Clutch fluid in engine oil????

[Steveke]

I could use some help with this. '04 adventure is currently in the shop after being recovered from the roadside after clutch failure. Clutch operation had been deteriorating over a couple of days - finally became inoperable on a long ride home. All the fluid had disappeared and I suspected the slave cylinder seals. Dealer now tells me that he suspects the clutch fluid leaked into the engine oil after a seal failure - is this even possible?

If so what damage might I expect. I trust my particular dealer but I wouldn't mind an independant viewpoint.....

Thx

Steve

[Hair]

Your dealer can identify clutch slave oil in your motor oil.

Talk about being able to separate the fly shit from the pepper.


I don't know where that oil went.
I would repair the slave and change the motor oil. Problem solved.

[cpmodem]

Originally Posted by Steveke

I could use some help with this. '04 adventure is currently in the shop after being recovered from the roadside after clutch failure. Clutch operation had been deteriorating over a couple of days - finally became inoperable on a long ride home. All the fluid had disappeared and I suspected the slave cylinder seals. Dealer now tells me that he suspects the clutch fluid leaked into the engine oil after a seal failure - is this even possible?

If so what damage might I expect. I trust my particular dealer but I wouldn't mind an independant viewpoint.....

Thx

Steve

That's a pretty far reach by your dealer. There is no seal that seperates the clutch fluid from the engine oil. There are seals in the clutch slave cylinder and between the clutch push rod and engine. If either or both failed the result would be fluid leaking to the environment, not cross contaminating each other.
-cp

[Steveke]

Originally Posted by cpmodem

That's a pretty far reach by your dealer. There is no seal that seperates the clutch fluid from the engine oil. There are seals in the clutch slave cylinder and between the clutch push rod and engine. If either or both failed the result would be fluid leaking to the environment, not cross contaminating each other.
-cp

The reason it had some logic about it was that since it happened over a few days I would expect to have seen evidence of external leakage but I could see no external evidence. Dealer has recommended replacing all the seals and changing the oil which seems sensible as a minimum.

[cpmodem]

Originally Posted by Steveke

The reason it had some logic about it was that since it happened over a few days I would expect to have seen evidence of external leakage but I could see no external evidence. Dealer has recommended replacing all the seals and changing the oil which seems sensible as a minimum.

Couldn't hurt.
-cp

[azdrhill]

I just fixed this problem yesterday. Pull the two screws holding the slave cylinder on and you will find all the missing oil between the cylinder piston and the cases. Pull the snap ring and replace the o-ring on the piston. Mine looked fine but leaked like a seive. The dealer will want to sell you the whole piston with the seal ($56 and my dealer didn't stock it either). I went down to Ace HW and got a #33 o-ring that did the trick for 68 cents. Put it back together and bleed out the air. BTW - you will need a bottle of Motul mineral oil ($10 at you KTM dealer). Since I fixed it yesterday I can't vouch for the long-term durability of this, but it held up for a ride around the block to test it. I didn't ride it more because my seat is out for re-covering. Isn't it nice when you bike breaks down right before you are going to park it anyway?
Good luck,
Dave

[gefr]

With mineral oil of minitesimal quantity?? Not happened as cpmodem says and even if it did, the quantity is so small, couldn't affect engine oil!! Don't you have any cracks (hair like thickness at your piston?? Then if you could measure the diameter of the hole onthe plastic black base?? Is it elliptical from wearing?? Is this black part slightly distorted from heat? Is your slave cylinder showing signs of wear in its inner bore?? how long have you been using this same part?? How old is your bike? Mileage?