Just installed clip-ons - clutch feel much different

[johnster]

Hey guys...

I just mounted a set of Apex clip-ons (w/the CycleCat DRA adapters), which I love so far, but one thing jumped out at me when I took the bike for a shakedown ride..

-I knew (well, I should say suspected) that I had air in my clutch line following the installation of the clutch pressure plate, due to the fact that shifting gears was much more clunky than usual. My plan was to bleed the line, but I figured I'd wait until I could pick up a Yoyodine slave.

-Well, after mounting the clip-ons the other day, the clutch pull didn't just feel better, it felt unusually easy!! Lever pull resistance is less than I've ever felt on the bike, and it engages + shifts almost effortlessly compared to how it normally is. I tried to see if it was maybe slipping by dumping the clutch and whacking the throttle wide open (which resulted in a few unintentional wheelies  ) but it seemed to be grabbing fine...

-So, Is it possible that the air "worked itself out" through the reservoir while it was hanging down in between bar swaps?? My fear is that there is a bigger air bubble in the line, due to the unusually easy engagement... If this were the case, would it feel like what I'm experiencing? Has anyone else noticed a difference in clutch pull following a bar swap??

-Any help is appreciated!!

-John

[He Man]

yea, if you let the bike settle, the air usually works its way up to the reservoir or into the slave. You should still bleed your clutch though. Glad you like the apex mod! Those things are exact opposites to ape hangers. Way to low for me! 

[johnster]

yea, if you let the bike settle, the air usually works its way up to the reservoir or into the slave. You should still bleed your clutch though. Glad you like the apex mod! Those things are exact opposites to ape hangers. Way to low for me! 

Yeah man, they're definitely low as hell. Even when I angled them straight across, they still have a bit of a downward angle to them. When I first installed them, they were ridiculously low (my face was basically mushed into the gauges  ), but I feel like I got them perfect now.

-Talk about completely transforming the bike's handling!! 

-Anyway, I'm gonna order the Yoyodine slave cylinder today I think, so a proper bleed is not too far away..

[Speeddog]

Yes, in moving the clutch assembly around, you probably persuaded a bubble to go back into the master, and you purged out through the bleed port when you pulled the lever.

If it had a bigger bubble than before, your clutch would feel easy, but it wouldn't be disengaging like it should.

[johnster]

If it had a bigger bubble than before, your clutch would feel easy, but it wouldn't be disengaging like it should.

It didn't disengage completely one time out of the whole ride, but I'm fairly positive it was related to the lever getting momentarily hung up at the hinge, or at least that what it felt like. 

In addition to being easier, it also grabs more suddenly towards the end of the lever travel which isn't a huge deal, seeing as how I only partially disengage the clutch while shifting, just to assist the "snick" up to the next gear, usually w/just 1 or 2 fingers. It's just a bit strange, seeing as how the reservior was the only thing moved.

[Speeddog]

I've had two goldline masters that were persistently getting air in the system for no apparent reason. 

One had a pinhole in the hose between the reservoir and the master, which was revealed by a slight wet spot on the hose.
Replaced the hose, and it worked fine.

On the other, for some reason, the grommet around the plastic hose elbow on the master wasn't sealing, luckily it had clear hose and I could see the bubble forming in the hose.
That one didn't leak any fluid.
Replaced the grommet, and everything was fine.

[He Man]

Make sure ur clutch isn't rubbing on anything either. Mine is and there's nothing I can about it besides going at it with a dremel. Its just where everything is positioned for me. Now, where them pics at???