Change clutch break fluid?

[Dodahdude]

Now is the time to change out my clutch and break fluid. 2004 FJR. But my manual does not show the procedure. And I have not found it in the search feature. So, who is willing to share some info? Thanks.

 

[Fred W]

Here's a procedure for the clutch. Do this and then the same exact thing for the brakes.

 

[ahchiu]

You can look up You tube. For brakes start with the furtest caliper from res first and work you way back.

 

[Dodahdude]

Thanks to all. Everything in the world is on Youtube.

 

[rbentnail]

speedbleeders from mishacycles.com makes the job a lot easier. 1 for the clutch, 1 for the rear and 2 for the front if you have linked brakes. Been using them for a while now, planning to install a set on the wife's car next weekend.

 

[12thumper]

I change my oil (synthetic) every 6 months on each of my bikes. At the same time I empty the clutch/brake fluid reservoirs and fill with fresh fluid. Not as good as a full flush but super simple and quick. Has always worked for me.

 

[C&C]

I change my oil (synthetic) every 6 months on each of my bikes. At the same time I empty the clutch/brake fluid reservoirs and fill with fresh fluid. Not as good as a full flush but super simple and quick. Has always worked for me.

Since the brake and clutch fluid do not circulate, you are essentially doing nothing for those systems; consider a flush every year or two.

 

[odot]

.....and remember to change your pumpkin fluid whenever you change your battery.

 

[12thumper]

I change my oil (synthetic) every 6 months on each of my bikes. At the same time I empty the clutch/brake fluid reservoirs and fill with fresh fluid. Not as good as a full flush but super simple and quick. Has always worked for me.

Since the brake and clutch fluid do not circulate, you are essentially doing nothing for those systems; consider a flush every year or two.

I'm aware the fluid doesn't circulate. However, it does keep the fluid much cleaner than doing nothing. A flush actually isn't too hard either (I gravity bleed) but still, I've never had trouble doing it this way. I do typically flush every 3 years or so but find the fluid comes out quite clean when I do. To each his/her own, this is just what I do.

Oh yeah, I swap pumpkin fluid at every oil change. I don't mind the extra 10 minutes.

 

[LAF]

I bleed my clutch fluid within 3 weeks of the first flush and it was pretty discolored in those three weeks. Lots of scum on the first in the clutch reservoir, still more on the second. Brakes not as bad but still discolored and stuff in the MC again after only 3 weeks.

I found both very easy to do even without speed bleeders. A bottle of brake fluid is very cheap. Use a baster to pull the old fluid out, wipe it clean, have a helper pour in as you crack the bleeder and pull the lever. Drop a single edge razor blade in to keep it from being a fountain, dont forget to pull it out, and you are done. Worst case is an hour to hour and a half from start to finish.

 

[rbentnail]

I found both very easy to do even without speed bleeders...., have a helper pour in as you crack the bleeder...

Hence the point of speedbleeders- there ain't no helpers around my house. It's only my wife and me and she works at work when I'm working at home.

So, as I mentioned earlier in the thread, I put speedbleeders on the wife's car a couple of weekends ago. I cannot express just how simple they make fluid changes. FWIW I highly recommend them.

 

[Fred W]

I'll have to spring for some speedbleeders sometime, just so I can compare. Once I bought a MityVac, around 10 years back, for a princely sum of ~$30, I have never felt I needed to buy anything else. Maybe they cost more these days?

My problem with the speed bleeders is they stay on the bike, so they don't do anything for my other two bikes, or any of the cars I get an "opportunity" to work on (that would be my kids and wife's cars)

 

[rbentnail]

Yeah they stay on the vehicle. But for a whopping $28 over the lifetime of the vehicle I've got no complaints.

 

[LAF]

Hey I get it, you really like speed bleeders

 

[RossKean]

No Speedbleeders and no Mityvac. Takes me just over an hour every two years to do two front brakes, front linked from rear, rear brake and clutch (5 locations). I use a syringe to empty the reservoir(s) and wipe out any sludge that might be there. Refill and bleed until I get fresh fluid coming out. I do it by myself, checking the fluid level often enough to make sure I don't suck air through the line. Loosen, squeeze lever (carefully), tighten, release lever, repeat as necessary.