Funky clutch fluid

[Tricky Mike]

So, here's the diggedy-deal...
My Superhawk has a hydraulic clutch (and blinkers). I changed the clutch fluid (DOT4) at the beginning of the season, b/c it was kinda brown... actually it was good and brown. "Shit brown" you could say. So, I changed all the fluid in the reservoir and bled the hell out of it until it was back to it's normal color: piss yellow. The world was a good, happy place again. Unicorns and sunsets and dolphins and shit. Well, cut to now and the world is now a shitty brown place again... clutch fluid is back to it's previous brown color.
No leaks in the system. Seals look great at both ends. Gasket around the slave is fine, no motor oil or DOT4 visible anywhere. No funk on the actuating rod. Bike is a little over a year old. Fluid is about 4K old...

Is this normal?

[SSearchVT]

You're fine as long as it isn't leaking, and everything is working OK. Replace all the brake fluid in your bike every couple of years anyway just for good measure. I switched over to ATE Blue in the car and the bike and have had great results. It appears to break down a lot less (and has the bling factor of being blue).

[KB]

Here is why your clutch fluid turns shit brown.

The slave cylinder is attached to the engine and is subject much highe and constant temps turning it shit brown faster than you can say Yeah Boyyyyyeeeee.

I have the same bike. Leave it brown, don't bother changing it again.

KB

[LuvDog]

It's similar on the Duc too.

I changed mine and it was nice and clear... you could hardly even tell there was fluid in the rexervoir. 100 miles later and it's honey brown... shortly after it's like molasses.

It's normal, but I also think because of the temp extremes and use that it should be changed more often.

I'll do mine every spring.

[MsHap]

Jello's turns brown in a week too.
Do not worry.

I want the Blue kind now!

[MsHap]

OK I ordered the Blue one

[stoinkythepig]

The real culprit is the amount of fluid that's pumped on each pull pf the clutch. You are pulling the lever all the way to the bar every time and moving much more fluid down the line. When you release the clutch, the same amount of fluid comes right back up the line and refills the reservoir. This allows the hot and brown fluid to mix with the nice clean fluid on every clutch pull.

Brakes discolor the fluid just as much or more but it all stays in the calipers since there's hardly any fluid movement when you apply and release the brakes. Also as the brake pads wear, the fluid in the reservoir slowly goes down, filling the void left by the worn pad material. There's almost no upward movement of brake fluid until you compress the caliper pistons to install new pads. At that point, the fluid in the reservoir will become decidedly nasty colored.

I'm with the change it every couple of years crowd.

[Uncle Snake]

The only true cure is to paint your reservoirs black........ Change it every 200 miles or every 20k miles, you probably won't feel a difference. Ya might but it will most likely be minimal.

[MsHap]

That blue stuff, stays blue. It is cool

[LuvDog]

Now I want the blue stuff too.

[MsHap]

Originally posted by LuvDog
Now I want the blue stuff too.

I bought like a gallon.
You can have some

[LuvDog]

Originally posted by MsHap
I bought like a gallon.
You can have some

[Uncle Snake]

My blue stuff turned green..............

[MsHap]

Originally posted by Uncle Snake
My blue stuff turned green..............

lol
Is it sick?

[Uncle Snake]

It doesn't have a temperature or anything.........

No difference in feel just kinda funny to have one blue(brake m/c) and one green(clutch m/c).