Bimota Forum

[Quackers]

I've just put the motor back in the frame (not the easiest thing I've ever done) & got round to bleeding the clutch. Nothing difficult about bleeding a clutch, but no success after several hours of faffing around. With the reservoir full and the reservoir cap off, there's hardly any fluid being pushed through the system when the clutch lever is pulled back to the bar. Elevating the reservoir so it's higher than the banjo bolt makes no difference. It seems to me like the seals have gone (or are on their way out) but its difficult to be sure - the motor's been out for about 4 months & all was well prior to that (it didn't even suffer from clutch drag - & it definitely doesn't at the moment!). So, I'm asking for some advice just in case there is a technique for bleeding the clutch that is unique to Brembo.

In the event that a re-seal is needed.......I've looked at the Brembo site & had a peek on the Ducati Forum (sorry about that). It seems that reseal kits haven't been available for some time, although Mdina Italia seem to have some & Bevel Heaven are advertising many & varied 916/996 m/cylinders that look similar + some reseal kits.

I guess I'm not the first to have to fit new seals in an SB6 Brembo m/cylinder sooooooo.......who does reseal kits, or which seal kit fits from another bike , or which m/cylinder from another bike will fit (presuming they're available "new" & won't break the bank) or am I on my own (i.e. down the radial route)?

[Jonny B Bad]

Have you taken a look at the slave cylinder? The seal down there is prone to going.
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What, Jonny's gone!

[Evilchicken0]

http://www.modeperformance.co.uk/mode_performance/index.html Page 12 bottom right "looks" similar but I don't know the ratio

My slave has had a auto bleed nipple fitted, I wouldn't mind a radial master but I don't think it really matters on the clutch
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Don't read everything you believe

[akito-man]

Got that radial brake lever- peace of piss to bleed due to the fact air rises, and theres a bleed point on the cylinder, dot 5 was in my wing, but drain it and flush if standing for a while as it totaly gummed up every part of the brakes on it with crystal deposits! Syringe the fluid through on your clutch oily! Then bleed proper the next day! So the air locks move up the lines, another tip is to tape up the levers back to the grip leaving the passage open , this works 9 times outa 10! Good bleedin luck;)!
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wot you got ?...me..well--
sb8r,98 R1,aprilla factory peg,gl1100aspencade!oh yes ford rs turbo s2 ,coz fast bikes n fast cars go together!

[brian]

I had the same trouble bleeding my sb6 clutch. The only way i could get any sucess was to pressure bleed it. I think i ended up opening the bleed screw and just putting a very low amount of air pressure into the master cylinder resevoir while sealing it with my hand. This was enough to get the fluid to push through the M/C and flow to the slave. Be VERY careful not to splash brake fluid onto your paint work!

Brian
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'99 DB4 #104, '96 SB6 #1165, '94 DB2 J #652, '99 DB4 #088, '08 VTX1800, '93 ZXR750R M1, '95 ZXR750, '95 ZXR750 Race Bike, '94 CBR400rr NC29 Race Bike, '94 CB250, '49 BSA C10 250, '61 BSA A10 650, '89 ZXR750, '91 Ducati 851

[oily]

Yep, been there done that

I think the problem lies in the fact that the slave cylinder piston is pushed right in so the fluid gets pushed down the pipe and straight out of the bleed nipple

I always bleed the clutch BEFORE I fit the engine because, as you know, you can't get at the slave cylinder with the engine fitted

I think the way to go is as Brian suggests and use some pressure on the master
Once you get the piston moving, your away
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SB6 mk1 (project mega light, big bore)
Sb6 mk2 ( Big Bore)
Sb6 mk2 ( Restored)
Sb6R fighter
Sb6 or Sb7 WANTED

[mainstone41]

[oily]

[Pompey]

mmmmmm, pretty .....
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Pomps
Bimota's Db2, Db5 ,Ducati's 851' 92, 888' 93, Honda blade' 93, Triumph speed triple' 07, kawasaki zxr 750 k1

[mainstone41]

Drool!

[Evilchicken0]

Do they come with reserviors or is that extra ?
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Don't read everything you believe

[oily]

yep......extra
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SB6 mk1 (project mega light, big bore)
Sb6 mk2 ( Big Bore)
Sb6 mk2 ( Restored)
Sb6R fighter
Sb6 or Sb7 WANTED

[Quackers]

Thanks for the replies.

Johnny B Bad - good thought, but it's definitely the master cyl.

Brian - great suggestion. I'll give it a go, & will try & avoid ejaculating brake fluid everywhere (anyone like Steel Panther's "If you really, really love me"? It makes me laugh every time I hear it).

Oily - Mmmm. If the slave piston is stuck as well I'll really be pi**ed off. Haven't got that far yet since the m/cyl clearly isn't behaving at the moment. Also, I'm in love with the radial set. A couple of hundred? A bargain (cough).

Mainstone 41 - I hadn't thought of that. If pressure bleeding doesn't work it's next on my list. Ta.

Evilchuck - Ta. You've provided a Plan B. Although....are we all sure that the 916/996/998 SPS/R m/cyl isn't the same?

[Evilchicken0]

As long as you have the same ratio then they should be "similar".

Just a thought - do you have a spare caliper hanging around ??? or use the rear from the bike. Connect it up and if the master moves it then you you know it's the slave that's gone. It could save a lot of dosh.
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Don't read everything you believe

[oily]

I have the "spare" master i've replaced with the radial. I've even got a new black master if you need to borrow something to eliminate yours
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SB6 mk1 (project mega light, big bore)
Sb6 mk2 ( Big Bore)
Sb6 mk2 ( Restored)
Sb6R fighter
Sb6 or Sb7 WANTED