Squelchy clutch

[Geekay]

Hi - out in my garage tonight - wishing the weather wasn't so bad so I could ride, I happened to squeeze the clutch lever while fiddling with the span adjuster. Bike is new to me so still fiddling.

Anyway, I noticed it makes a squelching noise from the engine end of the hydraulics when the lever is pulled. Is this normal? Do others do this? I've never had a bike with hydraulic clutch before, always cable. I assumed they were silent but mime isn't. How should it be?

Thanks in advance

Graham


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[EricV]

You made me go listen to mine. Only thing I heard was a lite squeak at the lever. (I do have 70k miles on mine though)

How does it feel when using the clutch? It's not completely uncommon for air to be in the system. The reservoir is so small it's easy to pull air in by accident, and it's kind of a pain to bleed all the air out. If the engagement is normal, about half way thru the lever throw or a bit farther out, then I'd not worry about it. If it engages right off the bar, it's got some air in the system.

Either bleed it, or perhaps have the dealer do it at the first service if you've yet to have that done. (If you think the engagement is off)

 

[Geekay]

Thanks for checking! It's a definite squelch at the slave cylinder end. Maybe air in there. But the clutch operation seems ok. A little clunky into first while standing still, but nothing too out of the ordinary.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[snakebitten]

Mine did when it was new. Exactly how you describe. Like brand new rubber.

It breaks in too. (The rubber) Never goes completely away in a dead quiet environment. But loses that new squeaky sound.

 

[Geekay]

This worked out a little embarrassing really!

I called the dealer and explained my concern - i know the dealer well and trust him - he said "we never get any troubles with the super ten - rarely see them back except for servicing so i'd be amazed if anything was wrong, but if you are concerned, bring it in and let Keith (the chief mechanic) have a look over it"

so i rode it up - keith looked at it in the car park -he could hear the noise, but wasn't sure - he said he would push it into the workshop where it was quieter and take a look.

he came to find me (browsing the clothing section, as you do!) a few minutes later and said "want to come have a look at how it works" - i went down and he had the slave cylinder removed from the gearbox cases - i was amazed at how simplistic it was - showed how the slave cylinder pushed out a barrel that in turn pushes the clutch actuator . He showed the seals and that there was no leak - but also pointed out that there was a separate dust seal on the end. He then said - do you use an anti-corrosion spray? - oops - I do - i use the mud-off protector with PTFE (very similar to GT85) and it had found its way into the dust seal - it was this oily rubber thing that was squelching.. oops.

he assembled it all again and it was all quiet - panic over.

bit embarrassing really - but the dealer was like, "ah its fine - at least you know how it works - any problems just call up to see us" - i was really pleased, they'd taken some time with me - very good.