access clutch bleeder valve

I want to flush my hydraulic clutch fluid out by pushing it out from bleeder valve behind the outside transmission cover plate and it looks like I will have to loosen head pipe bolts to get the cover off...I loosened the heat shields but not enough room...cant afford the two service manuals right now for the 2017 freewheeler so was wondering if anyone has experience with this on this year trike...dealer says I need the 2017 bagger manual and the 2017 Freewheeler supplemental manual (200 bucks)...any help on this subject would be appreciated...warranty just ended so have to start learning how to do what I can to save money...its a simple procedure except for getting that cover off...Thanks...donny

[QUOTE=donny66;780133]I want to flush my hydraulic clutch fluid out by pushing it out from bleeder valve behind the outside transmission cover plate and it looks like I will have to loosen head pipe bolts to get the cover off...I loosened the heat shields but not enough room...cant afford the two service manuals right now for the 2017 freewheeler so was wondering if anyone has experience with this on this year trike...dealer says I need the 2017 bagger manual and the 2017 Freewheeler supplemental manual (200 bucks)...any help on this subject would be appreciated...warranty just ended so have to start learning how to do what I can to save money...its a simple procedure except for getting that cover off...Thanks...donny[/QUOTE]

Welcome from Missouri. Did you have the clutch recall done? They would have flushed & bled the clutch fluid during the recall.

Check with your dealer.

Donny.... Welcome to Trike Talk👍👍...

If you have a 17-18 model the recall on the slave cylinder should have been already done. That said you should not have to loosen the exhaust to get the faux cover off

HD says to flush the fluid every 2 years

Service manual states you may have to loosen exhaust to get outer cover off.

Yes I had the recall done two years ago and my warranty is done...want to change the fluid myself...thanks

I may have someone do it for me...dealer says it's a real pain to get the head pipes gasket back in properly and tighten down...thx

[QUOTE=Jack Klarich;780195]If you have a 17-18 model the recall on the slave cylinder should have been already done. That said you should not have to loosen the exhaust to get the faux cover off

HD says to flush the fluid every 2 years[/QUOTE]

Yes...did the recall...been two years...gotta change the fluid...thanks

[QUOTE=donny66;780258]Yes...did the recall...been two years...gotta change the fluid...thanks[/QUOTE]

I watched my dealer do my 2017 Freewheeler recall & the Tech was able to get the cover off by loosening the heat shield, without loosening the pipes. I have decided that at the 2 year point, I will remove the clutch reservoir cover, suck the fluid out with a big syringe, clean it out with a lint free cloth(Thanks for the tip Jack) & replace the fluid with fresh.

In my opinion on my trike, 3 years is ok.

Loosen the rear pipe heat shield enuff so you can rotate it. You may have tom wiggle and rotate the cover but it will come off. When bleeding the master, I suck out as much fluid as I can with a syringe. Next with a lint free cloth I wipe out any sludge in the master cylinder before I start to bleed. Keep the master full during bleeding, open the bleeder and let gravity work for you. Good Luck;)

If you still cannot get the cover all the way off and you don't mind a bit of clean up work, try this. Move the cover as much as you can to reach the bleeder screw with a medium extension and socket from the front side. The fluid will drip down and out the bottom of the cover so you want a pan under the tranny. When you are done flush a lot of water thru the cover and under the tranny. After letting it dry good put the cover back on. I know this works because I have done this to 2 other bikes I did NOT want to pull the exhaust on.

I replaced my slave cylinder and had to loosen the exhaust. While I had the trans cover off, I trimmed the bottom. It now comes off easily with only moving the heat shield. The trimming is not visable with the shield in place.