Clutch engagement

oracle462 · Jun 7, 2016

I'm posting this here as well as the 899 page for more feedback:

Yesterday, on a warm 85 degree day on my 899 I was sitting in traffic and looking for a parking space. With the clutch pulled, the engagement started getting closer and closer to the grip and increasingly harder to move the clutch pedal...almost impossible to move to neutral. This is the 2nd time this has happened and I only have 3k on the clock.

Any ideas what's causing this or do I just need to bring it in to the dealership for warranty?

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tslsx74 · Jun 7, 2016

It's a known issue. Air in the clutch hydraulic system.
Bleed the clutch yourself , it's easy enough.
If you're not comfortable doing it, take it to the dealer.
Plenty of info on here on how to bleed the clutch.

maslov · Jun 7, 2016

Exactly right. I became an expert in bleeding fluids... buy yourself a mity vac and it won't take but a couple minutes to do it.

Claymore · Jun 7, 2016

oracle462 said:
and increasingly harder to move the clutch pedal...

You are drunk. Get out of your car, wait until you are sober and then get on your bike. Report back..

oracle462 · Jun 7, 2016

Claymore said:
You are drunk. Get out of your car, wait until you are sober and then get on your bike. Report back..

Lol, you know I meant shifter!! Haha

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kickarsmann · Jun 7, 2016

Would Oberon help? I've bled it so many times.

Gecko · Jun 7, 2016

Remove the slave cylinder and check for leaked fluid. Retorque bleeder valves and banjo bolts. If it happens again that you have this slow increasing clutch engagement while pulling the lever, it's 100% your brembo master cylinder suffering the "internal bleeding problem".
Only thing that helps is repacing the master cylinder.

oracle462 · Jun 7, 2016

Wow, as simple as bleeding the clutch huh?

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endodoc · Jun 7, 2016

Are the OEM Brembo MCs that bad? I never used the stock levers.

ed218 · Jun 7, 2016

Use a small clear hose( 1/4" I believe) over the bleeder into a can or bottle for no mess. That way you can not only feel the air you can see it. I bleed them often very easy to do.

zaster · Jun 7, 2016

Well, I had my dealer perform the TSB 15-001 recall per Ducati guidelines which replaced the clutch slave piston anti-rotation insert.
The slave cylinder replacement and total purge of the system hadn't done the job either.
I'm back to the 11mm wrench and paper towel method. You think you wouldn't have to do that on a +$30K bike :-(

kickarsmann · Jun 8, 2016

zaster said:
Well, I had my dealer perform the TSB 15-001 recall per Ducati guidelines which replaced the clutch slave piston anti-rotation insert.
The slave cylinder replacement and total purge of the system hadn't done the job either.
I'm back to the 11mm wrench and paper towel method. You think you wouldn't have to do that on a +$30K bike :-(

When was the TSB posted and when was yours performed?

All I found was this. https://www.automd.com/tsb/bulletin_b379857/

AntiHero · Jun 8, 2016

One hast to wonder when Ducati will begin putting pressure on their slave manufacturer to fix this issue. It's been around since way before the Panigale and is probably the most common and easily solved issue with the 1199/899/959/1299.

BTW--if you let it go long enough, the slave will seize and you won't even be able to pull in the clutch lever (first it gets real 'crunchy').

In any case, when I ran the stock slave I just bled it at the gas station. Took more time to get the stubby 12pt wrench out from under my tail section than it did to do the bleed (a wadded up paper towel and one crack of the bleed screw is all you need, typically).

x3thelast · Jun 8, 2016

If you have warranty they can swap out a new master cylinder for it. I got mine replaced and im 8,000 miles since and have no issues with the clutch at all.

If you're out of warranty, then you must bleed the air out. Or replace the master.

zaster · Jun 8, 2016

kickarsmann said:
When was the TSB posted and when was yours performed?

All I found was this. https://www.automd.com/tsb/bulletin_b379857/

My dealer told me about the TSB when pressuring him about the issue and it was performed on 8/13/15.
It was not advertised/communicated since I had to tell a friend of mine who never heard of it.

zaster · Jun 8, 2016

x3thelast said:
If you have warranty they can swap out a new master cylinder for it. I got mine replaced and im 8,000 miles since and have no issues with the clutch at all.

If you're out of warranty, then you must bleed the air out. Or replace the master.

Good for you. Did not fix the problem on my bike.

Clutch engagement

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