• Welcome, Guest! We hope you enjoy the excellent technical knowledge, event information and discussions that the BMW MOA forum provides. Some forum content will be hidden from you if you remain logged out. If you want to view all content, please click the 'Log in' button above and enter your BMW MOA username and password.

    If you are not an MOA member, why not take the time to join the club, so you can enjoy posting on the forum, the BMW Owners News magazine, and all of the discounts and benefits the BMW MOA offers?

  • Beginning April 1st, and running through April 30th, there is a new 2024 BMW MOA Election discussion area within The Club section of the forum. Within this forum area is also a sticky post that provides the ground rules for participating in the Election forum area. Also, the candidates statements are provided. Please read before joining the conversation, because the rules are very specific to maintain civility.

    The Election forum is here: Election Forum

R1200RT 2009 Clutch Lever Loses Pressure

Clutch Problems Fixed

Well, got the 09 R1200R w 4100 miles on it back from the dealer today after service for the clutch problems discussed here. It turns out my bike already had the new slave cylinder part installed at the factory. However, my dealer (Lester at Frank's in Essex,VT) guessed that since the 09 GS's had a service bulletin about re-routing the fluid line to remove the loop down before it goes into the slave cylinder. He re-routed it directly across from the down tube to the slave cylinder. He test rode it for 50 mile on the interstate and all was well. I rode it 100 miles home in 6th gear the whole way on the interstates and all is well (I hope!)

Cy Young/VT
 
rez cap

...here's a basic question...how the heck do I get the reservoir cap off so that I an flush the clutch system? ..:doh
 
RAPIDDOG said:
...here's a basic question...how the heck do I get the reservoir cap off so that I an flush the clutch system? ..:doh
Click to expand...
What year/model bike? If it's a later bike, the clutch uses mineral oil, and it is not regularly changed like brake fluid.

BTW, great occupation listing in your profile :thumb
 
'05 R12GS. Like I said, manual says no change necessary, but I want to take a peek. I've got some slight weepage down low and the clutch has been feeling weak at the lever.
 
RAPIDDOG said:
...here's a basic question...how the heck do I get the reservoir cap off so that I an flush the clutch system? ..:doh
Click to expand...

Assuming that your bike is the same as my '05 GS there are two tabs that need to be depressed. You can buy a tool to do that... or spend 2 minutes making one out of an old wire hanger. :deal

Cut off about an 8" section of wire hanger. Bend it into the shape of a V. Bend the upper 3/8 inch of the arms of the V in toward the center. You now have a tool that can be used to hold the tabs in while twisting off the cap.

p-20100915-1435-2339.jpg


p-20100915-1435-2338.jpg
 
...brilliant!
I guess I was in a rush last night when I tried to hold the tabs in with two screwdrivers and couldn't figure what other hand I was 'pose to use to twist the cap...:whistle

Thanks!
 
Thanks for this information. My 09 RT started this as I finished my most recent trip of 3000 miles. I am taking my bike in today with this thread.
 
My RT also failed at about 9500 miles (the last 200+ miles home were, um, interesting). The dealer replaced the slave cylinder & bleed the system. I have about 500 miles since then with no problem. Of course, it took 9500 miles for the failure, so it's hard to tell if the fix is permanent.:dunno
 
clutch bleeding

Hooked up my oil draining pump and sucked air out at the bleeder , good lever now thanks. Woody
 
r1dinman said:
I had the same problem on my '08 GS. Bleeding by the dealer only worked a day or so. Then the dealer received a BMW service bulletin addresseing the issue. It called for rerouting the line from the master cylinder to the slave cylinder and installing a special clip. This eliminated the low spot in the line. Coincidentally after that was done, the slave cylinder leaked and was replaced under warranty. I don't know which thing fixed it, but I haven't had any problem since. Have your dealer check the service bulletins.

Jay
Click to expand...

psycle said:
Well, got the 09 R1200R w 4100 miles on it back from the dealer today after service for the clutch problems discussed here. It turns out my bike already had the new slave cylinder part installed at the factory. However, my dealer (Lester at Frank's in Essex,VT) guessed that since the 09 GS's had a service bulletin about re-routing the fluid line to remove the loop down before it goes into the slave cylinder. He re-routed it directly across from the down tube to the slave cylinder. He test rode it for 50 mile on the interstate and all was well. I rode it 100 miles home in 6th gear the whole way on the interstates and all is well (I hope!)

Cy Young/VT
Click to expand...

Ref: 2009 RT
A similar no clutch pressure/loss of pressure occured on a road trip. Found the closest dealer in Phoenix; they told me there was a recent service bulletin on the problem. They did a full bleed of the system and rerouted the line. Work was completed under warranty at the time. Never had another problem with the system. YMMV
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

tangoalpha
Zen & The Art of BMW Motorcycle Maintenance: ‘02 R1150RT Clutch Slave Cylinder and Gear Position Switch Replacement
Replies
9
Views
332
tangoalpha
tangoalpha
C
2004 K1200GT - Ahhh, the clutch
Replies
4
Views
1K
ts888
ts888
J
1100GS Clutch Conundrum
Replies
8
Views
1K
gsaddict
gsaddict
B
2011 BMW R1200RT Front Brake Lever is hard to pull
Replies
2
Views
1K
banzaibob
B
H
Clutch Slave Failure
Replies
13
Views
2K
hadabadachada
H
Back
Top