Clutch fluid marking it's spot

[Yamahahammer1300]

My bike sat for a bit while I moved across the USA.  Before I said goodbye to California, I noticed the hydraulic fluid leaking from the clutch slave cylinder. I did rebuild the slave about 18 months ago.  Do I need to do this again?  Or is the cylinder wasted, please advise.

[ribbert]

My bike sat for a bit while I moved across the USA.  Before I said goodbye to California, I noticed the hydraulic fluid leaking from the clutch slave cylinder. I did rebuild the slave about 18 months ago.  Do I need to do this again?  Or is the cylinder wasted, please advise.

I think you just answered your own question, if it only lasted that long with a new seal and hardly any use, throw it away.

If they were expensive or hard to come by it could be reconditioned, but they're not, so buy a new one and you'll never have to do it again.

Noel

[Pat Conlon]

Hey Mike, when you rebuilt the slave, how did the aluminum bore look?
If it's pitted, throw it away like Noel mentioned.
Did you buy a oem quality seal kit? Hopefully not that cheap shit off FleaBay.

For minor clean up of the bore, I've used this brake slave hone tool with good results:


This tool was used in the old days when cars had drum brakes.

You do have to be careful with the soft aluminum bore. Just a quick in and out 3 times with a cordless drill.

Good luck with your move.

[Yamahahammer1300]

Pat, you answered my next question with the hone tool.  I have one.  And no, all my parts come from Randy.
I have to give it a once over when it arrives.  Remind me though, the shaft seal- doesn't that go around the cat spear on the crankcase side?  I am pretty sure I did not replace that during the slave rebuild.

[Pat Conlon]

Yes. The shaft seal just pops in the case where the spear (push rod) pokes out.
If you have brake fluid on your floor, it's not from the shaft seal...that would be an oil mark.

Cheers

[M3 Mitch]

New member, but have owned FJ 1100 1985 since about 1987.  Anyway my clutch slave cylinder is leaking again, I have put new seals in it before, the aluminum bore looked OK a few years ago.  I have a new complete cylinder and a seal kit waiting for me at the local Yamaha dealer.

My question is, is it unusual that I have had to replace the seal 2X in about 30 years of owning this bike?  I am using Castrol LMA fluid, bike is garaged when not running, I have kept it up over the years. 

Wondering if I should hone the original cylinder, maybe put some Castrol Rubber Grease on the new seal, put in the new unit and go on, or what would the collective here suggest? Season is ending around here so I am not worried about saving time, obviously if I was slapping on the new assembly would be the way to go. 

It seems to me that the leaking is more likely to show up in long periods of not riding the bike.  Maybe working the clutch a couple of times every week or so is worth doing? 

Thanks, I think I will enjoy this forum quite a bit.

[Flynt]

I'd say you've gotten good use of the original part, but they are consumables and it's time to replace vs stretch it out even further.  If you change the fluid and occasionally remove the slave and de-grunge it, the slave should last quite a while and then give you one good rebuild if you don't let it get to far gone first.  Yours has done it's job.  My opinion is change it before the leaking causes paint issues.

Frank