Black Clutch Fluid on SM5

[DrewNJ]

It travels naturally through the fluid just like nasty brake fluid contaminates the whole system.
No rebuild kit that I'm aware of.
Yes on the oring info your seeing. I thought I remember there being a few more orings but its been a bit since I've looked into it.

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[nhoj]

So question.
Does BRP sell a rebuild kit for master and slave? ...Looking at the manual I do not see a "slave".... On page 174 it lists a hydraulic piston which has 2 O-rings on it.

If the black goo is coming from the clutch slave (hydraulic piston), how is that getting up into the master cylinder reservoir?
It seems odd that it would float up into there? So is it more likely the black coloring is coming from the master?

I only called it a slave cylinder as that's what its called in (several) earlier threads. It is indeed the hydraulic piston. Good spotting. Don't know if they sell a kit, ours was warranty.

The only goo I found was collected around the port in the clutch lever where the fluid exits/enters the reservoir, AND the failing O-rings at the "Hydralic Piston". How it got into the clutch fluid reservoir is yes a mystery, perhaps the "Miracle of Electronics"

It could have come from an O-ring in the clutch lever itself. They rebuilt the clutch lever too.

To complicate this discussion...the original problem that had me open the reservoir was, a failing, intermittent reverse (no worky). Since the repairs and our clutch fluid flushing that issue has not reoccurred.

Just to reiterate here the original topic. If the clutch fluid is dirty at the very least have it flushed and replaced. Then, monitor it regularly. If you got the black goo have the dealer look at it "real soon now".

 

[finless]

My fluid is still "clear" looking on your finger with a light brown tint. But it is very brown looking in the reservoir as a hole.
I don't think I want to wait to do the flush at 12K. Or do you think I am OK?
Would flushing help "save" the O-rings and make them last longer? Or should I just bite the bullet and replace the rings?

Bob

 

[DrewNJ]

I'd flush it. It literally takes 10-15 minutes and costs only a few bucks for fluid.

A few notes on what I do. Others may do it differently but this works for me.
-I use a turkey baster to remove as much fluid from the reservoir (not the fluid in the holes though) as possible. Then wipe out the inside of the reservoir really good with a clean towel. This allows you to run only clean fluid through the lines and clean out any crud. As long as you don't touch the lever you don't have to worry about air in the line.
-I don't bother with a drain tube on the nipple. I just slide a small cup or dish and catch it as it drips. Its difficult to keep a tube and wrench on there at the same time.
-I wrap some towels over the plastics on the left side. I actually tape a plastic trash bag on first then lay towels on top of that.
-I use a folded up shop towel to lay over the reservoir as I'm working the lever and wrench. Sometimes fluid wants to squirt from the reservoir. The towel keeps it under control and doesn't allow it to go everywhere.
-When done I either wash the entire bike if time allows or at least pull it out into the driveway and hose it off, paying close attention to rinsing the areas where fluid "may" have gotten on.

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[finless]

Thanks Drew but I am going to buy the mitymax pump from harbor freight. I am going to do my own breaks later so it will come in handy. FYI, same pump BRP shows in the service manual.

Again want to thank you greatly for the tips!

Servicing your spyder yourself, is for me anyway, part of owning this crazy thing
I enjoy learning and doing it yourself.

I will let you know how it all goes!

Bob

 

[Ramjet]

here you go guys read and learn.

http://www.rainierrubber.com/pdf/Viton-Selection-Guide.pdf

 

[stewartj239]

Just to reiterate here the original topic. If the clutch fluid is dirty at the very least have it flushed and replaced. Then, monitor it regularly. If you got the black goo have the dealer look at it "real soon now".

For the record, my fluid was dirty, not gooey. Therefore, I will certainly monitor it and flush it as necessary. I have no problem doing that, but I am still surprised to see it like this so early on.

 

[Ramjet]

I wonder how much the heat is impacting and breaking down the fluid?

Maybe you were not over heating like some of us but maybe the heat being contained had more impact than you knew?

 

[stewartj239]

I wonder how much the heat is impacting and breaking down the fluid?

Maybe you were not over heating like some of us but maybe the heat being contained had more impact than you knew?

That is very possible. I did think of that as well. Now that I've got clean fluid in there, I will keep an eye on it and see how quickly it breaks down. Even though I wasn't running hot enough to melt parts or boil gas, it did get warm enough where I couldn't put my cell phone in the glove box. So far, I've ridden in two pretty warm days and things are even cooler than they were before. My phone no longer bakes in the glove box and the emitted heat is so much less. I'll give it some more time before I claim victory, but it is pretty clear that the mods that I did will certainly reduce heat.

 

[DrewNJ]

I wonder how much the heat is impacting and breaking down the fluid?

Maybe you were not over heating like some of us but maybe the heat being contained had more impact than you knew?

Dunno, but I doubt it. Underhood temps on your everyday car are just as high. You just don't notice it because you don't sit directly on the motor and the gas tank is much further away.

Boiling temp of brake fluid is over 400 when fresh.

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[Lou]

Bought my 2013 RT-S Spyder one week before Labor Day last year and after about 3,000 miles the clutch would not disengage properly so I pulled the cover off the master only to find NO fluid. This was end of season.
I had filled it back up with DOT 4 and now only after a few hundred miles I checked the level and the fluid was turning black. I informed the Dealer at that time and they just said bring it in and they will look at it - I have not been able to bring it in yet.

On a related note; I did a little research and I found a service bulletin (# 2013-5) on the clutch cover installation procedure, so if you folks are going to tear into the slave to replace O-Rings you NEED to read this bulletin.

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l...clutch/spyderclutchfluidlevel_zpsf9403e07.jpg

 

[finless]

Bought my 2013 RT-S Spyder one week before Labor Day last year and after about 3,000 miles the clutch would not disengage properly so I pulled the cover off the master only to find NO fluid. This was end of season.
I had filled it back up with DOT 4 and now only after a few hundred miles I checked the level and the fluid was turning black. I informed the Dealer at that time and they just said bring it in and they will look at it - I have not been able to bring it in yet.

On a related note; I did a little research and I found a service bulletin (# 2013-5) on the clutch cover installation procedure, so if you folks are going to tear into the slave to replace O-Rings you NEED to read this bulletin.

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l...clutch/spyderclutchfluidlevel_zpsf9403e07.jpg

Youir link only gives a picture?
I will see if I can find that bulletin on BRP site.

Bob

 

[Lou]

I have the bulletin right in front of me but can't seem to locate it on line again.
I will scan and post it once I get home from work.

Youir link only gives a picture?
I will see if I can find that bulletin on BRP site.

Bob

 

[Lou]

Can't seem to be able to do a pdf attachment - any help would be great.

I went to Manage attachments
selected file from my desktop
uploaded file and looks like it did what it should other than showing file when it completed......

 

[Gray Ghost]

I just tried to upload a pdf file as a test. I was informed that the file cannot be more than 117.2 kb in size. It is possible that your file exceeds the limit. If you cannot find another way to do it, you can send it to me and I will load it to the web and give you a link address to post.

 

[Lou]

I just tried to upload a pdf file as a test. I was informed that the file cannot be more than 117.2 kb in size. It is possible that your file exceeds the limit. If you cannot find another way to do it, you can send it to me and I will load it to the web and give you a link address to post.

Thanks Cliff - Sent it to you, it's 13.7 MB

Lou

 

[Gray Ghost]

Thanks Cliff - Sent it to you, it's 13.7 MB

Lou

It is posted at: http://www.fargasonservices.com/svcbull2013-5.pdf

 

[jerpinoy]

That 's very unusual there must be something getting worn out like o rings.