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F800 ABS brake flush
- Thread starter roborider
- Start date
MCMXCIVRS
More toys than space
Ther's nothing really special involved to do it. It's pretty much a standard motorcycle ABS system.
Not sure if it has the same front resevoir as the ST and GS, if so, you need a special tool to do the cap removal. I've heard it can be done without but it tricky. There's a coulpe of locking tabs that prevent the lid from unscrewing, sort of like a childproof medicine bottle lid. The tool looks basically like just a large thin open end spanner. It slip into the gap below the lid and holds the tab in so the lid can be turned to unscrew it. I made my own from a piece of aluminum sheet, they can be purchased premade too.
After that, just use whatever method suits you to do the fluid flush.
Not sure if it has the same front resevoir as the ST and GS, if so, you need a special tool to do the cap removal. I've heard it can be done without but it tricky. There's a coulpe of locking tabs that prevent the lid from unscrewing, sort of like a childproof medicine bottle lid. The tool looks basically like just a large thin open end spanner. It slip into the gap below the lid and holds the tab in so the lid can be turned to unscrew it. I made my own from a piece of aluminum sheet, they can be purchased premade too.
After that, just use whatever method suits you to do the fluid flush.
pglaves
#13338
It just takes two people. One can press both tabs inward with a couple of little screwdrivers while the second turns the cap. Voni and I did it last week.
Last edited:
roborider
God? What god?
Thanks guys. I didn't know if it had a separated system like the whizzy RT. And the next to useless Haynes manual says to take it to a dealer since you need the BMW diagnostic tool to do it. When did Haynes manuals become so brain dead? I have one for my 1989 Chevy that is great, even describing how to build special tools. Now, they are just glorified manuals on how to change the oil....
See the first append on this thread for a pic. of the BMW-approved tool,
see the second append for an "improvised" tool that works well, cost nothing and doesn't take up as much space in the tool roll
http://f800riders.org/forum/showthread.php/40630-F650-800GS-Brake-Reservoir-Cap-Removal-Tool
see the second append for an "improvised" tool that works well, cost nothing and doesn't take up as much space in the tool roll
http://f800riders.org/forum/showthread.php/40630-F650-800GS-Brake-Reservoir-Cap-Removal-Tool
bigskyrider
New member
Black rear brake fluid.......
I picked up my F800 GS adventure in March and I've ridden it 2K.
I was washing it yesterday when I noticed that the rear brake fluid res. was dark chocolate almost black?
I've never seen fluid go south so fast, I did a search of the web and see this has been something that's "normal" for this bike for some time.
Should I change this fluid right now or should the dealer take care of it?
I picked up my F800 GS adventure in March and I've ridden it 2K.
I was washing it yesterday when I noticed that the rear brake fluid res. was dark chocolate almost black?
I've never seen fluid go south so fast, I did a search of the web and see this has been something that's "normal" for this bike for some time.
Should I change this fluid right now or should the dealer take care of it?
lee
Debbie's Servant
I picked up my F800 GS adventure in March and I've ridden it 2K.
I was washing it yesterday when I noticed that the rear brake fluid res. was dark chocolate almost black?
I've never seen fluid go south so fast, I did a search of the web and see this has been something that's "normal" for this bike for some time.
Should I change this fluid right now or should the dealer take care of it?
Are you sure you're not looking at the clutch fluid?
Does the F800 have a hydraulic clutch or cable?
bigskyrider
New member
Dirty brake fluid after two months?
Yep, it's the rear brake fluid reservoir and the fluid is almost black.
Yep, it's the rear brake fluid reservoir and the fluid is almost black.
lee
Debbie's Servant
Since it's in warranty I would get to a dealer and see what's going on.
bigskyrider
New member
toooldtocare
Active member
My 2007 F800S did that, and my new F700GS is doing it too. It only has a bit over a thousand miles. I think it is normal, so I am going to do like I did with my F8S, and change it next year. I also use the coat hanger trick, works great.
Wayne
The improvised-from-a-wire-coat-hanger tool described several posts in to the above thread is cheap, easy to make, and easy to use. It took me about 90 seconds to make it.
bikerfish1100
New member
I picked up my F800 GS adventure in March and I've ridden it 2K.
I was washing it yesterday when I noticed that the rear brake fluid res. was dark chocolate almost black?
I've never seen fluid go south so fast, I did a search of the web and see this has been something that's "normal" for this bike for some time.
Should I change this fluid right now or should the dealer take care of it?
my '09 F8GS does the same thing. it's so much easier, faster and cheaper for me to do it than to arrange to bring it in to have my dealer do it .. and they're a great shop and only 10 miles away.
My vote is DIY- it's fixed now, cost is materials only, and takes less than an hour of your time.
bikerfish1100
New member
bigskyrider
New member
Black rear brake fluid.......
Thanks all and bikerfish,
That's what I'll do, flush it myself.....I do most all of my wrenching on both of my bikes except for tires.
I've just never seen fluid turn that color, going from brand new to yuck in six weeks.
Thanks all and bikerfish,
That's what I'll do, flush it myself.....I do most all of my wrenching on both of my bikes except for tires.
I've just never seen fluid turn that color, going from brand new to yuck in six weeks.
RadioFlyer
Right2Repair
They all do that
Literally all new F800 bikes turn the rear brake fluid black. Its colour from the hose. After a brake flush or two it stays clear. Don't worry about it.
Some folks cut and bend a coat hanger to make a tool to hold down the tabs to remove the front reservoir cap.
I use a Mighty Vac to extract the fluid from the caliper and put the new stuff in the reservoir.
mike
Literally all new F800 bikes turn the rear brake fluid black. Its colour from the hose. After a brake flush or two it stays clear. Don't worry about it.
Some folks cut and bend a coat hanger to make a tool to hold down the tabs to remove the front reservoir cap.
I use a Mighty Vac to extract the fluid from the caliper and put the new stuff in the reservoir.
mike
weschmann
Kawa Afterthought
This is exactly the information that I needed. Just before coming into the BMW family, I bought a Mighty Vac for my 900 Kawasaki, and have wanted to put it back to good use. Didn't use it on my K1200RS but glad to be able to bleed the brakes again on my own on my F700 GS...... The value of this forum for information is just great!
homeoutlaw
New member
brake cap removal
If you have a 6" sliding caliper used for measuring, just open it up to slide under the cap, close measuring jaws in and that will release the two clips.
If you have a 6" sliding caliper used for measuring, just open it up to slide under the cap, close measuring jaws in and that will release the two clips.
