Went over Sonora pass last weekend. 9200 ft and hot 90+ degrees. After cresting the summit I noticed the clutch had to be pumped to engage. This continued for about 5 miles so I pulled off the road. I shut the bike down to check for fluid leaks and master cylinder level, all good. When I fired the bike back up everything worked perfectly. Ended up riding back over Ebbits pass and never had another problem. I pulled the cap off master when I got home and all was well. My best guess is it overheated. Has anyone else had this happen?

 

There was a recall on the hydraulic clutch, chuck with Harley about it.

 

Were you pulling a trailer?

 

I don't know bout your weird clutch problem, but Sonora Pass is 9624'.

I just rode 108 the first time earlier this month.

 

I had that common problem that prompted the recall with my '15 Limited, but after pumping about a quart of fresh fluid through the system, it never happened again.

It never had the symptoms other than after sitting for a week or so, though. Never while riding.

You might try that if you don't want some brain-dead dealer "tech" pawing on your bike - it worked for me.

 

The bike went in for the recall clutch repair. I am at 40K and this has never happened before. Very odd. I think I will flush the system as it has only been done once before(when I put on chrome controls at 15K) This is the first bike I have owned with a hydraulic clutch and it really concerns me. Especially when no one seems to have experienced this.

 

I had mine go out in stop and go traffic in Pigeon Forge a couple of years ago. Pulled over let it cool down and it never did it again.

 

Flush you're fluids and then put a dial indicator on your clutch to measure pushrod axial movement. If your fluids did get to hot, that would explain loss of pressure

 

All you probably had was a small air bubble in the system.....at lower levels the ambient air pressure is greater than at higher levels keeping the air bubble small and not noticeable. As you climbed the ambient air pressure got less allowing the air bubble to expand to the point it affected your clutch operation. I bet if you just bleed the system thoroughly you wont have that problem again.

Aloha....Mike

 

Clutch and brake fluid are to be replaced every 2 years as they inherently degrade over time and subsequently lose adequate pressure. I would think that the harsh mountain riding was an indicator that your fluid is not the best.