Honda Shadow hydraulic clutch problem

Honda Shadow hydraulic clutch problem

I've got a 1996 Honda Shadow VT1100C. I got it all ready to roll today, and
as I squeezed the clutch lever, it had no pressure to it whatsoever, and it
didn't function. It is a hydraulic clutch system, so the first thing I did
was to check the master cylinder. It had no fluid. It worked fine when I
used it last. I assumed that the fluid had leaked out somewhere while the
bike was sitting in storage in the garage. However, I can't find anyplace
where it looks like there was a leak. There's not even an oily spot on the
concrete garage floor anywhere underneath the bike. I refilled the master
cylinder, but how do I bleed the clutch system? I tried to trace the clutch
line from the master cylinder, in hopes of finding where to bleed it, but I
was unable to. Can somebody help me? Thanks a bunch.

Re: Honda Shadow hydraulic clutch problem

<mr aloof1@hotmail . com > wrote in message
news:8Iidnew2uIbtb5bVnZ2dnUVZ gednZ2d@supernews . com ...
> I've got a 1996 Honda Shadow VT1100C. I got it all ready to roll today,
> and
> as I squeezed the clutch lever, it had no pressure to it whatsoever, and
> it
> didn't function. It is a hydraulic clutch system, so the first thing I
> did
> was to check the master cylinder. It had no fluid. It worked fine when I
> used it last. I assumed that the fluid had leaked out somewhere while the
> bike was sitting in storage in the garage. However, I can't find anyplace
> where it looks like there was a leak. There's not even an oily spot on
> the
> concrete garage floor anywhere underneath the bike. I refilled the master
> cylinder, but how do I bleed the clutch system? I tried to trace the
> clutch
> line from the master cylinder, in hopes of finding where to bleed it, but
> I
> was unable to. Can somebody help me? Thanks a bunch.

Your best bet is to get the Honda shop manual. Honda distributes these
through Helm, Inc. (w w w .helminc . com ).

It appears they have yours and it costs $36.00.

Expect 1-2 weeks for delivery.

That should answer all of your questions ...

In the interim, you might have a Honda dealership do the work for you.

As far as where the hydraulic oil went ... "the crankcase" seems like an
obvious possible answer, depending on how the system works and what failed.

Re: Honda Shadow hydraulic clutch problem

<mr_aloof1@hotmail . com > wrote:

> I refilled the master
> cylinder, but how do I bleed the clutch system?

Via the bleed nipple, exactly as with a brake.

Pull in lever, open nipple, close nipple, release lever, pull in lever,
open nipple, close nipple, release lever, repeating ad nauseam.

It can take some time before pressure builds up and fluid enters the
system, mind. It's often quicker to pump the lever a few times, hold it
in, and then open the nipple.



--
BMW K1100LT Ducati 750SS Honda CB400F, SL125 & SH50
chateau dot murray at idnet dot com
"What you're proposing to do will involve a lot of time
and hassle for no tangible benefit."

Re: Honda Shadow hydraulic clutch problem


"The Older Gentleman" <totallydeadmailbox@yahoo.co.uk> wrote

> It can take some time before pressure builds up and fluid enters the
> system, mind. It's often quicker to pump the lever a few times, hold it
> in, and then open the nipple.

And place a container down to catch the energetic squirt that will otherwise
go all over your garage floor...

Re: Honda Shadow hydraulic clutch problem

The slave is hidden behind the cover by your left ankle. Remove it by
pulling out. The slave is an easy replacement, my wife has the same bike,
same problem last year. The rebuild kit was about $35, no idea what a whole
cyl costs.
--
Stupendous Man,
Defender of Freedom, Advocate of Liberty

Re: Honda Shadow hydraulic clutch problem

Hi, I own a 1983 shadow and the same thing happened to mine last year. I
had to rebuild both the master cylinder and the slave cylinder, not a hard
job. The hardess part was to bleed the system. I have the honda service
manual from honda and the way they discribed how to do it just did not work.
The only way I could get it done was to loosen the hose where it connects
to the master cylinder. My master cylinder is pointing to the sky and it
traps air in there and there is just no other way to get the air out. A
friend of mine told me that many shops forces the fluid from the bottom
bleeder screw up to the master cylinder. That would probably work if you
had a pump or go to the drug store and get one of those real large syringe,
cheap and effective.

Have fun

ERic

Re: Honda Shadow hydraulic clutch problem


. A
> friend of mine told me that many shops forces the fluid from the bottom
> bleeder screw up to the master cylinder. That would probably work if you
> had a pump or go to the drug store and get one of those real large
> syringe,
> cheap and effective.
>

That's the easy way, and necessary in some BMW cars. Use a short section of
clear tubing to attach it to the bleeder. Make sure you have a garden hose
within reach in case something goes wrong, brake fluid is easily washed away
.

Re: Honda Shadow hydraulic clutch problem

Stupendous Man wrote:
> . A
>> friend of mine told me that many shops forces the fluid from the
>> bottom bleeder screw up to the master cylinder. That would probably
>> work if you had a pump or go to the drug store and get one of those
>> real large syringe,
>> cheap and effective.
>>
>
> That's the easy way, and necessary in some BMW cars. Use a short
> section of clear tubing to attach it to the bleeder. Make sure you
> have a garden hose within reach in case something goes wrong, brake
> fluid is easily washed away .

And try not to get any on the paint. It's great paint remover.

--
Zyp