Clutch Fluid.

[Hooter]

   I bought a 98 Tourer as a project after selling and missing the 99 that I sold earlier this year. I thought that since I own a 2012 Triumph Rocket III Touring that the Valk would just be a memory. Well I was wrong. For some reason the Valk has stuck with me.

When the deal came up I bought the bike right but knew it needed some help. I got thru the carbs and it runs well now. The clutch was O.K. at best and thought it may need changing? I finished some other issues and got looking at the sight window for the clutch. It was dark amber.

   I thought it was worth a try so I changed the fluid. Long story short, I won't have to put a new clutch in. This made a world of difference. The fluid was worse than I thought and was really contaminated and low.

   There was a post here a while back about a slipping clutch a  while back. A fluid change was suggested. FWIW, it may be worth it. Not to mention its a whole lot less hassel if it works like it did for me.

[old2soon]

We have a lot of advocates of the simple things FIRST which i happen to adhere to. Sounds to me like it worked yet again. Good on ya.    And i've found out the Phatt Ghurls are like a drug very very easy to get addicted to.  And once tasted extremely difficult to be forgotten.  RIDE SAFE.

[Hooter]

   I've owned a lot of bikes (ask my wife) but one never quite hung with me like the Valk does. I thought the Triumph would do it but I found myself always looking at the Valks. I fought the urge for a while and a friend of mine that runs a dealership called me. "Hey, I have a neglected Valk here, you interested"? Thats all it took and I knew I was going into the fix it mode but the price was very right. With only 33K on the bike I knew that there was life left.

   After I brought it home my wife said: "didn't you just get rid of one of those"? "Nope I replied, it was orange and black". She didn't see th e humor. Now with winter here I have something to pass the snow days away, in the garage, by myself and with no chick flicks just a radio! This is my sanctuary.

[Hook#3287]

Now with winter here I have something to pass the snow days away, in the garage, by myself and with no chick flicks just a radio! This is my sanctuary.

Dang!   I need a project bike.

[Tropic traveler]

   I bought a 98 Tourer as a project after selling and missing the 99 that I sold earlier this year. I thought that since I own a 2012 Triumph Rocket III Touring that the Valk would just be a memory. Well I was wrong. For some reason the Valk has stuck with me.

I hear ya on the Valk & Rocket 3 thing.
Did the same thing a few years back but I never sold the Valk. Ended up selling the Triumph to buy the wife her own Valk. Then along came the "deal" on the '99 fixer upper. 

I think I'll change the clutch fluid in all 3 of our Valks. As far as I know it's never been done in any of them.   

[Hooter]

   I hear ya...Like Old2soon said, "simple first". Always been my way as well. No point in spending money when we don't need to...This thing has been neglected but the reward is making all that go away.

[Phil57]

I did the fluid change on my 98 and it helped but when I changed the bushing I was very surprised at the difference.  Cost almost nothing. They do wear out.

[salty1]

I believe the recommendation is that clutch fluid should be changed every 2 years. 

[bentwrench]

Our valks respond well to preventitive maintainance.Every fall I change the brake and clutch fluids,final drive fluid and lube all pivot points with bel-ray grease.Coolant gets done every two years with a gal. of premix from the honda car dealer.At 89k my clutch pivot still looks new. And this valk stills feels as tight as it did when it was new.
There are three other bikes in my garage now but  I have no plans to ever part with this bike regardless of other bikes I own or will own in future.
BW

[Hooter]

   Hindsight being 20-20, I should have never have gotten rid of my 99! But, by spring this bike should be fine. Plus it will pass the winter or at least make it more tolerable.

[steve 3054]

I changed the fluid on my clutch as well when I bought her...last month broke down a paid a guy, ( I did not have the brushes to clean the insides up) and replaced all the parts in the clutch and slave cylinder...brand new once again!!!

[Hooter]

   As dirty as mine was I will probably do it again in about 500 miles just to make sure all the junk is out. I just changed the bushing as well and the clutch feels like new. This bike has been neglected so its hard to see where the next deboggle is? The previous owner had no clue.