ultrafxr
1250+ Posts
My dealer held a service clinic yesterday and we watched the tech perform a complete flush of the clutch and brake systems of a Limited that was recently taken in trade. I was interested as planning to have my TG done next month and this was a education for sure.
Wondered why he was removing the controls and switches from the handlebars and he showed us a clamp like device he uses to re-mount the clutch and brake perches so they are completely level. You can lean and turn the handlebars on a two wheeler but not on a rack and a trike of course not really able to do that well in order to keep the master cylinders level. He said this really help prevent spills and it worked well.
To remove the clutch cover two of the heat shields came off. Then he loosened just the rear nut of each of the headpipes at the cylinder and removed the nuts on the exhaust hanger bracket at the rear. Then after removing the hanger nut on the exhaust below the clutch he could rotate the exhaust system just enough to access the clutch cover.
After bleeding the clutch he removed the primary / derby cover and put a dial indicator on it so he could measure the clutch movement to insure it was within specs. Then he held the clutch lever in for quite a while to verify no movement. Movement would have indicated a loss of hydraulic pressure in the system and necessitated a re-bleed or possibly other repair.
After vacuum bleeding each caliper he hooked up the digital technician computer and it went through several diagnostic steps which he had to respond to. Then for 70 seconds each he had to continuously pump first the brake lever and then the brake pedal all the while the ABS pump was pulsating. This removed what little fluid was trapped in the pump valves.
Start to finish was almost 2 hours. Of course we were observing and asking questions so probably not take quite that long usually. But the TG will be more difficult as rear wheels must be removed and getting to the exhaust hanger bolts is a chore. Tech said sometimes it is easier and quicker to remove the body.
This is a much bigger job than I imagined and I'll not be surprised if it's 3 hours labor at $125 plus fluid and derby gasket for my TG. Beats replacing the ABS pump and / or losing clutch and brakes though. Been there losing clutch and rear brake before and it's not fun.
Wondered why he was removing the controls and switches from the handlebars and he showed us a clamp like device he uses to re-mount the clutch and brake perches so they are completely level. You can lean and turn the handlebars on a two wheeler but not on a rack and a trike of course not really able to do that well in order to keep the master cylinders level. He said this really help prevent spills and it worked well.
To remove the clutch cover two of the heat shields came off. Then he loosened just the rear nut of each of the headpipes at the cylinder and removed the nuts on the exhaust hanger bracket at the rear. Then after removing the hanger nut on the exhaust below the clutch he could rotate the exhaust system just enough to access the clutch cover.
After bleeding the clutch he removed the primary / derby cover and put a dial indicator on it so he could measure the clutch movement to insure it was within specs. Then he held the clutch lever in for quite a while to verify no movement. Movement would have indicated a loss of hydraulic pressure in the system and necessitated a re-bleed or possibly other repair.
After vacuum bleeding each caliper he hooked up the digital technician computer and it went through several diagnostic steps which he had to respond to. Then for 70 seconds each he had to continuously pump first the brake lever and then the brake pedal all the while the ABS pump was pulsating. This removed what little fluid was trapped in the pump valves.
Start to finish was almost 2 hours. Of course we were observing and asking questions so probably not take quite that long usually. But the TG will be more difficult as rear wheels must be removed and getting to the exhaust hanger bolts is a chore. Tech said sometimes it is easier and quicker to remove the body.
This is a much bigger job than I imagined and I'll not be surprised if it's 3 hours labor at $125 plus fluid and derby gasket for my TG. Beats replacing the ABS pump and / or losing clutch and brakes though. Been there losing clutch and rear brake before and it's not fun.