BuGsBuNnY
Guest
Got the fluid changed in Montpellier and it has been ok up to now but I have not done any long motorway stints. One coming tomorrow into Italy so we 'll see...
no clutch after straight run
- Thread starter dxtans
- Start date
BuGsBuNnY
Guest
Fluid change did not fix much. Will go and see a dealer in Greece first thing monday... Needless to say, I ain't a happy bunny.
graham h
Registered user
BuGsBuNnY
Guest
Terminology and hardware -wise, which is the master, which is the slave, and where are they located on the bike?
Is the one under the fluid container the master?
Is the one under the fluid container the master?
flashtoo
Guest
Yes, the master is on the handlebar and the slave is on the back of the engine buried behind the shock absorber.
My experience is from an '06 GS that I bought used. Two long trips in central USA/Texas heat resulted in a similar experience as the posters on this site. While I never lost the clutch, the engagement point for the clutch was so close to the grip that I thought I would lose the clutch at any moment.
After the motorcycle cools off it works fine, and it usually works fine if I take shorter rides. It is only after an hours-long run that the clutch engagement point gets sketchy.
My mechanic told me that I needed a new slave cylinder and master cylinder. He surmised that the slave was expanding when heating up, restricting the hole that the fluid travels through, keeping the clutch rod from fully returning to its normal position. But he also said that under warranty (which I most definitely am out of) their standard procedure is to replace the master and slave cylinders.
So far the slave is not leaking and my clutch fluid looks clean (no black particles in the reservoir).
I will be bleeding the master sometime in the future (I am away from the machine for the time being), but from the postings here it looks like this is just a temporary fix. Does anyone know for a fact that the master cylinder was redesigned and this is the "official" BMW finding for this set of strange, seemingly heat related clutch problems?
My experience is from an '06 GS that I bought used. Two long trips in central USA/Texas heat resulted in a similar experience as the posters on this site. While I never lost the clutch, the engagement point for the clutch was so close to the grip that I thought I would lose the clutch at any moment.
After the motorcycle cools off it works fine, and it usually works fine if I take shorter rides. It is only after an hours-long run that the clutch engagement point gets sketchy.
My mechanic told me that I needed a new slave cylinder and master cylinder. He surmised that the slave was expanding when heating up, restricting the hole that the fluid travels through, keeping the clutch rod from fully returning to its normal position. But he also said that under warranty (which I most definitely am out of) their standard procedure is to replace the master and slave cylinders.
So far the slave is not leaking and my clutch fluid looks clean (no black particles in the reservoir).
I will be bleeding the master sometime in the future (I am away from the machine for the time being), but from the postings here it looks like this is just a temporary fix. Does anyone know for a fact that the master cylinder was redesigned and this is the "official" BMW finding for this set of strange, seemingly heat related clutch problems?
BuGsBuNnY
Guest
My update...
I got the slave cylinder replaced by a dealer in Thessaloniki, Greece. No chance to test the fix as yet, but I have a 300 mile trip to Athens coming up soon so we 'll see.
I got the slave cylinder replaced by a dealer in Thessaloniki, Greece. No chance to test the fix as yet, but I have a 300 mile trip to Athens coming up soon so we 'll see.
London Mole
Registered user
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!!!
I guess I'll ask for a new clutch lever at my next servicing!
(...for free in my dreams, I doubt very much that will come under BMW warranty!)
...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!!!
I guess I'll ask for a new clutch lever at my next servicing!
(...for free in my dreams, I doubt very much that will come under BMW warranty!)
Just experienced this, came on all of a sudden.
I was mad enough to go to a camping rally in Scotland at the weekend.
On the way home we decided to take the M6 all the way for speed.
Coming off of the motorway for fuel I experianced this.
The lever came all the way back before the clutch bit.
I didn't feel any clutch slip or problems whilst moving, just down changing.
Will bleed up and try again.
What's the usual life expectance of a clutch on the 1200 GS with normal riding? Mine has 40k on the clock.
I was mad enough to go to a camping rally in Scotland at the weekend.
On the way home we decided to take the M6 all the way for speed.
Coming off of the motorway for fuel I experianced this.
The lever came all the way back before the clutch bit.
I didn't feel any clutch slip or problems whilst moving, just down changing.
Will bleed up and try again.
What's the usual life expectance of a clutch on the 1200 GS with normal riding? Mine has 40k on the clock.
graham h
Registered user
Clutch
There has been a general recall for this problem,BMW will re-route the clutch pipe away from the heat of the engine/gearbox this should solve it
There has been a general recall for this problem,BMW will re-route the clutch pipe away from the heat of the engine/gearbox this should solve it
London Mole
Registered user
There has been a general recall for this problem,BMW will re-route the clutch pipe away from the heat of the engine/gearbox this should solve it
Sorry mate, I must have been asleep...
WHAT RECALL???
graham h
Registered user
Recall
Contact BMW ! and ask
Sorry mate, I must have been asleep...
WHAT RECALL???
Contact BMW ! and ask
London Mole
Registered user
Contact BMW ! and ask
I will, thanks.
Something happened to my other half and I last year and I always assumed it was because of a faulty clutch lever...
Hope it won't be too late to have fixed whatever needs to be rectified.
Geoff Crowther
Registered user
I had this problem on a trip to Morocco in Oct. First manifested as I approached Plymouth after about 4 hours on the motorway. The fluid wlas bled at a dealer in Salamanca, Spain, but it came back. it was bled again at service after I returned. I don't do much on motorways so have been unable to check it again. But, after reading about the recall, I just spoke with the service manager at Rainbow. Apparently it is not a general recall but something they will check at service. I'm told it's because BMW routed the clutch pipework on some bikes with a "U" turn in it which can allow air to collect. Since I don't currently have a problem, I'll leave it until the next service or until I'm next in there for anything else.
Cheers
Geoff
Cheers
Geoff
I purchased some Vitamol V10 from Pidcocks and bled the clutch last night, all seems well, renewed feel, all good. Very easy to do, mine has stainless steel bleed nipple as standard.
Unable to disengage clutch after long run
Hi all,
Anyone else had this problem ??? Bike is fine doing short runs but when on the motorway for a longtime the clutch lever comes all the way in before disengaging and sometimes it won´t disengage fully.. Have 09 GSA
Hi all,
Anyone else had this problem ??? Bike is fine doing short runs but when on the motorway for a longtime the clutch lever comes all the way in before disengaging and sometimes it won´t disengage fully.. Have 09 GSA
jon brawn
Registered user
clutch lever problem
Hi All
My 2004 GS has had a problem with the clutch lever pressure fading away for the last twelve months.
I bled the system numerous times then about a month ago I changed the master cylinder, bled the system as per Haynes and after a long motorway run the lever still fades away , pumping resumes the pressure.
I have bled the system lots of times since with the same results.
My local dealer is Wollaston in Northampton and they have always been very helpful.
On chatting about the problem they say its very rare, we chatted about the technical mod to later models (cable ties !!) to remove the loop in the hose.
This loop it was said traps air , I politely said that if the clutch is bled fully how can air be in the system ? There was no conclusive answer.
From all the posts this is a common issue on older machines, has anybody changed both the slave and the master cylinder as a pair ? not a cheap proposition.
Could it be the bleed screw gets corrosion on its tapered seat and allows air into the system , then the air travels up to the lever ?
Hi All
My 2004 GS has had a problem with the clutch lever pressure fading away for the last twelve months.
I bled the system numerous times then about a month ago I changed the master cylinder, bled the system as per Haynes and after a long motorway run the lever still fades away , pumping resumes the pressure.
I have bled the system lots of times since with the same results.
My local dealer is Wollaston in Northampton and they have always been very helpful.
On chatting about the problem they say its very rare, we chatted about the technical mod to later models (cable ties !!) to remove the loop in the hose.
This loop it was said traps air , I politely said that if the clutch is bled fully how can air be in the system ? There was no conclusive answer.
From all the posts this is a common issue on older machines, has anybody changed both the slave and the master cylinder as a pair ? not a cheap proposition.
Could it be the bleed screw gets corrosion on its tapered seat and allows air into the system , then the air travels up to the lever ?
Bendy toy
Registered user
Check the master cylinder has enough fluid, but generally air getting into the system is a symptom of the master cylinder seals leaking. Strip it down. If there are no wear grooves in the cylinder, new seals will have it sorted.
When a slave cylinder is failing fluid leaks out of the seals.
When a slave cylinder is failing fluid leaks out of the seals.
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