leaking clutch fluid

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chris420r

chris420r

Joined
Oct 11, 2014
Messages
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I noticed that there has been a slow leak by my banjo bolt by the shifter peg. The DQS connectors have fluid on them and I figured maybe the washers on my banjo bolt are bad. So i picked up a new banjo today with two washers and replaced them tonight and also bled the system. The mechanic at the Ducati shop said something about a common issue for the 1199's leaking clutch fluid somewhere else I wasn't exactly sure where on the bike he was talking about. All i know is that it is on the left side somewhere between the master cylinder and shifter peg. Anybody else have this issue? It's a slow leak. I'll fill up the clutch reservoir with Dot 3 & 4 fluid all the way until it's full, and then in about a month or two it will be underneath the low hash mark. Again I see the leak coming underneath the banjo getting the DQS wires wet and also the inside of the left fairing directly below the banjo.
 
Uncommon problem to Panigale's, even uncommon für Ducati's.
One can mix DOT3 & DOT4. But I wouldn't do it, lifetime of gaskets can be decreased.
Some guys on this forum user racing brake fluids like Motul RBF of Castrol SRF (my preferrence).

Remove the slave cylinder and check whether it's full of fluid. Also check the push rod for a clean and smooth surface.
 
The fluid I use says it can be used for 3 and 4. I didn't mix it LOL. Thanks for the recommendation I will be sure to switch it!
 
What kind of aftermarket slaves are you guys using on your 1199's? Did you guys upgrade because your oem had a leak, or did you do it just because?
 
I've ordered a Oberon slave cylinder but haven't received it yet.
Nothing particularly wrong with the OEM one and I don't have a leak either.
I just find the OEM one dull and I don't like the anti-rotation insert or the O ring (19 & 20 in the diagram). When I took the slave cylinder off to change my gear shift lever recently I found the O ring was incredibly slack and rather than just get a new O ring I decided to go for a better aesthetic look.
 

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  • OEM 1199 Clutch Slave Cylinder.jpg
    OEM 1199 Clutch Slave Cylinder.jpg
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Well I found a tiny cut in my wire must have been sliced from a zip tie from being too tight fml. I'm assuming this is how all the fluid is slowly escaping over time
c8c906532e641aee0dd96023b97acd1c.jpg


A friend of mine that works at the parts store said to try some heavy duty fluid proof tape. Any thoughts?
 
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Yes, does anyone know what this wire/hose is called so I can order another one from the shop
 
chris420r said:
7ed7aa471466985e614be29c0493ba03.jpg
Click to expand...

Blimey, that all looks a bit busy.
On my Tricolore I have the clutch hose, shift sensor wire and battery tender wire all running down there and cable tied together.
Where does the wire with the cut in the heat shrink lead to at the rear?
Regardless, that wire is not your hydraulic line so is not the cause of your fluid leak.
Having said that, you've obviously found fluid on that wire cable tied to your clutch hose so one would have to assume there is some issue with your clutch hose between the clutch reservoir/master cylinder and the slave cylinder.
Might be time to take your fairing off and take a good look around . . . watch the air tube tabs, though, they are very fragile.
 
chris420r said:
I noticed that there has been a slow leak by my banjo bolt by the shifter peg. The DQS connectors have fluid on them and I figured maybe the washers on my banjo bolt are bad. So i picked up a new banjo today with two washers and replaced them tonight and also bled the system. The mechanic at the Ducati shop said something about a common issue for the 1199's leaking clutch fluid somewhere else I wasn't exactly sure where on the bike he was talking about. All i know is that it is on the left side somewhere between the master cylinder and shifter peg. Anybody else have this issue? It's a slow leak. I'll fill up the clutch reservoir with Dot 3 & 4 fluid all the way until it's full, and then in about a month or two it will be underneath the low hash mark. Again I see the leak coming underneath the banjo getting the DQS wires wet and also the inside of the left fairing directly below the banjo.
Click to expand...

Chris could it be the crimping of the line and perhaps not the banjo ? I had brake line couple of years ago from Gilles that had poor crimping resulting in a leak.

Remember if you are removing the top fairing remove the ignition cover then the air tubes before taking of the fairing that will stop you breaking tabs
 
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Remember if you are removing the top fairing remove the ignition cover then the air tubes before taking of the fairing that will stop you breaking tabs[/QUOTE]

+1 Allow yourself enough time. Dont be in a hurry. Undo 4 bolts on ignition cover and remove. Tease air tubes forward 3-4 mm to release the air tubes from the upper fairing tabs. There is a thread with step by step instructions to take the fairings off. Try searching this forum for it. If I can find it later I'll post the link here. Then its just a case of finding the source of the leak.
 
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Thanks for all the help guys. what is that wire I'm pointing at with the cut on it anyways? In the pic it goes right and then loops back down and ends to the back side of my index finger.

bradp51 said:
Chris could it be the crimping of the line and perhaps not the banjo ? I had brake line couple of years ago from Gilles that had poor crimping resulting in a leak.

Remember if you are removing the top fairing remove the ignition cover then the air tubes before taking of the fairing that will stop you breaking tabs
Click to expand...

Brad the first thing i did was swap out my old banjo with a new one i got from the shop, hopefully that did the trick.


RD16RR said:
it certainly isn't hydraulic fluid - maybe water from a bath, that crept into the line..it looks dry right now
Click to expand...

Yeah you're probably right. After swapping out banjos and adding fluid to the reservoir, i did wash my bike to remove the few drops of brake fluid that got on my bike. So that's probably what it is. Im gonna go check in a few.
 
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