I recently fitted new master and slave cylinder seals etc. on the clutch. When the clutch lever in NOT depressed, and the bleed nipple is undone, the fluid flows through with no bubbles. When I depress the lever, and close the nipple, and then depress the lever, the lever moves a couple of inches before there is any pressure, and the activation rod doesn't move. I've left it with the lever depressed and the nipple undone in the hope that it sorts itself out.
Has anyone come across this problem, and does anyone have any ideas?
Cheers, Tim
I think it was Grog suggesting light tapping will release the air bubbles eventually 😳
An intro in the intro section is appreciated by most members here, if you'd be so kind.
As a daft first question, which way are the bars turned? if you look at the master cylinder you'll notice that without the bars turned partly to the right the banjo is higher than the hole that lets the air out & more fluid in. If that's the case then you'll have air stuck in the banjo.
The clutch normally bleeds really easy on these, it's a 5min job including putting the tools away again so it's unusual to have issues with it.
Gidday Tim, welcome to the forum, as Hooli said, an Intro is appreciated.
Your clutch has air in it still, have you re-routed the lines? or perhaps fitted braided ones? Because you've had both the master and slave apart (cleaned & dried no doubt) it can be a bit of mucking around to get the fluid through all the way and banish the air. Could always try a reverse bleed, that pushes the air up and back (out the master)
Sorry guys I didn't notice this was Timbo's first post.
Apologies.
Hopefully he'll take this on board and do so.
Quote from: GSXKING on Tuesday, 21 July 2026, 08:46 AMSorry guys I didn't notice this was Timbo's first post.
Apologies.
Hopefully he'll take this on board and do so.
Chris, you have no need to apolopise.
Sorry guys, I was a member, but then I wasn't, and I haven't ridden the bike for a few years. I will type up an intro on the right page 😎😎😎😎
Quote from: KiwiCol on Tuesday, 21 July 2026, 07:19 AMGidday Tim, welcome to the forum, as Hooli said, an Intro is appreciated.
Your clutch has air in it still, have you re-routed the lines? or perhaps fitted braided ones? Because you've had both the master and slave apart (cleaned & dried no doubt) it can be a bit of mucking around to get the fluid through all the way and banish the air. Could always try a reverse bleed, that pushes the air up and back (out the master)
I have the original lines, but I rebuilt the master and slave cylinders, so it was emptied. I think I'm going to have to persevere with the bleeding.
Quote from: Hooli on Tuesday, 21 July 2026, 06:39 AMAn intro in the intro section is appreciated by most members here, if you'd be so kind.
As a daft first question, which way are the bars turned? if you look at the master cylinder you'll notice that without the bars turned partly to the right the banjo is higher than the hole that lets the air out & more fluid in. If that's the case then you'll have air stuck in the banjo.
The clutch normally bleeds really easy on these, it's a 5min job including putting the tools away again so it's unusual to have issues with it.
[/quotQuote from: Hooli on Tuesday, 21 July 2026, 06:39 AMAn intro in the intro section is appreciated by most members here, if you'd be so kind.
As a daft first question, which way are the bars turned? if you look at the master cylinder you'll notice that without the bars turned partly to the right the banjo is higher than the hole that lets the air out & more fluid in. If that's the case then you'll have air stuck in the banjo.
The clutch normally bleeds really easy on these, it's a 5min job including putting the tools away again so it's unusual to have issues with it.
Hi Hooli, I turned the bars so the top of the reservoir is roughly horizontal. I guess that means the banjo is below the holes in the reservoir?
Back to it today to see if I can sort it. 😎😎
Aye that's what I do too so it's strange you're struggling with it.
I've fiddled and fiddled and I'm still unsure whether it's fixed or not. The lever has pressure, but the rod is only moving a couple of mm. I ran 2 reservoirs of fluid through the lines and slave, and there are no bubbles. Bearing in mind it's been off the road for a few years, the clutch plates might be stuck.
A problem with the alarm is stopping me from starting her up, so I can't check!!!
It doesn't move far, from memory a few mill is probably enough.
If you take the oil fill plug out, and squeeze the clutch lever in, you should be able to see the basket plates separate....or not.