I decided to just ignore all the clutch master cylinder recalls and see what I could do to fix the leak-down problem myself.

I flushed a LOT (about a quart) of Valvoline Synthetic DOT 3-4 fluid through the system to wash out the original fluid and whatever that black gunk is, and buttoned everything up. Problem solved, seemingly permanently, in about 20 minutes.

The biggest plus, to me, is that no ham-fisted dealer "tech" has touched my bike since I bought it (and they sent me down the road on a brand new, unfamiliar bike with 26 lbs. of air in the front tire after their "dealer prep" - whatta friggin' joke THAT is!) and I plan to keep it that way from now on!

Over 2 months and 3000 miles with no problems or change in lever/clutch action. It disengages and engages at the same comfortable points as before. Bike can sit for a week or more and the clutch still works perfectly on the first pull.

The MOCO's latest line (of total BS?) for the clutch problems is that something in the master cylinders was reacting with that crap-fluid they install at the factory, so I figured that flushing the system with an appropriate, high grade product that has different chemical properties would maybe cure the reaction problem, or whatever the actual problem really is.

So far, so good!

 

According to the service bulletin you haven't completed the fix. The dealers are instructed to flush contaminants with distilled water as this is the only way to neutralize a chemical reaction and to rebuild the clutch master cylinder with a kit.

 

Yeah, I know that. I chose to ignore it and try something else.

Seemingly, changing the "chemical" also works to stop the reaction. Mine had the classic issue of sitting a week and having bubbles form in the fluid that would keep the clutch from disengaging when I pulled the lever.

So far, it's worked just fine using my "fix". If the problem comes back, I'll buy the kit and do the SB-described repair myself.

 

And you think a Tech is going to do this?............

 

Could get lucky and get a competent tech.

 

I could win the lottery too - if I was stupid enough to play it.

I don't expect to ever do either one, though!

 

I really don't blame you for not wanting the dealer to touch your bike. It's a shame that Harley can't get a handle on the widespread mistrust of dealer service departments.

 

what sux is, if your bike goes to the dealer for any reason, they're gonna do it again to satisfy the recall. I just had mine done, working good so far. don't see a difference.

 

I have a 14 ultra limited and completely drained with a vacuum bleeder and refilled and flushed several times and that white lithium grease or whatever they use on the slave cylinder during assembly still contaminates the fluid and looks milky after a couple months. Clutch engagement works smoother after a clutch fluid flush and greatly reduces clutch lever travel.

 

They will NOT do that without my permission, and they'll never get it!

Anyway, no dealership service dept. will ever see my bike in the first place.