Rear Brake Reservoir

[Fort]

Noticed this white thing on my rear brake reservoir. Water, perhaps?

How did the contamination originated? Moisture? Had never opened the caps but have washed the bike a couple of times.

My bike is 5 months old and practically new and around 900kms in the odo

Plan to correct this DIY. Is draining the reservoir enough?

TIA

 

[Clete]

It's the last little bit of clean fluid in the reservoir....

There have been quite a few, mine included, mine only has 600+ miles.
Oh, and the reservoir caps mysteriously loosens up, and can fall off.
Mine was just sitting on the reservoir, caught it at the right moment

http://www.cafehusky.com/threads/initial-brake-fluid-change.29778/

 

[FER QUILES]

WHAT i ve noticed is the rear brake does not work as power as new.. i do not know if is a problem of air in system..
fluid level is ok.. somebody report same problem?.
mine has 18500km .

 

[eca]

I too have notised my brake fluid getting black and disappering. Just finished a 1300km backroads trip and noticed this on the last day. My brakes are of course spongy, though still work fine. Fluid replacement coming up. the bike has about 8000km on it

 

[Clete]

Great idea on "bullet proofing" that cap

 

[eca]

Yeah, when a couple people mentioned loose caps, I decided to tie rap it on there .

 

[mag00]

View attachment 41802
I too have notised my brake fluid getting black and disappering. Just finished a 1300km backroads trip and noticed this on the last day. My brakes are of course spongy, though still work fine. Fluid replacement coming up. the bike has about 8000km on it

It looks like your reservoir may be cracked at the mount. Mine broke there. Right where the tab attaches to the reservoir. A new one was like 8 bucks with cap.

I have a spare cap, pay shipping and it's yours. I may get one of them aluminum ones from feebay for $18. Problem with them is there is no inspection window.

 

[mag00]

WHAT i ve noticed is the rear brake does not work as power as new.. i do not know if is a problem of air in system..
fluid level is ok.. somebody report same problem?.
mine has 18500km .

Mine is rather soft. I really have to bend the brake to stop. I think some chain lube got on my rotor. I may get one of those pressure switches and then bleed it again after install.

 

[Glengemen]

Mag, I wish I saw this earlier that you had one. I actually lost mine. As for cleaning out that reservior it is about the easiest thing to do on the bike. Take a baster and suck out the brake fluid. Wipe out the reservoir. Refill and bleed the rest out. I bleed my brakes every oil change. It nice because I can reach the bleeder and the pedal at the same time. About 5 minutes of actual work going on there. Just remember to put the cap back on!!

 

[nev..]

After I read this thread, I checked my Terra, and no fluid loss, but the fluid was black not clear like it was. I've never paid much attention to the colour so I don't know if this was a gradual change or if all of the discolouring occurred on the last ride. I did notice that the rear reservoir on the TR650 is identical to the rear brake reservoir on my wife's '08 F650GS and the F800GS. I have done some googling and reading a similar thread on an F800GS forum. Seems to be the consensus there that the OEM brake fluid used by BMW did not deal well with heat well, and that this black brake fluid issue with the rear brakes does not reoccur once the factory fluid is removed and replaced.

http://f800riders.org/forum/showthread.php/26275-Rear-Brake-fluid-gone-Dark

 

[Chuffa]

this black brake fluid issue with the rear brakes does not reoccur once the factory fluid is removed and replaced.

I changed my brake fluids early on & this has been my experience. I just changed my fluids again, 1 year later, and the fluid was still light/clear.

 

[AJM6000]

Yep, my rear brake fluid has been black since first couple thousand. About to hit 10,000km and wondering if I should change? Also suggested by dealer not to worry about checking valve clearance? Thoughts?

 

[Riding Again]

I changed my brake fluid with in 600 miles with motul brake fluid and has stayed clear. I am at 7300 miles and almost a year into the bike and I will change again. Take 15 mins. I just got my valves checked at 7200 miles and they said it would be good for another 6k miles. I questioned this because i have seen many need adjustment and they said that it is common to do valve adjust 2nd or 3rd time check valves because when they set them at the factory they just have to be in spec which is a wide variation. I changed my rear tire and chain at 7200 miles as well. So shows every one's bike is different depending on factory and personal ride style. That is why I had my valves checked early to see what I would deal with on my bike.

 

[drzcharlie]

I rode 400 miles this weekend. Almost all gravel and two track. It rained hard for two days while riding and I experience significant brake fading. Sometimes we were almost at a crawl due to really slick clay. I discovered the fade on a long down hill gravel and rocky trail. I needed to brake going into a switchback and I had nothing, nada, no brake in the rear. Pumping gave me a little but not enough to stop me. I had to apply too much front brake for the situation.

Once we stopped I checked my fluid, it was/is carbon black. No change in fluid level though. I'm wondering if the black fluid has lost it's viscosity? In any case time to bleed the rear brakes until it's running clear.

 

[Clete]

Was that with original fluid or high quality fluid?

 

[Chuffa]

wondering if I should change? Also suggested by dealer not to worry about checking valve clearance? Thoughts?

Brake fluid & a simple bleeder kit is cheap. Easy to do, so Yes - change the brake fluid. From memory the front fluid was just as dark so just in case you were thinking lazy thoughts... change that too.

Valves... it has to be what you're comfortable with. I think mine were checked (& within spec) around the 20k km mark.

 

[drzcharlie]

Was that with original fluid or high quality fluid?

It was/is the original fluid.

 

[eca]

I inspected my reservoir and it has no apparent leaks. The line is also fine and not under tension as appears in the picture. I needed the bike so I did a quick fluid change and bleed and my braking has noticeably improved. I'll do a thorough inspection in the coming days.

 

[AJM6000]

Chuffa, Peter suggested I wait till 20k, so might see how I feel at 15k re the valves, so cheers. As for brake fluid, think I might grab a kit and do both front and back in next week or so?
Cheers guys, appreciate the advice!

 

[Norton120]

... I did notice that the rear reservoir on the TR650 is identical to the rear brake reservoir on my wife's '08 F650GS and the F800GS....

Nev., do they look identical? I'm kind of in a bind in that my cap worked itself off during a ride and the factory is out of stock 'indefinitely'. If the parts are compatible I can order the F800GS cap, otherwise I'll have to get a bit more creative...