Replacing slave cylinder
 

Quick question. I've removed the old, leaking clutch slave cylinder. What's the best liquid to clean inside where the cylinder slides? There's crud in there and I've used q-tips to clean most of it, but it looks like I need to flush the last little bit of crud out. I don't want to do anything to damage any seals or contaminate the new slave cylinder.
Suggestions?

Alcohol

I've drank a 6 pack and hasn't helped a bit....
Thanks EZ. I used up about 30 qtips and half a bottle of alcohol. Putting it back together now.

Slave cylinder replacement
 

Still funny..will have a 6 pack in my garage just in case!

Undertaking replacement of the leaky cylinder tomorrow night. Any other tips?

Phil

I would use brake cleaner. I am not a aerosol fan, because I am a part time tree hugger, but it works well and the spray tip is a large orifice type so you get blasting action. But, once clean and the bore being dry make sure the new seals are lubed w/ dot 4 or whatever is recommend.

be safe,
Lane

Are you guys able to drill a wee drain hole in the casing? So future leaks stay out of the clutch.

Not in favor of the weep hole. The end of the clutch pushrod fits into a greased bearing that is part of the slave cylinder assembly. The weep hole will let rain and road scuz into the bearing assembly and cause premature failure.

I would suggest flushing the fluid every couple years to prevent seal failure.

This is from a 04 R1150R I did for a customer yesterday. The top piece is the slave piston, the middle piece is the throwout bearing that the rod fits into and spins when the clutch rod is pressed against the pressure plate. This one failed due to no lubrication in the bearing, and it welded itself to the clutch pushrod from friction heat.

http://www.bswartz.net/iphone/clutchthrowout.jpg

Slave Cylinder
 

The fluids were changed every 2-3 years but with 112,000 kms (69,000 miles) I cannot complain.

Wswartzwel, I am replacing the slave cylinder in the bike. Am I correct to assume lubricating at the throwout bearing involves a further disassembly? Your thoughts?

Many thanks!

Phil

no. new one comes pre greased. i would slide the rod out and put a dab on the front tip though

No throwout bearing. Rod pushes against the diaphragm spring and spins the bearing in the slave cylinder.

The bearing in the slave cylinder is the throwout bearing. A dab of grease on the front end of the rod helps keep the diaphragm spring from wearing.

I was thinking of cars where the throw out bearing is up against the clutch. From
"R1100s4me' post it sounded like he was doing the same when he asked about further disassembly. Didn't want him tearing the bike in half looking for the bearing on the front end of the rod.

Gotcha... I tend to use old school nomenclature regarding the function of the parts.

All worked out fine, pulled the shock back without removing wheel. A few acrapes later and reverse filling from the bleeder line with a syringe (60 ml catheter-insert old man joke here) was fairly easy with patience.

Minor slippage the first two harder acceleration twists but a ride along the coast and with friends and all is good!

Cheers all!

Phil