Clutch (or lack of) problem.

[diplomaticdanny]

Currently in France and have almost completely lost my clutch.

Am riding all day without using clutch but bit of a problem at stop signs, traffic lights and toll booths.

Occasionally I can get it into neutral just before I need to stop, otherwise I just have to brake until it stalls in 1st gear. After stopping, I have managed so far to get just enough clutch to get into 1st and pull away, although this took six attempts at the front of a queue in valence this evening, some of which I had to overtake in dodgy places as I couldn't stop.

When moving, there is no issue, no slipping and it's fairly easy to ride without attempting to use the clutch, but it's not much fun.

Pukmeister is here with me and has taken a small amount of fluid out of the reservoir thinking that the level was getting too high due to wear, the fluid was a dirty brown silty colour and looked like it might have filings in it.

This hasn't really helped, next step is to find some mineral oil and bleed the system before trying to get to BMW Gap on Monday.

Anyone got any suggestions?

 

[trainman]

dont know age of your bike so this is a long shot but there were issues with clutch line routing allegedly allowing air to trap in the line and/or fluid to heat soak from the engine when blatting along for long periods in warm weather, hopefully someone may be along who can be more explicit on what was done!

unless you are in hot weather maybe this doesn't apply

 

[diplomaticdanny]

Bike is an 06 adventure, had been a long day, Southampton to Troyes at pretty much 80 mph for a lot of it.

Hoping it is air cause that is sortable if we can find the right oil.

 

[trainman]

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=572508

worth a check as its so easy to see - the bit that mentions the recall suggest cavitation due to vibration

of course it could just be old oil plus extended heating

anyway good luck!!

 

[roamer]

Don't worry about the clutch oil, castrol Lhm is sold at many supermarkets,
It's a mineral hydraulic oil, used in citroens, just pump it through to replace what's in,
The silt may be rubber particles from wearing seals, there may be a slight air leak,
Flushing through should restore it at least for the trip,
Good luck

 

[trainman]

Don't worry about the clutch oil, castrol Lhm is sold at many supermarkets,
It's a mineral hydraulic oil, used in citroens, just pump it through to replace what's in,
The silt may be rubber particles from wearing seals, there may be a slight air leak,
Flushing through should restore it at least for the trip,
Good luck

KTM's use it too

 

[diplomaticdanny]

Thanks for the replies, on the way to the only supermarket open in valence today, will update later.

 

[Bendy toy]

When mine played up I noticed bubbles escaped into reservoir as lever moved slowly. I got a better action by watching until bubbles stopped. Flushing through with new fluid couldn't shift them.

 

[diplomaticdanny]

Well, found some LHM in a supermarket, three engineers on the trip then set about bleeding the system, working better now than it has been for years.

€10 for the oi, 20 minutes in the carpark and sorted.

Today's ride was a real pleasure again, took the curvy road option from Valence to Dignes Les Bains, nice to have a clutch again.

 

[adventuredon]

Had exact same issue 2 weeks ago. Exact symptoms. Sudden onset, qll good except in traffic, stopping. Replaced slave and master cylinders under my ext warranty

 

[diplomaticdanny]

Had exact same issue 2 weeks ago. Exact symptoms. Sudden onset, qll good except in traffic, stopping. Replaced slave and master cylinders under my ext warranty

Bahnstormers said they will probably do the same when I get home under my ext warranty.

 

[Stevie4scoops]

My LC has inconsistent clutch leaver pressure problems and has been at Cotswold Gloucester for the last week. Keeping my fingers crossed it gets sorted very soon.

 

[Bendy toy]

Well, found some LHM in a supermarket, three engineers on the trip then set about bleeding the system, working better now than it has been for years.

€10 for the oi, 20 minutes in the carpark and sorted.

Today's ride was a real pleasure again, took the curvy road option from Valence to Dignes Les Bains, nice to have a clutch again.

Use some tissue to check if the slave cylinder banjo is leaking. Mine was untouched but developed leak that led me to replacing a perfectly good slave cylinder. As already said I cured the problem with Dowty washers like these.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dowty-Was...t=LH_DefaultDomain_3&var=&hash=item35e98f90ea

 

[roamer]

Well, found some LHM in a supermarket, three engineers on the trip then set about bleeding the system, working better now than it has been for years.

€10 for the oi, 20 minutes in the carpark and sorted.

Today's ride was a real pleasure again, took the curvy road option from Valence to Dignes Les Bains, nice to have a clutch again.

Good news Danny, pleased it worked for you, Lhm is capable of brake temperatures, and very high pressures,
There will be seal wear, good to hear the dealer is offering replacements,
I was down that way for a 10 day trip in March , went from Millau across to dignes, then gap and the gorges du verdon,
Have a great time, it should hold until you get home,, Roamer

 

[buncobooth]

My LC has inconsistent clutch leaver pressure problems and has been at Cotswold Gloucester for the last week. Keeping my fingers crossed it gets sorted very soon.

I would be more worried about leaving my bike with Cotswold Gloucester than the clutch problem