Clutch query

[Snoopy]

I've recently found I'm having to pull the clutch lever in as far as it'll go before the clutch completely disengages. During normal riding pulling it in this far is abnormal and hence I'm having gear change issues. I'm aware the typical distance before engage is about 3/4 to 1 inch.

The adjuster only had two turns left before it was at max, I did this and hasn't made enough difference.

Clutch plates were renewed at 25k (now at 47k). Fluid was down but not enough to have air in the pipe and I've since topped up to no effect.

Ideas?

 

[London Mole]

Got nearly the same problem with a genuine BMW clutch lever on my '06 GSA, while on a week-long 1.000 miles trip to France, the little groved "adjuster" snapped off and as I was slowing down from 85mph, in the wet, before a French toll...
...I pulled the lever all the way until it touched the handlebar grip!!!
I had never downshifted without de-clutching before, pretty scary, especially while fully loaded with pillion, all boxes filled up, etc... in the middle of a storm with heavy downpours and 50mph gusts!!!

For weeks I thought that it was because of the "adjuster" but...

... there is a thread with a few entries from other members who have had the same "symptoms", where clutch master/slave cylinders have failured, some of them replaced under warranty.

 

[st247]

I've recently found I'm having to pull the clutch lever in as far as it'll go before the clutch completely disengages. During normal riding pulling it in this far is abnormal and hence I'm having gear change issues. I'm aware the typical distance before engage is about 3/4 to 1 inch.

The adjuster only had two turns left before it was at max, I did this and hasn't made enough difference.

Clutch plates were renewed at 25k (now at 47k). Fluid was down but not enough to have air in the pipe and I've since topped up to no effect.

Ideas?

I believe the fluid rises in the resovoir as the clutch wears. So if it's dropping you have a leak somewhere in the system.

 

[Steptoe]

. Fluid was down but not enough to have air in the pipe and I've since topped up to no effect.

Ideas?

What colour fluid did you top up with, and what colour fluid was already in the system ?

The new fluid is red. You need to flush the system if your fluid is the older yellow fluid. They aren't compatable.

 

[Bronco Billy]

The new red stuff is designed to turn orange if there is any yellow residue left in the system.

 

[Snoopy]

That's all it was, so low in the pot a bit of air was in it. I'm not sure where it disappeared to.

As for filling it I was cheap and used neither ... used a WD40 type mineral oil. I had it to hand.

Bike now gear changing like a 1200 and not an 1150. Bliss

 

[DrFarkoff]

That's all it was, so low in the pot a bit of air was in it. I'm not sure where it disappeared to.

As for filling it I was cheap and used neither ... used a WD40 type mineral oil. I had it to hand.

Oh Good call Droopy use some schite you found in the garage and then wonder why your seals fall out and you have another Big Repair Bill!!!

I fcukin give up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Snoopy]

Good. Then be quiet with you.

If you haven't worked it out yet, I don't give a flying f*ck.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

As for filling it I was cheap and used neither ... used a WD40 type mineral oil. I had it to hand.

No wonder you get problems

 

[Steptoe]

The new red stuff is designed to turn orange if there is any yellow residue left in the system.

I expect the clutch failing to disengage would also be a sign of the fluids mixing.

 

[Bronco Billy]

I expect the clutch failing to disengage would also be a sign of the fluids mixing.

I have been involved with fluids and their applications for many years. Failing to disengage can be a sympton of mixing your fluids ..