Air magically appears

[redneksoldier]

So, I'm a little puzzled. For the second time now I have had air just magically appear in the clutch slave cylinder. The first time, I just wrote it off as low fluid allowed air into the system, bled it out and all was good for a couple of weeks. Then magically it happened again yesterday. Both times, were after it sat overnight. I went out to start it up and ride away and the clutch had absolutely no pressure. Master was still completely full of fluid, and there is no fluid leaking out anywhere that I can find. I figured if air can get in, fluid will leak out. Aparently I'm completely wrong. Anyone else encountered this problem? Thinking maybe pushrod seal or something.

 

[naughtyG]

Do you have OEM line or stainless steel?

Have you removed/renewed the lione recently?

If so, did you replace the banjo bolts' copper washers?

I'd say the washers are the most likely culprits, short of a failure in the M/C or S/C.

 

[SpecOps13]

Wow, this is a strange problem. I'm thinking but not coming up with any conclusions other than you may need to rebuild one or both of the cylinders. With no leak, it would seem that one or both may be weak. I take it for granted that all the fluid is reasonably new...????? Old fluid can cause this type of indication....


BTW: Hi "G"

 

[redneksoldier]

Do you have OEM line or stainless steel?

Have you removed/renewed the lione recently?

If so, did you replace the banjo bolts' copper washers?

I'd say the washers are the most likely culprits, short of a failure in the M/C or S/C.

Nothing in the system has been touched since new in '93. I'm nearly certain that if it were a copper washer or line to blame, the there would be fluid loss as well as air entering the system. I just flushed out the old fluid a couple of months ago when I resurrected the bike from the boneyard, and then again after a couple hundred miles of riding when the fluid started to look dirty again. haven't quite figured out what environmental factor is causing it to happen so suddenly. When I find out what triggers it, I will have more of an idea what repair to make. In the mean time, I was hoping that someone else had already had this problem and knew the solution.

 

[PDWeyand]

I would change out the copper washer like naughtyG said and change out fluid in the system. If that does not cure the problem then look into rebuilding the M/C and slave

 

[redneksoldier]

I will probably go ahead and bite the bullet and just rebuild both M/C and S/C, new stainless braided line and new washers. Just to be thorough and not have to worry about it again. All will have to be done eventually anyway.

 

[deekjx]

Interesting. When my bike set outside all night at a party, I believe the same thing happened to it for the front brake line. My mechanic rebuilt my master cylinder and that fixed it. It was a very cold night and it was the first my bike spent the night outside of my garage. When I went use my front brake, no pressure. Thank god for rear brake.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

 

[firefly]

So, I'm a little puzzled. For the second time now I have had air just magically appear in the clutch slave cylinder. The first time, I just wrote it off as low fluid allowed air into the system, bled it out and all was good for a couple of weeks. Then magically it happened again yesterday. Both times, were after it sat overnight. I went out to start it up and ride away and the clutch had absolutely no pressure. Master was still completely full of fluid, and there is no fluid leaking out anywhere that I can find. I figured if air can get in, fluid will leak out. Aparently I'm completely wrong. Anyone else encountered this problem? Thinking maybe pushrod seal or something.

This is a classic symptom of clutch master giving up the ghost, replace it or rebuild it, no fluid loss & air in the master, I had this problem & it drive me nuts, replaced the slave master & all is good.

 

[Fire-medic]

Here is a thread i began and some of the more-experienced guys on-here weighed-in on the topic.

http://www.vmaxforum.net/showthread.php?t=22407

For my $, I am not going to spend the $ for a rebuild kit if the o.e.m. replacements are still avail. This especially goes for the brakes! Why? Because my life depends on them!

In the past, I have rebuilt master & slave cylinders and it seems that about 40% of the time, the rebuild "doesn't take," so you have to buy a new one anyway. In other words, for every three that are re-used, two are not able to return to service. Now if you are poor, that may mean the difference between riding or not riding. Good luck w/your rebuilds, I am going to install new equipment.

 

[jedi-]

This is a classic symptom of clutch master giving up the ghost, replace it or rebuild it, no fluid loss & air in the master, I had this problem & it drive me nuts, replaced the slave master & all is good.

Exactly, had the same problem, at first thinking my mc on my customs bars was swallowing air due to their position on the bars. I would bleed the clutch and all good for awhile until the problem kept coming back.
A rebuild slave kit for a few $ totally fixed the problem. You can ignore some of the advice in one of the manuals where they suggest removing the stator cover- forget it, the jobs perfectly doable without all the extra drama involved.

DO USE a GOOD QUALITY allen key though lengthways and definitely not a ball ended one. Make sure the socket is real clean, you can use a piece of tube or ring spanner to turn the allen key.
I can't emphasise it enough again though -clean and quality allen key because if you round out the head on the 2 screws, you will have a big problem.
I think it only took about 30-40 minutes to complete and the clutch feels like new.

 

[redneksoldier]

Thanks for the input guys. I figured this was the case, but wanted to confirm suspicions beforehand. I have spent more money on rubber parts for this bike than I paid for it! lol. Still wouldn't giive it up for anything.

 

[sdt354]

I will probably go ahead and bite the bullet and just rebuild both M/C and S/C, new stainless braided line and new washers. Just to be thorough and not have to worry about it again. All will have to be done eventually anyway.

Been there, it was the clutch slave for me. I went through the whole thing too including new stainless lines everywhere, except rear brake. And, that's next. Riding home with no clutch is an adventure. I can see me now pushing the bike,with help, pumping the lever like crazy,and kicking it into gear. Then trying not to stop

all the way back.

 

[redneksoldier]

I can't imagine having to ride without a clutch. I have been lucky enough to have it only happen at home. Going to rebuild ASAP just to be sure it doesn't happen out on the road.

 

[Rollie]

+1 , replace or rebuild the slave clutch first.