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Clutch stoped working

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Orac

Orac

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Joined
Feb 1, 2024
Messages
14
Location
Berri
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Bike
BMW R18 first edition
I have a first edition , my clutch has gone slack will not engage and when I turn the bike on the display clicks.
The bike has done 4,000 km only . I’m extremely concerned. A can engage gears but no clutch . What can it be ? I do have to ride the clutch some times , only a few times, to thread through my house to the garage out the back . If anyone has some checks or fix I would be grateful. This bike … golly just issues all the time, first the oil blowing through the left pot , replaced the entire thing, reverse gear went , etc… now the clutch and it’s not even broken in ! So anyone got any ideas and now the bikes out of warranty will BMW take responsibility?
 
Just some shots in the dark - is the fluid reservoir full? Is there any engagement with the clutch at all? Or do you pull the lever and get nothing?

I’m wondering if maybe the pushrod came out of adjustment and isn’t pressing the actuator. Being a hydraulic clutch, I’d blame the fluid before I’d think the clutch itself was actually the blame, especially with such low mileage.
 
Big JimSlim , first off thank you for your reply. I took the clutch hand lever off to check the engagement push rod and yes I had more feel when I put it back on, bike did even start before I did that. but the clutch still does not engage the clutch. I think you are correct so do you have any idea how I check the fluid level , I have terrible the cover off the clutch resivour . Excuse spelling I’m madly dislecive
 
Is there any fluid in there? If no refill and keep pumping slowly until you feel back pressure then keep slowly pumping until no bubbles come from the little hole in the base of the reservoir ... fill about 2/3 full and close the lid ... check for leaks along the lines and connectors .. you may have to take the tank off for that.
Oh and cover up everything real well ... it may 'squirt' ... and use mineral oil clutch fluid NOT brake fluid ...
 
My clutch cable started leaking when I bought the bike. I will bet you dollars to donuts your cable is leaking somewhere. It’s mineral oil so you can have a leak and maybe not have seen it. Fill it as instructed above. And then find the leak. It’s only mineral oil so you dont have to worry much about damage from the fluid. Look for a mess somewhere but just a film, if its been a few years its a very small leak.

I have had all the same problems you had. The actual on the bike was extremely poor. I had a hard time getting BMW to fix the bike when it was under warranty, you can forget them fixing anything for free when the warranty is out. But at least the problem is probably just a leaky clutch line I hope. BMW clutches are hard to break.
 
Big JimSlim , first off thank you for your reply. I took the clutch hand lever off to check the engagement push rod and yes I had more feel when I put it back on, bike did even start before I did that. but the clutch still does not engage the clutch. I think you are correct so do you have any idea how I check the fluid level , I have terrible the cover off the clutch resivour . Excuse spelling I’m madly disle
Ulrich said:
Is there any fluid in there? If no refill and keep pumping slowly until you feel back pressure then keep slowly pumping until no bubbles come from the little hole in the base of the reservoir ... fill about 2/3 full and close the lid ... check for leaks along the lines and connectors .. you may have to take the tank off for that.
Oh and cover up everything real well ... it may 'squirt' ... and use mineral oil clutch fluid NOT
Click to expand...

Mr. Efficiency said:
My clutch cable started leaking when I bought the bike. I will bet you dollars to donuts your cable is leaking somewhere. It’s mineral oil so you can have a leak and maybe not have seen it. Fill it as instructed above. And then find the leak. It’s only mineral oil so you dont have to worry much about damage from the fluid. Look for a mess somewhere but just a film, if its been a few years its a very small leak.

I have had all the same problems you had. The actual on the bike was extremely poor. I had a hard time getting BMW to fix the bike when it was under warranty, you can forget them fixing anything for free when the warranty is out. But at least the problem is probably just a leaky clutch line I hope. BMW clutches are hard to break.
Click to expand...
Mr efficient thank you for your wise words I shall do as you say , and this forum is so brilliant such nice friendly help is even making me rethink just selling this bike I used to love riding but just can’t trust , even all my moto guzzi issues (not helped by zero competent guzzi mechanics left in SA) are eclipsed by this BMW,s fragility dam sham for such a wonderful ride
 
Orac said:
Big JimSlim , first off thank you for your reply. I took the clutch hand lever off to check the engagement push rod and yes I had more feel when I put it back on, bike did even start before I did that. but the clutch still does not engage the clutch. I think you are correct so do you have any idea how I check the fluid level , I have terrible the cover off the clutch resivour . Excuse spelling I’m madly disle



Mr efficient thank you for your wise words I shall do as you say , and this forum is so brilliant such nice friendly help is even making me rethink just selling this bike I used to love riding but just can’t trust , even all my moto guzzi issues (not helped by zero competent guzzi mechanics left in SA) are eclipsed by this BMW,s fragility dam sham for such a wonderful ride
Click to expand...
It’s fixed ! Jimslim and Mr Effcient just brilliant help from my few words you worked it out , all I did was take the cover of the clutch oil reservoir and pump it a lot and it made lots of bubbles and few spurts and boom! The clutch started to fully engage. It’s starts and runs perfectly again. But I’ve booked it so the shop can look for a leak but I can now ride it the shop instead of on a trailer . Thank you i was worried it was something big .
 
Ulrich said:
Is there any fluid in there? If no refill and keep pumping slowly until you feel back pressure then keep slowly pumping until no bubbles come from the little hole in the base of the reservoir ... fill about 2/3 full and close the lid ... check for leaks along the lines and connectors .. you may have to take the tank off for that.
Oh and cover up everything real well ... it may 'squirt' ... and use mineral oil clutch fluid NOT brake fluid ...
Click to expand...
Sorry no reply I’m just awful at knowing how this talk stuff works , mate it worked it’s fixed that you
 
Mr. Efficiency said:
My clutch cable started leaking when I bought the bike. I will bet you dollars to donuts your cable is leaking somewhere. It’s mineral oil so you can have a leak and maybe not have seen it. Fill it as instructed above. And then find the leak. It’s only mineral oil so you dont have to worry much about damage from the fluid. Look for a mess somewhere but just a film, if its been a few years its a very small leak.

I have had all the same problems you had. The actual on the bike was extremely poor. I had a hard time getting BMW to fix the bike when it was under warranty, you can forget them fixing anything for free when the warranty is out. But at least the problem is probably just a leaky clutch line I hope. BMW clutches are hard to break.
Click to expand...
Its not a clutch cable its a clutch line. Sound like air got in the line. Needs to be cleared. There is a you tube video on how to do it.
 
Jgraf0107 said:
So what finally was the fix?
Click to expand...
Yes

Orac

Post in thread 'Clutch stoped working'

Orac said:
Big JimSlim , first off thank you for your reply. I took the clutch hand lever off to check the engagement push rod and yes I had more feel when I put it back on, bike did even start before I did that. but the clutch still does not engage the clutch. I think you are correct so do you have any idea how I check the fluid level , I have terrible the cover off the clutch resivour . Excuse spelling I’m madly disle



Mr efficient thank you for your wise words I shall do as you say , and this forum is so brilliant such nice friendly help is even making me rethink just selling this bike I...
Click to expand...
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