Creaky Clutch Pull

[holligl]

Took out the lever pivot bolt, cleaned and lubed it good. Slightly better, but creaks persist. Anyone else with a creaky pull? Fixes??
I'm guessing it might be the Master Cylinder piston seals, or the clutch switch. The good news it operates fine and you don't notice it when riding. It's just obnoxious sitting in the garage or parked. Anyone rebuilt the Master Cylinder based on time or miles, or just if it develops a leak or bad clutch response. I change fluid every 2 years as specified.

 

[whisperquiet]

I’m creaky but my clutch is OK.

 

[RCinNC]

Mine does the same thing. The clutch squeaks, but otherwise functions totally normal. As with a lot of weird noises on a motorcycle, I solved it by wearing earplugs.

 

[OldRider]

Dirty fluid will do that. Have you flushed it out lately?

 

[RCinNC]

Yep, I flushed the brakes this summer.

 

[VicAdv'er]

Have had this before. Mine ended up being the dry surface between the master cylinder pin and the clutch lever bush.
Clean both and lubricate the hole with a smear of grease.

 

[escapefjrtist]

This ^^^^ clean and lube the brass bushing. My FJR and Tenere get this annually.

~G

 

[regder]

Mine was the clutch switch causing a terrible creak, took it apart and lubed it, has been good or 3-4 years now.

 

[holligl]

Dirty fluid will do that. Have you flushed it out lately?

9 months ago. Supposed to go 24...

 

[AntrimMan]

You know the creak is not normal operation and points to a possible reduction in reliability at some point in time. Maybe soon, maybe a long time from now. You decide how important the fix is.
On a Mazda car at 65k miles I once had to pull back the clutch slave cylinder boot and apply a spritz of 5-56 to the bore in order to stop the piston squeaking. That lasted the remaining 120k miles life of the vehicle.
The Tenere clutch master is not complex. Keep going at it until you are satisfied. Better fixed in the garage than in front of a tent or in the dark in the rain..
All the best.

 

[holligl]

I took it apart again today based on suggestions above. (Complicated by dropping one of the handguard bolts/bushings down the radiator side panel. The bolt came out but the bushing did not. I had to remove the panel to get it.)

A little of the creak was the switch which I lubed, but the biggest issue was the brass bush (3GM-26455-00-00). Not the hole where it pushes the rod but the circumference where it fits in the handle. It was dry, caked, and had some wear marks. Cleaned, polished, and lubed. Buttery smooth and quiet now. Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[WJBertrand]

Use a lithium or molybdenum containing grease as the solids in them will last longer. I had the same problem but mine was so bad the lever wouldn’t release smoothly. This made pulling away from a stop awkward and actually caused me to stall it a few times.


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