)
01%20Clutch%20Lever%20Adjust%2014%20copy.jpg

Move the hand guard out of the way.
Clutch%20Lever%20Adjust%2017.jpg

Push the hand guard mount to the right to clear the lever mount bolt.
Clutch%20Lever%20Adjust%2017.jpg

Use the T-25 Torx to turn the mount bolr.
03%20Clutch%20Lever%20Adjust%2018%20copy.jpg

On the bottom is an 8mm nut that you need to hold.
05%20Clutch%20Lever%20Adjust%2020%20copy.jpg

Once the nut is off, push up the bolt until you can grab it and pull it all the way out.
05%20Clutch%20Lever%20Adjust%2023.jpg

Once the bolt is out, simply pull the lever until the plunger pops out.
05%20Clutch%20Lever%20Adjust%2026%20copy.jpg

Now you can see the plunger. This is the part you adjust.
Clutch%20Lever%20Adjust%2028.jpg

Clutch%20Lever%20Adjust%2029.jpg

Before you start, not the number of exposed threads so you can bring it bact to where it was if you need to later.
07%20Clutch%20Lever%20Adjust%2033%20copy.jpg

It takes a 2mm Allen to loosen the set screw. You will have to first clean out the pain to get the Allen to go in the hole to loosen it.
06%20Clutch%20Lever%20Adjust%2030%20copy.jpg

Once the set screw is loose, you use the 2mm Allen to adjust the distance the plunger goes into the master cylinder. The more it goes in the sooner you will get engagement. Turn it in Clockwise from the perspective of the plunger) to bring the lever closer to the grip when engagement starts, and turn it out (counterclockwise) to move engagement away from the grip. I suggest moving it only one turn at a time at most. Reinstall and test.
Clutch%20Lever%20Adjust%2032.jpg

Once adjusted, tighten the set screw to 4Nm, or just lightly snug.
06%20Clutch%20Lever%20Adjust%2030%20copy.jpg

Install the lever and plunger by pushing it into the master cylinder rubber seal. Make sure you push it directly into the hole or the rubber will be pushed out of shape. You will feel it pop into place.
07%20Clutch%20Lever%20Adjust%2034%20copy.jpg

Clutch%20Lever%20Adjust%2026.jpg

Put the lever retaining bolt back in, but not the 8mm nut. This is the time to test the engagement point. On the clutch you need it running and in gear to test it.
05%20Clutch%20Lever%20Adjust%2022.jpg

If it is good, install the 8mm nut and snug down to 8Nm. It bottoms on the shoulder of the bolt, and is a locking nut, so no need to gorilla it.
05%20Clutch%20Lever%20Adjust%2020%20copy.jpg

Now put the T-25 Torx back in and you are good to go.
01%20Clutch%20Lever%20Adjust%2014%20copy.jpg

Remember, this process is the same for the brake or clutch.
Jim :cool
 
You Americans are so good at explaining things ! Nice post ..thanks Jim
 
Thanks guys.

Just an added FYI. If you can get the set screw loose while the levers are in place, you can adjust without taking it apart.

Jim :cool:
 
"NOTE: I have aftermarket levers, but they use the stock plungers. There is no difference in the process."

It's the same.
 
That micro switch looks rather vulnerable to water, grit etc..

Funny you should say that, i thought my brake light was sticking on but because of the way / time the light was staying on, I didn't know whether it was a pressure sensor in the system or a micro switch like that one. As its a micro switch I'm going to have a look / clean of it.
 
I would like to share a not so nice experience I had with these adjustments...

On a 2013 GSLC I made these adjustments to my front brake lever. My intention was to to make the front brake engage sooner, as soon as I pulled the lever in.

I made the adjustment by about turning this screw about one turn in while the bike has been cold as it was not being used for at least the prior night.

The next day, a summer saturday, I went for a day trip with a few friends and we had a lot of fun in the twisties, that is at least untill suddenly my brakes locked up !

I was very, very lucky that it happened while going downhill on straight part of the road ! I prefer not to think what might would have happened if I were on sharp turn...

I think the lock up happened after the brake fluid heated up due to high brake usage.

It was enough to turn the screw back to its originl setting and everything started working again.

After my experience I STRONGLY RECOMEND NOT TO PLAY WITH THIS ADJUSTMENT !!!

Andre
 
Last edited:
"I think the lock up happened after the brake fluid heated up due to high brake usage."

I'm not sure but I thought any expansion of the fluid would have just bled into the reservoir???????
 
yes in theory it would, thats weird, unless the adjustment was so much that it was slightly pushing the piston in without the lever being pulled, so oil in the brake lines was 'trapped' ??
 
Thank you for this information Jim. :)

The huge amount of clutch lever movement, required to disengage the speed control, is not to my liking. Now that I know where that micro switch is I will go look and see if I can change the "trip" point.
 
Great explanation thank you!

This process is identical for either the brake or the clutch. It takes almost no time to get the engagement point either closer, or further away from the grip.
NOTE: I have aftermarket levers, but they use the stock plungers. There is no difference in the process.
First, you need to remove the T-25 Torx that holds the inside point on your hand guards. (Not needed on the RT/RS/R.)
01%20Clutch%20Lever%20Adjust%2014%20copy.jpg

Move the hand guard out of the way.
Clutch%20Lever%20Adjust%2017.jpg

Push the hand guard mount to the right to clear the lever mount bolt.
Clutch%20Lever%20Adjust%2017.jpg

Use the T-25 Torx to turn the mount bolr.
03%20Clutch%20Lever%20Adjust%2018%20copy.jpg

On the bottom is an 8mm nut that you need to hold.
05%20Clutch%20Lever%20Adjust%2020%20copy.jpg

Once the nut is off, push up the bolt until you can grab it and pull it all the way out.
05%20Clutch%20Lever%20Adjust%2023.jpg

Once the bolt is out, simply pull the lever until the plunger pops out.
05%20Clutch%20Lever%20Adjust%2026%20copy.jpg

Now you can see the plunger. This is the part you adjust.
Clutch%20Lever%20Adjust%2028.jpg

Clutch%20Lever%20Adjust%2029.jpg

Before you start, not the number of exposed threads so you can bring it bact to where it was if you need to later.
07%20Clutch%20Lever%20Adjust%2033%20copy.jpg

It takes a 2mm Allen to loosen the set screw. You will have to first clean out the pain to get the Allen to go in the hole to loosen it.
06%20Clutch%20Lever%20Adjust%2030%20copy.jpg

Once the set screw is loose, you use the 2mm Allen to adjust the distance the plunger goes into the master cylinder. The more it goes in the sooner you will get engagement. Turn it in Clockwise from the perspective of the plunger) to bring the lever closer to the grip when engagement starts, and turn it out (counterclockwise) to move engagement away from the grip. I suggest moving it only one turn at a time at most. Reinstall and test.
Clutch%20Lever%20Adjust%2032.jpg

Once adjusted, tighten the set screw to 4Nm, or just lightly snug.
06%20Clutch%20Lever%20Adjust%2030%20copy.jpg

Install the lever and plunger by pushing it into the master cylinder rubber seal. Make sure you push it directly into the hole or the rubber will be pushed out of shape. You will feel it pop into place.
07%20Clutch%20Lever%20Adjust%2034%20copy.jpg

Clutch%20Lever%20Adjust%2026.jpg

Put the lever retaining bolt back in, but not the 8mm nut. This is the time to test the engagement point. On the clutch you need it running and in gear to test it.
05%20Clutch%20Lever%20Adjust%2022.jpg

If it is good, install the 8mm nut and snug down to 8Nm. It bottoms on the shoulder of the bolt, and is a locking nut, so no need to gorilla it.
05%20Clutch%20Lever%20Adjust%2020%20copy.jpg

Now put the T-25 Torx back in and you are good to go.
01%20Clutch%20Lever%20Adjust%2014%20copy.jpg

Remember, this process is the same for the brake or clutch.
Jim :cool


Thank you so much for this clear explanation, the GSA is the 1st bike I have had this problem with, the bite point was very far out and a real pain especially off road, the lever adjustment wheel didn't make much difference hopefully adjustment of the piston length will sort the problem. Thanks again

:bow
 
A friend of mine has an LC which suffers from clutch 'drag' is this a way of solving that issue?
 
What the original poster forgot to mention is that you have to be careful and leave enough play on the brake lever not to trigger the brakes...which could cause premature brake wear at best or make them hot at worst.You have to hook the bike to the BMW service computer to see this when they start to trigger the electric pump for the rear brake.I learned that myself the hard way after having the brakes unsuccessfully bled a few times and they still were too spongy not to squish my outside fingers...Changed to ABM 2-finger levers and adjusted them as tight as possible without triggering the servo...
On the clutch side too tight won't be dangerous but too tight can create clutch-slip with premature clutch-wear dangerous to the wallet...:D
Just adding a few words of caution to these "ADV" gurus...;)
 
So let me get this right. I want the biting point nearer to the handle bars so the plunger needs to be turned clock wise so it goes further into the mechanism ?
 
Good post Jim,
There should be a small amount of play at the lever before the pushrod contacts the piston,
if the piston is slightly loaded the fluid won't return and when it heats up may cause symptoms as previously mentioned,
I fitted shorty levers and the adjustment needed altering, which was done with levers in situ,
if the rubber boot won't push up the push rod, it can be picked out and fitted to the rod and pushed back in with the end of a 1/4 drive socket extention,
Roamer
 


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