I took my bike in for it's 10,000 mile service last week. The service writer told me that they "included" a brake flush at the 10,000 mile service. I told him that the bike shouldn't need it as it was only about 6 months old. The service writer then starts telling me that a small amount of air is introduced into the brake reservoir on each application of the brakes and that's how moisture gets into the brake fluid. To me it sounds like BS or HD has a really bad design that would allow enough moisture into the brake fluid to compromise it after such a short time.
When I picked up the bike the brakes had been flushed, or at least I was told that they were. I asked if the fluid was checked or just changed as a matter of routine. I was told that it was tested and the moisture content was at 4%. I could see across the counter to the work order and there was a handwritten note of "4%". I can't say that the info is not correct or true because I didn't test it before taking it in. It should have been checked at the 5000 mile service. If it was, it must have tested at less than 3% as anything above that indicates a need to flush the fluid.
Have any of you experienced high moisture content in your brake fluid in such a short amount of time?
What would cause this? (I don't use a pressure washer and my bike is stored in a garage)
How often do you check the moisture content of your brake fluid? (Based on the 4% moisture at 10,000 miles my brake fluid should have been changed at the 5000 mile service)
Before you start giving me a hard time about doing my own service, know that the dealer told me at the 5000 mile service that there was possible signs of fluid transfer from the transmission to the primary. They needed to drain and measure the fluids at the 10,000 mile service to make a determination. At least they said everything measured okay. I'll still keep an eye on it.
Thanks in advance for your input.

 

I thought it was every two years...

 

Flush it every two years . Every time you open it Moisture is introduced. Keep it closed.

 

You are correct, that is plain BS! Brakes are a sealed system...... thus why the master cylinder has a big rubber seal on it

 

Car manufactures are now saying to never open your master cylinders unless there is a problem. And some are saying never flush, just drain and fill. Guess they are finding that once you do try to do routine maintenance there are more times than not that a problem is caused. Car manufactures I guess are taking the if its not broke don't fix it with the brakes now.

My 2013 Heritage has never been flushed and no problems as of yet. Ill probably wait till I replace the brakes on next tire change then do a drain and fill myself.

As for your situation and warranty, Id feel the same way as yourself and also hope for the best so as to keep dealership happy when it comes time for warranty. Especially with the sump issues associated with the M8's.

 

glycol base fluid will absorb water anyway it can. but the so called 4% could have been factory install.
you must have made a target run, still on your back.
if this machine was such in bad shape at point of sale, could have asked them did they check the lemon juice?
remind them that it takes a lawyer to remove it.

 

You got ABS on that Heritage?

 

Taking your bike to a dealer for service is similar to picking up the dropped soap in a prison shower.

JMO - Get the SM. Do your own service.

 

I did too. It is supposed to be checked by the dealer every 5000 miles. I was just surprised that at 7 months ir could be as bad as reported.

 

The thought of the moisture content being high from the factory had occurred to me, but haven't heard of anyone else having the issue. Maybe this post will have a more people with the same issue speaking up.