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Central Wisconsin | 
Brake fluid on left from rear and on right from front. Fluid 2yrs old with 12,000 miles. Do you think this is just a heat issue? Riding the Vision 2up 99% of the time and use the front brake more then rear. I just installed speedbleeders and after seeing this I will change the fluid every season and maybe the rear twice a year.
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Visionary
Posts: 3773
Pittsburgh, PA | Thanks for sharing! My clutch fluid was black last year.. |
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Central Wisconsin | Thanks for sharing! Your welcome!
My clutch fluid was black last year.. Hmmm...my clutch fluid was lighter then the front brake fluid pic.
Edited by Thomas 2011-05-11 8:35 AM
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Visionary
Posts: 1350
| What is the color of fresh brake fluid?
Same as the jar on the right? |
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Central Wisconsin | What is the color of fresh brake fluid? The color of new/fresh brake fluid is clear. Make sure to buy DOT 4.
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Cruiser
Posts: 104
Plainfield Illinois | Excellent post. The brake and clutch fluids need to be changed and bled periodically or pain, cussing, and/or expense can result. |
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Central Wisconsin | Excellent post. Thanks Willie!
The brake and clutch fluids need to be changed and bled periodically or pain, cussing, and/or expense can result. Very true! Years ago on a different bike I couldn't shift, had to bang gears just to get home. Changed the clutch fluid and life was good again.
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 7
Valley Grande, AL. / 2009 Anniversary Vision | Did the part listed on the Speedbleeder site for all Victory's fit your Vision?
Thanks |
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Central Wisconsin | Did the part listed on the Speedbleeder site for all Victory's fit your Vision? Brian ByteN2it did a speedbleeder post , he determined the SB8125's are the correct one's. I ordered five of them and they fit perfect.
Thanks Your welcome.
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | DOT4 attracts water and gets itself contaminated. If it looks darker than Honey....replace it ASAP. |
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Central Wisconsin | radioteacher - 2011-05-11 1:51 PM DOT4 attracts water and gets itself contaminated. If it looks darker than Honey....replace it ASAP.[/QUOTE Do you think the heat caused the DOT 4 brake fluid in the rear to be darker then the front? Brian ByteN2it said he used 5.1 Motul brake fluid. 
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Cruiser
Posts: 154
Danbury, Connecticut | All brake fluid, with the exception of DOT5 is hygroscopic meaning it absorbs water from the atmosphere. DOT5 is silicone based and repels water. The problem with DOT5 is if water is in or gets into the system it tends to be isolated(concentrated) and not flushed out quite as easily. It is also a no no to use DOT 5 with ABS brakes because it tends to foam when agitated which is what the ABS solenoids do when they are activated. In my experience as an automotive tech I find color has little to do with fluid condition, influenced a lot by seal material used and fluid stock. Look at an asian car that is 15 years old with original fluid and it probably looks better than a domestic brand that is a few years old. Copper is the main indicator of fluid condition. Google "brake fluid test strips" and you can find info on a quick, inexpensive way to test it. If you flush it out every couple of years you'll be fine. If you're anal do it every year. As far as the two samples you show it may be components were sourced from different vendors. Unless you had a caliper stick, I doubt your brake fluid got even close to the boiling point of the fluid. |
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Tourer
Posts: 599
New Mexico | Wow! Maintenance interval for replacement is 30k. Mine still looks nearly clear after 12+k miles.
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Tourer
Posts: 482
Beer Collins, Colorado (there is no fort) | I'm pretty sure the difference in color from the front to the back fluid is from heat not from contamination, the line runs right above the exhaust cross over, and the fact that the rear system holds a smaller volume of fluid. Hopefully the 5.1 with its higher boiling point will hold up better than the stock DOT4 fluid-it has in my other bikes, and actually discolored fluid works OK it just bugs me. Mine was changed at 1yr /14,000 and was similar to the above pictures but not quite as dark. See you on the road-Brian |
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Central Wisconsin | SteveS - 2011-05-11 5:50 PM All brake fluid, with the exception of DOT5 is hygroscopic meaning it absorbs water from the atmosphere. DOT5 is silicone based and repels water. The problem with DOT5 is if water is in or gets into the system it tends to be isolated(concentrated) and not flushed out quite as easily. It is also a no no to use DOT 5 with ABS brakes because it tends to foam when agitated which is what the ABS solenoids do when they are activated. In my experience as an automotive tech I find color has little to do with fluid condition, influenced a lot by seal material used and fluid stock. Look at an asian car that is 15 years old with original fluid and it probably looks better than a domestic brand that is a few years old. Copper is the main indicator of fluid condition. Google "brake fluid test strips" and you can find info on a quick, inexpensive way to test it. If you flush it out every couple of years you'll be fine. If you're anal do it every year. As far as the two samples you show it may be components were sourced from different vendors. Unless you had a caliper stick, I doubt your brake fluid got even close to the boiling point of the fluid. Interesting information you provided. I like the idea of flushing out any/all water by using DOT 4 brake fluid. With the use of speedbleeders the task is easier. I read were the Motul 5.1 is ok with ABS brakes.
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Central Wisconsin | Boots - 2011-05-11 6:11 PM Wow! Maintenance interval for replacement is 30k. Mine still looks nearly clear after 12+k miles. Bob, Must be that Southwest low humidity climate you live in 
Edited by Thomas 2011-05-11 7:18 PM
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Central Wisconsin | ByteN2it ...actually discolored fluid works OK it just bugs me. I hear ya...
Mine was changed at 1yr /14,000 and was similar to the above pictures but not quite as dark. See you on the road-Brian That's a possibility. We plan on a Wisconsin - Salida,Colorado - Wisconsin trip in July.
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Tourer
Posts: 599
New Mexico | Thomas - 2011-05-11 6:17 PM
Boots - 2011-05-11 6:11 PM Wow! Maintenance interval for replacement is 30k. Mine still looks nearly clear after 12+k miles. Bob, Must be that Southwest low humidity climate you live in
?
Low humidity my butt! It rained today!! For craps sake, it just rained last year!
Edited by Boots 2011-05-11 7:43 PM
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Tourer
Posts: 482
Beer Collins, Colorado (there is no fort) | Thomas,when your in Salida be sure to have a wood fired pizza & homebrew at Amica's-mmmm |
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Brake Fluid Color