Ducati Monster Forum

Hey all, I just replaced my clutch slave with a blingy Ducabike one and can't bleed the clutch. I've read all the posts I can find on the subject and it sounds like the most likely culprit is air in the master. I have been able to push air all the way through the system, so I know it's not clogged. I just can't get any fluid to drain out of the resevoir. I tried taking the banjo bolt off and filling that hole with fluid..no dice. I'm supposed to ride Sat to see an Uncle in San Diego and I am about ready to lose my shit..I thought this would be just like bleeding brakes.. [bang]
So long story short, how do I get air out of the Master?

Thanks for any help,

Cameron

You can pump the lever, hold it to the bar, and loosen the banjo at the master.
Tighten the banjo, let the lever out, repeat.
Use a rag to avoid fuxxoring your paint.

Are you sure the pushrod isn't adjusted too far in, covering the bleed port and preventing the master from refilling?

I will try that, not sure about the pushrod...haven't changed anything else.
*Actually, could you elaborate more on the pushrod  bit?

The pushrod is the bit that actually pushes the cylinder. In the picture below, it's adjusted by the star-shaped knob sticking out of the front of the clutch lever pivot point.

(http://www.erikbuellracing.com/store/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/img_0092.jpg)

If it's adjusted too far down, it will cover the port between the clutch fluid reservoir and the actual hydraulic cylinder that pushes clutch fluid. If that port is covered, the clutch line becomes a closed system and can't be bled.

There should be a little bit (3-2mm?) of free play at the lever before you actually begin pushing the cylinder and moving fluid. If there's not, back the pushrod adjuster out a couple of turns.

Last time that happened, what I did was:

get a large tie wrap
pull lever to bar
open reservoir
leave overnigth
next day, open slave's banjo, while filing reservoir
cut tie wrap
pump lever with banjo open . . .

Now, if you have a radial master that has a bleed nipple, . ..  open said bleed nipple and air should come out, then just bleed the regular way not letting the reservoir become empty !!!

Do you have a bleed valve at the clutch slave cylinder that you could bleed?

Guess I should have noted first that this is an S2R1000 so it has a bleeder bolt at the the slave and just a regular banjo at the master. I'm going to look and see if I have any play in the lever and try a vacuum bleeder...but I think and hope that bleeding at the master will solve the problem.
Just finished a 3 hour ride in the desert with a buddy. We get to feel sorry for folks who can't ride in the winter, but we pay for it in the summer months!

i appreciate the walkthrough on this matter, about to try this myself...

despite my lack of mechanical inclination

Cameron,

I had that issue when I installed masters from a M1000S[like yours] and the Oberon slave cyl, on my bike; I did what I described in my previous post and then just have brake fluid handy and open the bleeder at slave and pump fluid thru . . . I did one or two full reservoirs, then closed the bleeder at slave, then pumped 3 times, held 4th and opened bleeder, repeated this aobut 5 times and issue solved . . . just remember to have the catch canister in a high position so that air can travel to it.

All right the results are in for Who Can Figure Out Why Cameron Can't Bleed His Clutch. And the winner is drum rolll

Buckethead!  [clap] [clap] [clap] [thumbsup]   Once I backed out the push rod a bit everyone's techniques and advice began to work. So thank you all for the help with a special nod to Senor Buckethead. You sir have won yourself a free beer should you ever have the misfortune to be in Yuma, AZ [beer]

Thank you, Postie, but the real credit goes to Speeddog. All I did was clarify what he was talking about.

Either way, glad we could help get it working again.  [thumbsup]

But if I do ever find a reason to be in Yuma (not likely, I'm not a Marine aviator...) I'll hit you up.  [beer]

You're not a bubblehead either... ;D

Haha. Nope.

Well I have to put a damper on my backslapping. I was so excited that I started to get fluid through that I didn't wait to complete the job before I posted. I now have run a full bottle through and the fluid is fully aerated and doesn't seem to be getting better. Is this normal? It seems like air is getting introduced into the system maybe. Is it possible that I damage a seel in the master and am pumping air and fluid through the system?

Ohhhhhh...., that's your callsign?  ;D

Maybe you should warn him what brown shoes do in bars!  8)

I've seen that on a brand new Ducabike slave, bad part.
Replacement was OK.

I've had one customer get two bad DP ones, in a row.

turn the bars all the way to the right, then lean the bike over to the right so that the clutch lever is higher than the banjo bolt at the outlet of the master.  don't spill fluid everywhere.  then pull the lever in many times, slow then fast (watch for spurting fluid), short then full range, etc.  that often helps.  you can see the air as it comes out.

spurting fluid is a real danger.

Eh. Not quite. Was an enlisted squid for 5 years and, after 2 years stationed at a MC airbase, decided I'd had my fill.

But if you're looking for brown shoes vs black shoes fun, here you go:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbH9Mn5K7cM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbH9Mn5K7cM)