I figured I'd take advantage of a nice day today to take care of some routine maintenance. But I had some issues that I'd like some advice about.
1. drain/flush/fill front brake fluid: Actually, this one went okay.
2. drain/flush/fill clutch fluid: Well, here's where I had some issues. When I took off the secondary drive cover, as I was walking to put it aside and out of the way, I noticed two random parts on the ground (pic attached). I just now looked them up on a fiche and they appear to be a spacer, a cushion and a pin (#4, #25, #26 in diagram). I'm guessing they're important, so I'll try putting them on again. But the cover went back on quite securely, so I don't know just how important they are.
But the bigger issue is that I'm pretty sure none of the old clutch fluid came out of the bleeder valve. I followed all the steps, sucking out most but not all of the old fluid from the reservoir, filled with fresh DOT 4, I connected the hose, squeezed the clutch lever slowly (it did start squirting out of the reservoir), opened the bleeder valve, closed the bleeder valve, released the clutch lever. Repeat. But I'll be damned if I saw any fluid coming out of the hose. I even tried again with the hose totally off the bleeder, and still nothing came out. Finally just sucked a little more of the old/new mixture out of the reservoir, filled it most of the way with fresh, buttoned everything up, put the secondary drive cover back on and called it a day.
3. drain and fill radiator: Got the radiator cover off, went to loosen the drain bolt and couldn't get at the damned thing well enough to loosen it. Spent way too much time laying on the ground trying to get at it, all the while thinking what a pain it could be getting the thing back on if I do get it off, and decided to put it off for another day. I imagine it might be easier with the bike on a lift, but I don't have one. Kills me to think I may have to have a shop do something so simple, but that may be the case. I can't imagine they expect us to remove the pipes for easier access to that bolt. Or do they?
For what it's worth, I did take it for a ride afterward and everything seems fine. Brakes are as good as ever (though they weren't a problem to begin with), and believe it or not, the bike actually seems to shift a little more smoothly, although that could be my imagination.
Anyway, I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on the need for the spacer, cushion, and pin under the secondary drive cover. And why the old fluid wasn't coming through the bleeder valve.
1. drain/flush/fill front brake fluid: Actually, this one went okay.
2. drain/flush/fill clutch fluid: Well, here's where I had some issues. When I took off the secondary drive cover, as I was walking to put it aside and out of the way, I noticed two random parts on the ground (pic attached). I just now looked them up on a fiche and they appear to be a spacer, a cushion and a pin (#4, #25, #26 in diagram). I'm guessing they're important, so I'll try putting them on again. But the cover went back on quite securely, so I don't know just how important they are.
But the bigger issue is that I'm pretty sure none of the old clutch fluid came out of the bleeder valve. I followed all the steps, sucking out most but not all of the old fluid from the reservoir, filled with fresh DOT 4, I connected the hose, squeezed the clutch lever slowly (it did start squirting out of the reservoir), opened the bleeder valve, closed the bleeder valve, released the clutch lever. Repeat. But I'll be damned if I saw any fluid coming out of the hose. I even tried again with the hose totally off the bleeder, and still nothing came out. Finally just sucked a little more of the old/new mixture out of the reservoir, filled it most of the way with fresh, buttoned everything up, put the secondary drive cover back on and called it a day.
3. drain and fill radiator: Got the radiator cover off, went to loosen the drain bolt and couldn't get at the damned thing well enough to loosen it. Spent way too much time laying on the ground trying to get at it, all the while thinking what a pain it could be getting the thing back on if I do get it off, and decided to put it off for another day. I imagine it might be easier with the bike on a lift, but I don't have one. Kills me to think I may have to have a shop do something so simple, but that may be the case. I can't imagine they expect us to remove the pipes for easier access to that bolt. Or do they?
For what it's worth, I did take it for a ride afterward and everything seems fine. Brakes are as good as ever (though they weren't a problem to begin with), and believe it or not, the bike actually seems to shift a little more smoothly, although that could be my imagination.
Anyway, I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on the need for the spacer, cushion, and pin under the secondary drive cover. And why the old fluid wasn't coming through the bleeder valve.