r1200gs clutch

[shaunhogbuilder]

any one had this prob before i start looking in to it further , just been round europe about 4000 miles , clutch fault apeared in early stage of trip but got me home all right , problem is after crusing down road after about 40 mile the clutch lever travel nearly comes back to the handle bar before any resistance is felt , clutch still clears , after a couple of gear changes back to normal , but after few more miles back to lots of free play. also when clutch seems to get a lot lighter to pull in , no clutch slip at all even fully loaded and 2 up . any come across this before , cant make me mind up weather it clutch or the hydraulic side , cheers shaun

 

[alex_rsa]

Sounds hydraulic, the release point of the clutch gets closer to the guard as the plate wears.

 

[G5RJO]

There was a recall for this whereby BMW re-routed the clutch line by adding another cable tie.

Check yours has been done. It always manifests itself after a long run with no clutch use, I had issues approaching the channel tunnel booth a few years ago. Pulled the clutch lever - nothing, flat to the bar Had to stall it out to stop as too late to cog it down to neutral without a clutch.

Think it was to do with overheating and boiling the fluid...

Roger.

 

[shaunhogbuilder]

cheers for that , sounds like same prob, cheers

 

[geotim]

Sounds hydraulic, the release point of the clutch gets closer to the guard as the plate wears.

Closer to the hand guard or closer to the hand grip / handle bar?

 

[alex_rsa]

The bite point gets closer to the hand guard as it wears.

 

[mherkin]

I had this on my 2004. It would progressively get worse with the level back to the bars and then recover. Did it a couple of times an then was all ok until total failure two up in the north of Scotland two up.

Clutch slave cylinder was replaced.

Carry some of the right clutch fluid DOT5? which might get you home but I couldn't find that where I was!

 

[Roberto]

I had this on my 2004. It would progressively get worse with the level back to the bars and then recover...

...Clutch slave cylinder was replaced...

Had the same problem on my 2009 GSA, and the same solution too.

Good luck with getting it sorted

 

[ThorH]

Experienced it once. It was on a ride from Hamburg to Copenhagen this summer, doing around 140 km/h for hours in 35C, with panniers etc. Felt more like a little air in the system than boiling fluid (as when your brakes overheat), the clutch worked when I pumped it. But the problem persisted throughout the day until the bike cooled down, but has never come back. So my guess is still overheating.

The fluid was changed a year earlier, and should be ok. My clutch cable was rerouted a few weeks earlier by BMW in Munich, so I initially blamed them. But if they only added a cable tie...

 

[G5RJO]

......
Carry some of the right clutch fluid DOT5? which might get you home but I couldn't find that where I was!

NO NO NO!

NOT DOT5

Its mineral oil in the clutch... DOT5 WILL cock it up..Read the cap and RTFM

Roger.

 

[Rasher]

Mine did this (and was supposedly post re-call model)

I mentioned it to the dealer when I took it in to have all the other faults the bike developed on the tour fixed, they said they could not find anything wrong - probably because the fault does not show up on a short test ride.

Mentioned it again when bike went for next service and they bled the system, seemed fine on next long trip, not certain if it is something that build voer time with air in system, or sign of something wearing out.

Horrible feeling on day one of your holiday and wondering if the bike is gonna make it, but if anyone else experiences this it seems not to be anything to worry about too much.

Trouble is it tends to show up when you do a huge amount of motorway miles, which many owners only do when setting off far away.

 

[Pukmeister]

NO NO NO!

NOT DOT5

Its mineral oil in the clutch... DOT5 WILL cock it up..Read the cap and RTFM

Roger.

Vitamol V10 or some Citroen LHM hydraulic fluid available from motor factors.

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=297761

 

[mherkin]

NO NO NO!

NOT DOT5

Its mineral oil in the clutch... DOT5 WILL cock it up..Read the cap and RTFM

Roger.

Hence the question mark. No manual to hand when I posted. RTFP

 

[shaunhogbuilder]

well seemed to have cured it , changed clutch fluid , just done a nother 2000 mile trip no probs at all , so if any one else suffers with this prob , try this first. oil was very black that come out.

 

[Timebomb]

well seemed to have cured it , changed clutch fluid , just done a nother 2000 mile trip no probs at all , so if any one else suffers with this prob , try this first. oil was very black that come out.

Sounds like an impending clutch slave failure from my reading and inexperience...

 

[Rasher]

Sounds like an impending clutch slave failure from my reading and inexperience...

I was worried it was a sort of pre-failure warning, it did this on a trip and when I got back it had done about 14k, the dealer bled the fluid and "fiddled" with the hose routing (there was a re-call for this but my bike was post-issue) and it then went on to 20k with it not re-occuring (Including another Euro-trip with mucho motorway cruising.

Probably trapped air, my Yamaha lever went a bit like this (but when left sat for a week or so)not long after I got it, but has been fine for the last few thousand miles.

Seems many bikes do this, but few (if any) go on to a bigger failure shortly aferwards.

 

[snowr0]

T.F.F.T.!

The worries easing!
Been using me GS for work for a few weeks to gain confidence before heading to foreign climbs, and was really getting concerned after 30 miles on M6 / M54 having real difficulty in knocking down from 6th and lever biting so close to the handlebar!
At last, hopefully the reason is explained!
Any idea where BMW fit this extra cable tie on the pipe? Where does it route the pipe from standard?
Have the bike booked in with RGM for 18K and brake service on Friday (anyone any experience of RGM, Croston, Preston way) so reckon a fluid change will be requested also!

 

[snowr0]

18k service complete, clutch fluid changed and bled as air noted in pipe, difference is amazing! Kicks down so much easier, clutch free play still varies with heat, but not like it used to be.
Recommend RGM at Croston, near Preston, nice bloke, good knowledge and attitude, and saved me money!

 

[(RIP) Miff]

Just thinking out loud, but...

As the clutch wears, the fluid in the master cylinder actually RISES (ie. increases). I can't see why it would cause this problem, but if the master cylinder is TOO full, then surely it would cause problems??

 

[snowr0]

After understanding that fluid level rises with wear, checked level which was full to reservoir gasket! Removed fluid to drop to min mark, but still suffering too much "free play" after 30 mile stint on motorway. Since fluid changed and hopefully fully bled, much better clutch action when hot.