Master cylinder cover help!
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,379
Likes: 1
From: England via the US
Master cylinder cover help!
I cannot stop my front master cylinder cover from leaking. I have never had this problem before and have taken the cover off in the past and it's never leaked when I put it back on. This time though, I can't get it to stop no matter what I try. I've tried not tightening the screws much, I've tried a little tighter and everywhere in between. This has been going on for a week now. I'll put the cover on and check in the morning and every time it's been leaking. I even wipe all of the fluid off the gasket so it's dry when I install it. My next move is to go buy a new cover and gasket. Any thoughts or suggestions?
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 893
Likes: 0
From: Knob Noster, MO
Inspect the gasket, it might has a slight tear on it, or a compression mark from overtightening it. Best bet just to buy a new gasket and torque it down to spec. Check for leaks after the new gasket.
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 583
Likes: 2
From: KC
Mine started leaking last year. I tried everything and couldn't get it to stop. Now the fluid has eaten all of the paint off around the outside edge of the cap, looks like $hit. I'm gonna get a new cap and gasket and hope that fixes it.
Club Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,815
Likes: 16
From: Virginia
Whenever I have taken mine off I have to keep messing with it till I get it just the right tightness which seems to be just where the gasket starts to slightly bulge at the sides when the screws are tightened.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,707
Likes: 4
From: Newtown, PA
As has been said before, just snug up the screws. Replace the gasket if the leaking doesn't stop. The paint has been eaten off of my lid also. Screw it, I have 25,000 miles on my bike and it isn't a show bike.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 286
Likes: 0
From: Santa Rosa, Ca
Is the paint coming off on the inner lid? I had to steel wool the inner lid and edge. Once clean of loose paint, it has never leaked again.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,379
Likes: 1
From: England via the US
Yeah, the paint is bubbling under the lid. I'll try the steel wool underneath to clean it up a bit and buy a new gasket. I'm not as worried about the paint on the lid, I just don't want it to drip onto another part like my tank of front fender and eat the paint.
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Road Master
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 859
Likes: 14
From: Millsboro Delaware
HD redesigned the lid.....at least that was what my parts guy at the dealer told me when I went in to buy a new gasket for my bike. The Gasket and lid are one piece assembly and it cost around $30.....Put the new one on and no more leak.....I wouldn't keep screwing with it as we are all aware brake fluid will destroy painted surfaces.....
