Clutch question..............

[Fatherof2]

Hi Gang,

Took the bike out for the first ride of the season. The clutch lever started getting really soft. Took the bike home and checked the fluid. It was nasty. Took out the old fluid and replaced it with fresh fluid. Went to pump it through the system, but I cant get any pressure built up. I can pull the clutch all the way in and no fluid is cycling through. The clutch lever comes all the way to the bar very easily.

What is the fix here?

Thank you all!

[Skinhead]

Need to clean the crud out of the holes in the master cylinder, or possibly rebuild the master.

[WintrSol]

Just what process did you follow to take out the old fluid?
Did you empty the reservoir by sucking it out the top, pour in fresh, then attempt to use the lever to pump it through the slave cylinder, topping up the reservoir as you went? Or?
Your description indicates to me that you introduced a lot of air, and now can get any feel in the lever. A reverse bleed may be in order, filling the system through the slave bleeder and up to the reservoir.
Cleaning those little holes is probably needed, too.

[Fatherof2]

Just what process did you follow to take out the old fluid?
Did you empty the reservoir by sucking it out the top, pour in fresh, then attempt to use the lever to pump it through the slave cylinder, topping up the reservoir as you went? Or?
Your description indicates to me that you introduced a lot of air, and now can get any feel in the lever. A reverse bleed may be in order, filling the system through the slave bleeder and up to the reservoir.
Cleaning those little holes is probably needed, too.

Hi Wintr,

Yes........there is a lot of air in the system at this point.

To clean the little holes do I need to do a rebuild of the master?

Thank you.

[sandy]

Don’t need to rebuild cylinder. Hold lever in with tape of string. Open the bleeder till fluid comes out. Might take a minute or two.

[Fatherof2]

Don’t need to rebuild cylinder. Hold lever in with tape of string. Open the bleeder till fluid comes out. Might take a minute or two.

OK..........thank you.

[WintrSol]

If you need to clear the holes, a strand of thin brass or copper wire (not steel) can be used to poke them, and get any blockage out. I have brass cleaning brushes and snag a wire from one of them.