Clutch Problem

[bobsbandit]

I'm new on the scene and I'm hoping someone can give me some info. I went to use my 97 Bandit 1200S last Sunday and was surprised to find that the clutch lever was very easy to pull. No resistance. I then looked at the cable connection to the hand grip and it was very loose. Anyone know what the deal is here? Would it be a broken cable or does it go further down the line into the transmission? Any idea what this will cost to repair? I apprciate any info. Thanks,

[LowRyter]

hydraulic clutch....no cable.

[bobsbandit]

Thanks for the refresher. Knew that, but didn't put 2 + 2 together.  I went and checked the resevoir this morning and rightly so, it is empty. Now the question is, if I fill it up is there a bleeding/air expultion thing that has to be done, and what type of hydraulic oil does it take? It's tough getting old! 

[bobsbandit]

OK, I have another question. I used a high pressure washer to clean my bike and I noticed that some of the outer fins on the oil cooler have been pushed in. The center core is OK. Will I have a oil cooling problem with this?

Also while I'm at it, I warm up the bike for at least 5 minutes before I ride, but when riding and as I throttle up the engine boggs down. After 5 minutes or so or riding, it clears up. I've had the plugs changed and advised the technitians when serviced, but I still have the sam results when I get the bike back. Is this normal? I live in South Florida.

 

[LowRyter]

don't know the answer to either but can speculate.

I guess I would add fluid to the reservoir and see if that would work.  Never bled the clutch, but have added brake fluid in car before.  Have bled brakes when changed brake line on my B12.

Regarding bogging when cold.....could just be cold.  Is the choke still on?  If it clears when it warms up, might be typical normal.  You might need to balance and check carbs for air leaks or carb maintenance.   

[bobsbandit]

Thanks, I'll fill it up tomorrow and see what I get. 

[mjj]

Should not take more than 1 or 2 mins to warm up. It sounds like a lean mixture to me, as you say it only revs ok after 5 mins or so. This would give the engine time to get fairly hot. As for the clutch, you have a bleed nipple on the slave cylinder. Just bleed the same way as a car system! We use dot4 fluid (UK)

[bobsbandit]

Thanks for the info. Now if we can get out of this deep freeze in Florida, I'll get to bleeding the clutch.

Cheers,

[mjj]

Best of luck, all mine are in the garage, snow here as well! Just a tip. i use a long piece of tube from the nipple to the reservoir. 

[bobsbandit]

Yup. I bought the hose kit and will make a suitable bottle to receive the air & fluid. Where are you in the UK?

[mjj]

Near Colchester in a small county called Essex! roughly in the south east of the UK.
Check it out on google earth. 

[bobsbandit]

Know where it is. I was with a cruise line and sailed out of Dover & Southampton many times. My wife is from Manchester and we spent Christmas in Church Stretton where her Dad lives. We were lucky not to get the really bad weather. It snowed the day we left as we took the train to Manchester Airport.

[mjj]

Just goes to show how small the world is! I am surprised though that there are not more people on this forum, given the size of your population? Good luck with your "bleeding clutch". Perhaps keep in touch? I believe that you can send personnel messages on here? Names Mick by the way!

[bobsbandit]

Hey Mick, I'm Bob Rio, Davie FL. Are you on Facebook? Being new to this site, where is the personal email section? Cheers,

[mjj]

Hi Bob, if you click on the persons username (mjj), it brings up another page with there info. at the bottom is a list of things you can do. click on send message, and go from there. Just found this out myself, not to hot with pc`s!. Not on facebook or anything similar. Just an email, which i can give you if you like?