GSX1400 Owners .org

Technically Speaking => General Technical discussion => Topic started by: Siggy79 on Sunday, 05 February 2017, 05:38 AM

Title: Clutch bleeding
Post by: Siggy79 on Sunday, 05 February 2017, 05:38 AM
Refitted my clutch lever and master cylinder today, been bleeding for bloody ages, but can't see the push rod moving at all, any advice please?

???
Title: Re: Clutch bleeding
Post by: gsxbarmy on Sunday, 05 February 2017, 05:48 AM
It's a bit of a knack bleeding the clutch, as with moveable parts in the engine area, there is a lack of back pressure.

Try zip tying your clutch lever back against the handlebar overnight, that should allow any air in the system to work its way back up into the master cylinder - and then try bleeding again tomorrow
Title: Re: Clutch bleeding
Post by: seth on Sunday, 05 February 2017, 05:49 AM
i remove the slave cylinder assembly then remove  the cyclinder cover.
i then use a G clamp to hold the cylinder in while bleading it as your not trying to move the whole clutch assembly while bleading the system.
seams to make everything much easier as your only moving fluid through the hoses and slave cylinder rather than moving the whole clutch .

Title: Re: Clutch bleeding
Post by: Siggy79 on Sunday, 05 February 2017, 05:57 AM
Ok, I'll go and zip tie it overnight and try again, I could do with cleaning around the sprocket etc, so will try the g clamp as well, I should have asked first, been pulling on the lever for ages  :facepalm:
Title: Re: Clutch bleeding
Post by: gsxbarmy on Sunday, 05 February 2017, 05:58 AM
Good luck buddy let us know how you get on - here to help!!!
Title: Re: Clutch bleeding
Post by: Del on Sunday, 05 February 2017, 06:00 AM
I changed my clutch line today and didnt think there was much of an issue
I pumped the lever while watching for air bubbles once the air bubble stopped I removed the bleed nipple and pumped the lever -  once I heard suction at the slave cylinder I refitted the nipple and started to bleed - came up very quickly
Hope this helps
Del
Title: Re: Clutch bleeding
Post by: seth on Sunday, 05 February 2017, 06:06 AM
Quote from: Siggy79 on Sunday, 05 February  2017, 05:57 AM
Ok, I'll go and zip tie it overnight and try again, I could do with cleaning around the sprocket etc, so will try the g clamp as well, I should have asked first, been pulling on the lever for ages  :facepalm:

just remember the slave cylinder cover
Title: Re: Clutch bleeding
Post by: Siggy79 on Monday, 06 February 2017, 04:48 AM
Tried all of the above but I then noticed black ish fluid coming out, take it my slave seal must be f**ked, as I've done the master cylinder, can you just replace the seal or do I need to get a new assembly?


Title: Re: Clutch bleeding
Post by: seth on Monday, 06 February 2017, 04:52 AM
you can get replacements really easily and its very straight forward to change them
also check the hoses as they can brakedown over time .

good luck
Title: Re: Clutch bleeding
Post by: Del on Monday, 06 February 2017, 05:06 AM
Ive a spare clutch line here if you want to try it

Del
Title: Re: Clutch bleeding
Post by: Siggy79 on Monday, 06 February 2017, 05:08 AM
Great I'll get a seal, I have hel lines so there ok. Once the seals done it will be ready for the road again after a full rebuild/powder coating the frame.

Title: Re: Clutch bleeding
Post by: Siggy79 on Monday, 06 February 2017, 05:10 AM
Quote from: Del on Monday, 06 February  2017, 05:06 AM
Ive a spare clutch line here if you want to try it

Del

Thanks Del, I'll bare that in mind!  :onya:
Title: Re: Clutch bleeding
Post by: gsxbarmy on Monday, 06 February 2017, 05:59 AM
Siggythis was something Kja.busa posted up on the old org
http://gsx1400owners.org/forum_test/index.php?topic=259.0

Can help with stopping clutch fluid discolouration. Just thinking if you are replacing your slave cylinder seals this may be worth checking or considering at the same time?

Title: Re: Clutch bleeding
Post by: lawrie on Wednesday, 08 February 2017, 11:58 PM
Quote from: Siggy79 on Sunday, 05 February  2017, 05:38 AM
Refitted my clutch lever and master cylinder today, been bleeding for bloody ages, but can't see the push rod moving at all, any advice please?

???

When I started fitting the smaller-bore braided lines to my bikes, I too had sods own job bleeding, so I bought one of those hand held brake bleed  vacuum pumps, FAN_BLOODY TASTIC!!
Pipe from nipple to collector-tank, pipe from tank to pump, open nipple & build up the vac, sqidillions of bubbles, then they stop, job done, I can bleed ANYTHING in a few seconds now!!
Just keep an eye on the rapidly diminishing fluid from the reservoir.
Title: Re: Clutch bleeding
Post by: gsxbarmy on Thursday, 09 February 2017, 12:17 AM
Quote from: lawrie on Wednesday, 08 February  2017, 11:58 PM
Quote from: Siggy79 on Sunday, 05 February  2017, 05:38 AM
Refitted my clutch lever and master cylinder today, been bleeding for bloody ages, but can't see the push rod moving at all, any advice please?

???

When I started fitting the smaller-bore braided lines to my bikes, I too had sods own job bleeding, so I bought one of those hand held brake bleed  vacuum pumps, FAN_BLOODY TASTIC!!
Pipe from nipple to collector-tank, pipe from tank to pump, open nipple & build up the vac, sqidillions of bubbles, then they stop, job done, I can bleed ANYTHING in a few seconds now!!
Just keep an eye on the rapidly diminishing fluid from the reservoir.

Absolutely agree with that Lawrie, one of the better tools I've bought too (I got the Sealey one - works really well)
Title: Re: Clutch bleeding
Post by: Gibbo on Thursday, 09 February 2017, 11:57 PM
Quote from: Siggy79 on Sunday, 05 February  2017, 05:38 AM
Refitted my clutch lever and master cylinder today, been bleeding for bloody ages, but can't see the push rod moving at all, any advice please?

???


Ok I have just changed my clutch line and had the same problem. what i did to get them bleed was to back feed through the brake nipple with a large syringe  until all the air bubbles had gone and then went back to bleeding it the nominal way. sorry you will need  two syringes one to suck out the reservoir.
Title: Re: Clutch bleeding
Post by: V_i_c_i on Friday, 17 February 2017, 12:00 AM
One small tip. Much better is fill brakes and clutch from bottom through bleeder screw via syringe. After that is not almost to bleed.  :hat:
Title: Re: Clutch bleeding
Post by: Siggy79 on Friday, 17 February 2017, 06:06 AM
Does anyone know the banjo bolt size and thread pitch, the thread is stripped in mastercylinder, keeps letting in a small amount of air, hence my bleeding troubles.....

Need to Helicoil..
Title: Re: Clutch bleeding
Post by: seth on Friday, 17 February 2017, 06:10 AM
hiya siggy
a helicoil wont help as it won't seal due to the way they work

hopefully you can pick up one online somewhere ebay ect

good luck

seth
Title: Re: Clutch bleeding
Post by: gsxbarmy on Friday, 17 February 2017, 06:42 AM
Quote from: Siggy79 on Friday, 17 February  2017, 06:06 AM
Does anyone know the banjo bolt size and thread pitch, the thread is stripped in mastercylinder, keeps letting in a small amount of air, hence my bleeding troubles.....

Need to Helicoil..

As a temp fix you could try wrapping some plumbers white tape around the thread (if you do be careful that it ONLY goes on the thread, any "loose" bids could foul the fluid way) - but as Seth says I think you need a new master cylinder. Unless someone on here has one then eBay is your friend.....
Title: Re: Clutch bleeding
Post by: lawrie on Friday, 17 February 2017, 07:36 AM
Quote from: seth on Friday, 17 February  2017, 06:10 AM
hiya siggy
a helicoil wont help as it won't seal due to the way they work

hopefully you can pick up one online somewhere ebay ect

good luck

seth

You CAN use a helicoil actually, so long as to ditch the copper sealing washers & replace using dowty-washers, these are far superior anyway as they were designed for high pressure hydraulics.
I use them everywhere a copper washer is used, great for sumps plugs for instance.
Title: Re: Clutch bleeding
Post by: V_i_c_i on Friday, 17 February 2017, 07:31 PM
Helicoil + loctite thread glue works great.
Title: Re: Clutch bleeding
Post by: Siggy79 on Saturday, 18 February 2017, 06:22 PM
Sorted my clutch  :onya: went to goodridge, they machined a slightly longer banjo bolt also picked up some dowty washers, put the master cylinder back together no leaks, removed Asv lever as noticed even when open the lever had closed the piston slightly making bleeding a nightmare, filled reservoir removed air, attached lever and pumped, all good now.

Thanks for all the advice.

Goodridge didnt charge which was nice!

:cheers:
Title: Re: Clutch bleeding
Post by: ARH on Saturday, 18 February 2017, 06:24 PM
Wow...Great service Siggy  :onya:
Title: Re: Clutch bleeding
Post by: Del on Saturday, 18 February 2017, 07:11 PM
Glad to hear you got it sorted fella  :clapping:
Title: Re: Clutch bleeding
Post by: seth on Saturday, 18 February 2017, 07:19 PM
result
glad its all finally sorted

:boogie:
Title: Re: Clutch bleeding
Post by: Mick_J on Saturday, 18 February 2017, 07:34 PM
Good job  :onya:
Title: Re: Clutch bleeding
Post by: gsxbarmy on Sunday, 19 February 2017, 03:09 AM
Excellent, well done Siggy - and well done Goodridge too, in the past they've been very helpful to me at no charge so I think a big plaudit for them too is in order!