Clutch Fluid Low
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Clutch Fluid Low
I Just bought a 2004 r1150r with 5000 miles. I got the bike yesterday and everything seems to be working fine, except for my clutch fluid level, which is a little below minimum. After searching the internet for about an hour and not being able to find any info on changing or adding clutch fluid, i would greatly appreciate any help i could get. -Thanks
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boxermania
- Quadruple Lifer
- Posts: 3644
- Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2005 6:37 pm
- Location: Baton Rouge, LA.....aproaching retirement
Re: Clutch Fluid Low
Welcome aboard....the hydraulic fluid replacement should be fairly easy, in the case of the clutch.
First use DOT 4 fluid.
Second, protecting the tank paint with a towel or rag, remove the master cylinder cover and check the color of the fluid, if yellow or brown, it needs replacement.
After all the bike is low mileage, but 4 years old and I don't know the service it was given.
Third, go down to the left side of the bike, right above the left foot peg. The little cylinder like device above it is the slave cylinder, check to see if there is any brake fluid leaking.....if there is now is the time to decide if you have the competency to proceed or go to the dealer. Please disregard the underlined, as my good friend Phil has indicated I'm just around Pluto but heading back to earth.....I was thinking about my former Suzuki Bandit 1200S, sister to the R......my apologies. I mentioned the ABS, because that adds an additional level of skill to it's servicing.....for someone that just bought the ride......
Since we are on the topic of political correctness, the bleed screw is on the left side of the bike, right above the rear shock preload.....of course it would have been on the right side as Phil alludes if he was standing behind the bike, facing away from the bike, bending about the waist and looking at it through the opening in his legs.....I think.....
For now just check the above and find out if the bike has ABS. Post findings.......
First use DOT 4 fluid.
Second, protecting the tank paint with a towel or rag, remove the master cylinder cover and check the color of the fluid, if yellow or brown, it needs replacement.
After all the bike is low mileage, but 4 years old and I don't know the service it was given.
Third, go down to the left side of the bike, right above the left foot peg. The little cylinder like device above it is the slave cylinder, check to see if there is any brake fluid leaking.....if there is now is the time to decide if you have the competency to proceed or go to the dealer. Please disregard the underlined, as my good friend Phil has indicated I'm just around Pluto but heading back to earth.....I was thinking about my former Suzuki Bandit 1200S, sister to the R......my apologies. I mentioned the ABS, because that adds an additional level of skill to it's servicing.....for someone that just bought the ride......
Since we are on the topic of political correctness, the bleed screw is on the left side of the bike, right above the rear shock preload.....of course it would have been on the right side as Phil alludes if he was standing behind the bike, facing away from the bike, bending about the waist and looking at it through the opening in his legs.....I think.....
For now just check the above and find out if the bike has ABS. Post findings.......
Last edited by boxermania on Tue Jul 01, 2008 7:01 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Member #312
06 Suzuki Burgman 650 "state of flux"
79 CBX
06 Suzuki Burgman 650 "state of flux"
79 CBX
Re: Clutch Fluid Low
Al, what have you been drinking?
RCS, ignore almost all of what Al just told you. At least the part right after where he says "THIRD". From there on I can't make out what in the world may have come over him today. He obviously has been getting into the medicine cabinet again.
The part about ABS simply mystifies me. Al can be a really mystifying personality at times...BUT we love him nonetheless.
The slave cylinder is up underneath the bike attached to the rear of the transmission case and not easy to get to. Access is blocked by a crossbar support going from the left footpeg bracket to the right footpeg bracket. With the rear wheel off it can be seen much more easily. That slave cylinder has been known to leak and it's not always leaking to the outside where you can see it. It leaks inside and will migrate along the clutch slave pushrod over onto the clutch plates themselves if left unattended.
If/when you locate the slave cylinder and find no obvious leaks...AND you have taken off the clutch master cylinder cover at the handlebar AND you have found it very low, then the first thing to do is top off the master cylinder with DOT 4 and button it up...OR, if the fluid is really dark, soak up all the old fluid with a paper towel and refill with new fluid without so much as touching the clutch lever.
Now over on the right side of the bike up behind the charcoal canister, attached to the frame with a ziptie is the clutch bleed grub. That is where you will bleed the hydraulic fluid just like you would the brakes. Have you ever bled brakes?
The bleed grub screw needs to be replaced with a part from BMW that has the bleed nipple on it. You can guess what comes next. You will bleed the line like you do the brakes. However it may not even need this bleeding done, but chances are it does and it won't hurt to learn how to do it.
If you get the line bled properly, keep and eye on the master cylinder reservoir to see if the fluid goes down again. If it inexplicably disappears then you have a leaky slave cylinder and you need to replace it pronto.
RCS, ignore almost all of what Al just told you. At least the part right after where he says "THIRD". From there on I can't make out what in the world may have come over him today. He obviously has been getting into the medicine cabinet again.
The part about ABS simply mystifies me. Al can be a really mystifying personality at times...BUT we love him nonetheless.
The slave cylinder is up underneath the bike attached to the rear of the transmission case and not easy to get to. Access is blocked by a crossbar support going from the left footpeg bracket to the right footpeg bracket. With the rear wheel off it can be seen much more easily. That slave cylinder has been known to leak and it's not always leaking to the outside where you can see it. It leaks inside and will migrate along the clutch slave pushrod over onto the clutch plates themselves if left unattended.
If/when you locate the slave cylinder and find no obvious leaks...AND you have taken off the clutch master cylinder cover at the handlebar AND you have found it very low, then the first thing to do is top off the master cylinder with DOT 4 and button it up...OR, if the fluid is really dark, soak up all the old fluid with a paper towel and refill with new fluid without so much as touching the clutch lever.
Now over on the right side of the bike up behind the charcoal canister, attached to the frame with a ziptie is the clutch bleed grub. That is where you will bleed the hydraulic fluid just like you would the brakes. Have you ever bled brakes?
The bleed grub screw needs to be replaced with a part from BMW that has the bleed nipple on it. You can guess what comes next. You will bleed the line like you do the brakes. However it may not even need this bleeding done, but chances are it does and it won't hurt to learn how to do it.
If you get the line bled properly, keep and eye on the master cylinder reservoir to see if the fluid goes down again. If it inexplicably disappears then you have a leaky slave cylinder and you need to replace it pronto.
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HikerGlenn
- Basic User
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Mon Jun 16, 2008 7:57 pm
Re: Clutch Fluid Low
RCS, did you get a manual with your bike? I also just recently bought an 2004 R1150R w/ABS. My owners manual states to check clutch fluid level, the bike should be on the side stand, bars all the way to the right. See the little circle with the dot in it on the window? Minimum level is the dot in the middle, the level should be there or above. And do what boxer says, it's 100% correct. -Glenn
Re: Clutch Fluid Low
Thanks guys, I added dot 4 fluid to the clutch, well see if the level maintains.