clutch and brake fluid flushes: worth it?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,856
Likes: 2,503
From: Lake Orion, MI
Just had mine done about 2 months ago. My dealer checked it when I did the 30,000 mile maintenance. Based on his check, the moisture was just above 2%.
I am in the camp of having things checks and preventative maintenance. Like to also prepare my bike for long trips - just in case. My bike is a 2014 - battery in the bike since I purchased it in Sept, 2013. All seems just fine and I have never had any difficulty starting it. This winter when it goes for storage, it will be getting a new battery and new tires. Current tires have over 17,000 miles on them and while they appear to be in great shape, I would rather get new ones for the riding season the ride for 3000 miles or so and then change them.
Running around 34,000 miles currently, I may also get the 35,000 mile service - since this can be performed over the winter storage - rather than waste/wait during good riding season weather.
I am in the camp of having things checks and preventative maintenance. Like to also prepare my bike for long trips - just in case. My bike is a 2014 - battery in the bike since I purchased it in Sept, 2013. All seems just fine and I have never had any difficulty starting it. This winter when it goes for storage, it will be getting a new battery and new tires. Current tires have over 17,000 miles on them and while they appear to be in great shape, I would rather get new ones for the riding season the ride for 3000 miles or so and then change them.
Running around 34,000 miles currently, I may also get the 35,000 mile service - since this can be performed over the winter storage - rather than waste/wait during good riding season weather.
Last edited by cycle7447; Oct 15, 2017 at 07:12 AM.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 109
Likes: 4
From: SE Ohio
[QUOTE=Mr-Mike;16736707]Drama queen...
Suddenly fail huh. EVERYTHING was perfect the fluid just suddenly failed..? BULLSH!T.
He'll be fine.[/
ink, it isn't bullshit, i was there, it happened. It was over 100 degrees, we were in stop and go traffic for about 20 minutes.... pulled up the mountain about 50 yards, next time I went to release the clutch..... nothing.
look, mr mike, I'm not gonna continue debating this with you. you can run your brake and clutch fluid anyway you want. But to anybody with a Rushmore bike or a bike with the same abs brake and clutch fluid, I would highly advise you get your fluid checked, and have it changed. It does draw moisture, and it will fail.
Suddenly fail huh. EVERYTHING was perfect the fluid just suddenly failed..? BULLSH!T.
He'll be fine.[/
ink, it isn't bullshit, i was there, it happened. It was over 100 degrees, we were in stop and go traffic for about 20 minutes.... pulled up the mountain about 50 yards, next time I went to release the clutch..... nothing.
look, mr mike, I'm not gonna continue debating this with you. you can run your brake and clutch fluid anyway you want. But to anybody with a Rushmore bike or a bike with the same abs brake and clutch fluid, I would highly advise you get your fluid checked, and have it changed. It does draw moisture, and it will fail.
Last edited by 2011RoadKing; Oct 15, 2017 at 07:40 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,467
Likes: 2,996
From: Charleston, SC
If you look around there have been quite a few posts about failed ABS actuators recently. Flushing may not be the real answer but it can't hurt.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 981
Likes: 182
From: Fairfax County, VA
Sweetheart, it is you who doesn't know what you are talking about. You are misinterpreting the symptoms - period! This is why many should not be offering advice. It's based on one single observation, then a misdiagnosed opinion. Feel free to explain how the symptom you are describing caused a failure. You are suggesting the clutch stayed engaged when released. Start with the type of fluid in question, who performed the last service and how long the replacement fluid sat open on the shelf before being used. And since you advocate testing, what was the percentage of moisture? Or you just can stop now.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 981
Likes: 182
From: Fairfax County, VA
Generalize if it helps but really it's meaningless without details. Sure ABS failures have been noted. How about those relating specifically to fluid age vs fluid type vs other?
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 109
Likes: 4
From: SE Ohio
[QUOTE=Mr-Mike;16736833]Sweetheart, it is you who doesn't know what you are talking about. You are misinterpreting the symptoms - period! This is why many should not be offering advice. It's based on one single observation, then a misdiagnosed opinion. Feel free to explain how the symptom you are describing caused a failure. You are suggesting the clutch stayed engaged when released. Start with the type of fluid in question, who performed the last service and how long the replacement fluid sat open on the shelf before being used. And since you advocate testing, what was the percentage of moisture? Or you just can stop now.[/QUOTE
ill stop now, you obviously already know EVERYTHING!!!!!!
geez
ill stop now, you obviously already know EVERYTHING!!!!!!
geez
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,198
Likes: 282
From: Long Island NY
[QUOTE=2011RoadKing;16736880]
Please don't stop yet, I'd like to know some details (not to bash, to learn)...was it conclusively proven that the fluid caused your clutch failure? Did you take it in, have the fluid changed (nothing else done that could have led to the failure) and your clutch started working again or was there other work done. I know awhile back there was a number of clutch failures, many related to the recall for some inferior parts used, could that have caused your failure? Thanks...
Sweetheart, it is you who doesn't know what you are talking about. You are misinterpreting the symptoms - period! This is why many should not be offering advice. It's based on one single observation, then a misdiagnosed opinion. Feel free to explain how the symptom you are describing caused a failure. You are suggesting the clutch stayed engaged when released. Start with the type of fluid in question, who performed the last service and how long the replacement fluid sat open on the shelf before being used. And since you advocate testing, what was the percentage of moisture? Or you just can stop now.[/QUOTE
ill stop now, you obviously already know EVERYTHING!!!!!!
geez
ill stop now, you obviously already know EVERYTHING!!!!!!
geez
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,467
Likes: 2,996
From: Charleston, SC
They think the rise in ABS related failures is related to poor fluid maintenance.
Do what you like with this info. I have no dog in the fight, but it appears that you're just here to shoot down what others have been seeing.
If you don't want to maintain your brakes, that's cool, but trying to convince others that the whole idea is stupid - is stupid. Let it go new guy.
Last edited by lp; Oct 15, 2017 at 09:48 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 10,032
Likes: 5,305
And the NHTSA still hasn't released their findings of the investigation into the 2008-2011 model year ABS brake failures. It's been almost 16 months. I wonder how many riders and/or passengers have died because the brakes completely failed? I know, just in this forum alone, there are several reports of members who say one or both of their brakes failed on their 2008-2011 bikes.
https://www.google.com/search?q=harl...=1024&bih=1327
https://www.google.com/search?q=harl...=1024&bih=1327