Fresh Fluids

[Tundra]

Changed the oil and rear drive fluid this morning, adjusted the throttle free-play down to just shy of 1/16" I like it tight. Also syringed the clutch and brake reservoirs and refilled with fresh fluid. I'm going to try this method at every oil change and see if I can keep it clean and avoid the dreaded bleeding. This bike is not cutch bleed friendly.

[hubcapsc]

This bike is not cutch bleed friendly.

... because you have to take off those &#**! shrouds. And look
behind that smog canister...

-Mike

[Tundra]

Yup, that's one poor design for maintenance. I still haven't properly installed my plastics. Quit trying after the first flush.
I do like the bike, just not easy to do what should be a simple job.

[Robert]

Bet you didnt change the anti freeze   

[_Sheffjs_]

"syringed the clutch and brake reservoirs" I have been doing this for a long time, it's s great idea, I think. Now, I will admit that with my 2016 Wing and me working insane hours this season I let Haps Honda do the tire change and All fluids.  Sadly only because of age. I bought the bike with 1900 miles. I am working around 120 hours every two weeks!  No one wants to work and we are down 5 workers. Looking forward to the Florida, 19th 20th and 21st posted ride, hope I can remember how to shift!   I like Haps and have known many family members from the mid 80s. They will work on anything and any year. None of this your bike is too old.  

[..]

I do the brakes and clutch flush more rather than less.

Looking in the fluid reservoirs of bikes when there's a bunch of Valkyries together shows that this simple maintenance is mostly overlooked by owners.

If the fluid looks dark in the little window it' gonna look like carp when you take the top cover off.

Speedbleeders are your friend and make the job much simpler and quicker.

https://store-speedbleeder-com.3dcartstores.com/

[shortleg]

I agree about the Speed Bleeders. I have them on my F6 B and change the fluids every spring. They make it more of a zin thing than the pain it can be.

[shortleg]

  Install speedbleeders and can bleed them all in about 30 minutes.

[Tundra]

Not on this bike you can't. It's not a speed bleeder issue. It's gaining access. It's the plastic and the canister that hinder the process.

[..]

Not on this bike you can't. It's not a speed bleeder issue. It's gaining access. It's the plastic and the canister that hinder the process.

That clutch bleeder location designer deserves a punch in the nose.

That and the seat fixings drive me nuts.

[f6john]

I wonder if the solution could be as easy as it is in the C5 Corvette world. Went the opportunity arises that all that plastic has to be removed, could you not add a remote bleeder line? The Corvettes clutch bleeder is located in an impossible position to even reach at all unless you are dropping out the driveline to do a clutch swap. That's when most people add the remote bleeder line. I haven't reached that point yet so I have to do the syringe it out and refill multiple times to gain any improvement. Food for thought anyway.

[..]

I wonder if the solution could be as easy as it is in the C5 Corvette world. Went the opportunity arises that all that plastic has to be removed, could you not add a remote bleeder line? The Corvettes clutch bleeder is located in an impossible position to even reach at all unless you are dropping out the driveline to do a clutch swap. That's when most people add the remote bleeder line. I haven't reached that point yet so I have to do the syringe it out and refill multiple times to gain any improvement. Food for thought anyway.

Beyond my skill grade but that would help a lot.