Burning Brake Fluid

[Chaharly]

Hey yall, So I know I've got a slow fluid leak coming from the clutch system somewhere. I went out to the garage today and fired up the old girl and pretended to ride her in the garage for about a half hour. Now whenever I'd let it sit for awhile something would run onto the exhaust and cause a decent amount of smoke to roll up from the middle of the bike. I had always thought that it was oil leaking from the valve cover gaskets but after letting her sit for a month and getting it really smoking I don't think its oil.

 

Oil always has that "burning oil smell" and this smells neither like oil or antifreeze? Is it possible brake fluid is getting on my pipes and making a smoke that has its own unique smell? If its leaking from the master cylinder can it get on the pipes?

 

Thanks in advance guys.

 

BTW 88 Venture royale

[MikeWa]

It is possible although unlikely. Brake fluid usually leaks at a master cylinder or slave / wheel cylinder. You should be able to check these to see if they are wet. What is in the vicinity of your smoke? I suppose fluid could be running down a hose and dripping off. Stuff dripping on the exhaust pipe is never good. So spend some time to track it down.

 

Mike

[cowpuc]

Any fluid missing in the clutch res Cha? Definitely possible to be brake fluid from either the clutch slave or the brake line leading up to brake linking but a leak in any of those should be noticeable by missing fluid in a res.. I have had leaky clutch slaves that have leaked both externally and internally.. Dont take much to make a funny odor if you get that stuff on the exhaust.. My 1st Gens all seem to pee a little Anti Freeze when getting real cold,, you sure its not anti-freeze?

[MiCarl]

A leaky clutch slave cylinder will run down onto the pipes/collector on the left side of the engine. That's consistent with your other symptoms.

 

You need to rebuild or replace the slave cylinder. The cylinder is probably badly pitted and would take a lot of work to clean up. Replacement slaves are inexpensive enough that it makes sense to just put a new one on.

 

In addition to the rebuild kit or new cylinder you will need a middle gear cover gasket.

[Chaharly]

It is possible although unlikely. Brake fluid usually leaks at a master cylinder or slave / wheel cylinder. You should be able to check these to see if they are wet. What is in the vicinity of your smoke? I suppose fluid could be running down a hose and dripping off. Stuff dripping on the exhaust pipe is never good. So spend some time to track it down.

 

Mike

 

Any fluid missing in the clutch res Cha? Definitely possible to be brake fluid from either the clutch slave or the brake line leading up to brake linking but a leak in any of those should be noticeable by missing fluid in a res.. I have had leaky clutch slaves that have leaked both externally and internally.. Dont take much to make a funny odor if you get that stuff on the exhaust.. My 1st Gens all seem to pee a little Anti Freeze when getting real cold,, you sure its not anti-freeze?

 

A leaky clutch slave cylinder will run down onto the pipes/collector on the left side of the engine. That's consistent with your other symptoms.

 

You need to rebuild or replace the slave cylinder. The cylinder is probably badly pitted and would take a lot of work to clean up. Replacement slaves are inexpensive enough that it makes sense to just put a new one on.

 

In addition to the rebuild kit or new cylinder you will need a middle gear cover gasket.

 

Well I do know that I have a study clutch fluid leak coming from somewhere in the system. I had originally thought it was leaking from the master cylinder, but I replaced the seal for the cap and it leaking completely. Then after taking it to California I went to the hills with my buddy and totally lost my clutch right before we went into Rapid City. I was really concerned and baffled because the clutch reservoir was full. I pulled into the service station and asked the gentleman to borrow a screwdriver, but he wouldn't let me because he said If I screwed up my bike because of the tool he let me use, He'd be responsible and I could sue him for an accident. What a crock... so I told the gentleman in a pretty smart tone that I would just have to put my helmet on and ride into rapid city with no clutch... thanks for the help, pal....

 

So anyways we got to Wally World and I bought some wrenches and a screw driver, and tried to bleed the clutch. I couldn't get any fluid to come out of the bleed screw so I thought I really had a problem. I then unscrewed the cap and realized that it may have looked like I had full fluid, but with it sucking the fluid into the lines, it actually pulled that rubber boot down into the open spaces that the fluid used to take. So in essence, there was fluid totally covering the sight glass, but the rubber had filled the reservoir.

 

So I went back in and bought some DOT 3 and filled it, bled it, and went home.

 

So I know its leaking, and I had originally thought it was in the oil, but when I change the oil, it always looks clean and chemical free.

 

The smoke and the smell seems to be coming up from the fake fuel tank and rising just in front of the seat. Its nasty smelling and doesn't smell like oil or antifreeze. Its also hard to tell if just the slave cylinder is leaking because it also leaks a little oil from that side cover gasket. I took care of all the antifreeze leaks and its sat all winter with not a drop of anti-freeze plus you can REALLY tell the difference in smell.

 

So I guess I'm thinking definite slave cylinder.

 

I suppose I should upgrade to steel lines while I'm at it huh?

[syscrusher]

I suppose I should upgrade to steel lines while I'm at it huh?

 

Good thinking! For the clutch at least. You won't have a better opportunity.

[rbig1]

if the smoke turns yellow. will have a fire