Ducati clutch no worky

[flatbutt]

So, rolled the Duc out today for spring maintenance and it has no clutch. No back pressure at all. Worked fine when I parked it.

I bled out a bunch of air but still no clutch.

Bad slave? Stuck plates? What else might I do myself?

Any input appreciated.

[cstreit]

IIRC the clutch slave is notorious for failing when they sit.

If you're moving fluid while bleeding the master is at least partially working right? So... slave.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by cstreit

IIRC the clutch slave is notorious for failing when they sit.

If you're moving fluid while bleeding the master is at least partially working right? So... slave.

yup. OK I figured it would be the slave thanks.

Any seconds?

[LJ851]

Was the clutch reservoir still full or was it empty after sitting?

Usually a bad slave will work and leak for quite a while before “failing”

Stuck clutch plates will feel identical at the lever but never actually disengage.

[otto_kretschmer]

You may have a bubble in the master cylinder. You can take the lever off and try different angles to get the bubble out if there is still air on that side.

[flatbutt]

Thanks guys. I disconnected the main feed from the reservoir and drained it. Reconnected and put a few cc's in the bucket.Then borrowed a big honkin' syringe from a buddy and back flushed from the slave banjo. IDK how that much air got in there but I have a clutch again.

Thanks gang.

[cstreit]

...outcome better than expected. Nice work not giving up!

[Rot 911]

Back when I had my 900 SS, I had to bleed the clutch every spring before I could get it back out on the road. Never could figure out how the air got in there. And never had to replace the slave cylinder!

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by Rot 911

Back when I had my 900 SS, I had to bleed the clutch every spring before I could get it back out on the road. Never could figure out how the air got in there. And never had to replace the slave cylinder!

The OEM slave gave up three maybe 4 years ago and I replaced that with a Yoyodyne.

[LWJ]

You pulled fluid up?

I always thought that one pushed fluid up from the slave with a syringe.

Curious.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by LWJ

You pulled fluid up?

I always thought that one pushed fluid up from the slave with a syringe.

Curious.

That's what I ended up doing.

I usually do it by cracking the banjo nut and pumping from the clutch lever.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by Rot 911

Never could figure out how the air got in there.

Probably the seal design or bore. Every time it retracts it grabs a little bit of air.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by john70t

Probably the seal design or bore. Every time it retracts it grabs a little bit of air.

But this is the first time I rolled her out from the winter and it was working fine back then. Oh well it's all good now.

[cstreit]

My '97 748 required bleeding, rain dance, and rum/sacrifice every year to get the slave working again. (Lets not even talk about voltage regulators). I miss that bike - mostly.

[flatbutt]

Sometimes you're the windshield sometimes you're the bug. OK so it's just an inconvenience no big deal but fark me running.

Wanted to get he Duc out today and doing my pre-flight I noted the rear tire pressure is reall low. So I gets the pump out and the damn stem comes off in my hand! sigh. Now I'm hoping Revzilla or Duc Omaha has the part I need.

Anybody ever done the bar clamp on the tire trick to avoid removing the tire completely?

[flatbutt]

I've tried my 1/2 inch DeWalt 20 V impact wrench with no joy even after soaking with Kroil and heating.

Going to be tough to get it to a garage with a broken valve stem so I'm begging for ideas.

[greglepore]

1) there is a valve stem insertion tool - its around 60 bucks (yikes!) but allows you to insert from outside
2) I've done them externally before-wd40 or silicone lube, screwdriver and twist stem as you go around. Its not easy and you need to not puncture the stem, but it IS possible.

What won' budge with impact-the axle nuts?

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by greglepore

1) there is a valve stem insertion tool - its around 60 bucks (yikes!) but allows you to insert from outside
2) I've done them externally before-wd40 or silicone lube, screwdriver and twist stem as you go around. Its not easy and you need to not puncture the stem, but it IS possible.

What won' budge with impact-the axle nuts?

yup the axle nut. They're notorious but this is really stuck.

Have you any experience with that tool?

[otto_kretschmer]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

I've tried my 1/2 inch DeWalt 20 V impact wrench with no joy even after soaking with Kroil and heating.

Going to be tough to get it to a garage with a broken valve stem so I'm begging for ideas.

I think I had this problem a couple years ago. I used a breaker bar and I was bending the tube that locks the wheel. I did eventually get it off but the bar was tweaked 20 deg (ish).

You may want to get or build a slugging wrench and use a dead blo.

I have a Cycle Hill tire tool sold by No-Mar and I can take the tire off and deal with any stem problems. I was also able to change tires on my VW TDI as a bonus.

[908/930]

With the clutch, I had a car do something similar years ago and it was a spring that returns the piston in the master cylinder broke, so it did not return the piston far enough back to allow more fluid in, it would work fine for a while.

Axle nut, keep trying heat add penetrating oil let cool and repeat a couple times.