Brake fluid leak

[chrismckay]

Hello Guys,
I have just taken my RT 1200 out for its first run of the year. Prior to winter hibernation, I had the dealership change the brake fluid, I'm 200 miles from home and have noticed the front brake fluid reservoir is weeping, nothing major but it is passing the seal enough to notice it.
The fluid level is at the very top of the mark, perhaps even a little over, and the gasket/rubber boot seems a little misshapen, in that it seems to be bowing in the centre whilst you look through the front of the reservoir, the screws are all tight.
Any ideas guys from the above information? Can you purchase a separate gasket if needed?

Chris ☺

 

[steadysteve]

Depends how confident you feel in taking the top off the reservoir and trying to re-seat it. They are usually a bit floppy and need a delicate touch to get them to sit still while you put the lid on. No offence but I'm guessing you don't feel confident enough to do that or you would have done so already.? Sooooo the next step-- contact your dealer and ask them to sort something out with the nearest dealer to your location, possibly maybe.

You could argue with the dealer that the fluid will have absorbed enough moisture over the damp winter months to warrant a complete fluid change, on their tab of course....

 

[TonyBBMW]

I'd call BMW Assist, they can re-seat it, then you have a record of it before you return it to the dealership.

If you don't have Assist, I'd be tempted to get home and ask a local garage to use a hygroscopic tester on the brake fluid before contacting the dealership.

Either way, the leaking brake fluid is likely to start blistering the paint on the exterior of the reservoir or lid, so the dealership should be looking at it.

 

[chrismckay]

Depends how confident you feel in taking the top off the reservoir and trying to re-seat it. They are usually a bit floppy and need a delicate touch to get them to sit still while you put the lid on. No offence but I'm guessing you don't feel confident enough to do that or you would have done so already.? Sooooo the next step-- contact your dealer and ask them to sort something out with the nearest dealer to your location, possibly maybe.

You could argue with the dealer that the fluid will have absorbed enough moisture over the damp winter months to warrant a complete fluid change, on their tab of course....

I like your thinking, I would certainly attempt a re-seat when I'm back home from this ride, it sounds like the rubber boot may be the cause, any tips for seating it?

 

[chrismckay]

Hello Tony,

Yes, the fluid has started to blister the cap of the reservoir.

 

[kennyc]

sounds like it has been overfilled

 

[chrismckay]

sounds like it has been overfilled

Hi Kenny,

I wasn't sure if it was possible to overfill, my thinking was that with all the movement of the fluid... it would be hard to put an upper limit.
Please educate me!!

 

[batman1]

Just make sure that it doesn't get onto the rest of your bike's paintwork, it will knacker paintwork very quickly.

Wash off with lots of warm soapy water, or better still use car shampoo if your worried about detergent on your bike.

 

[Our Gee]

I had exactly the same problem with my Twin Cam which I bought as a BMW approved used bike. When I viewed the bike prior to purchase everything was fine. A week after taking delivery I noticed that the paint on the Front Brake reservoir was wet and flaking off. I took the cover off, to find the fluid level filled to the brim. I removed fluid to get the level down to the midway position, phoned my dealer who accepted they had overfilled it during pre-delivery checks and ordered me a replacement cover which I fitted myself.

 

[flatdog]

There was a recent thread on reservoir leaks on 1200's. (mid 2014 i think)
Do a search.

 

[steadysteve]

Hi Kenny,

I wasn't sure if it was possible to overfill, my thinking was that with all the movement of the fluid... it would be hard to put an upper limit.
Please educate me!!

I've usually found that filling to just above the halfway mark and then putting the diaphragm in causes the level to rise to the top of the glass..

As for reseating it-- it will depend if it has got damaged when they re-fitted it. If it is visibly out of shape then it may be kinked and therefore a pig to re-seat.

 

[chrismckay]

I've usually found that filling to just above the halfway mark and then putting the diaphragm in causes the level to rise to the top of the glass..

As for reseating it-- it will depend if it has got damaged when they re-fitted it. If it is visibly out of shape then it may be kinked and therefore a pig to re-seat.

If the diaphragm is damaged, then wheres a good place to order one online???

 

[Deleted account 260111001]

Rainbow ?

I've had stuff from them in the past, call parts, ask for their advice and give them your vehicle details, even had stuff next day when it's been on the shelf.