A slave cylinder is a hydraulic component that actuates the clutch or brake on a motorcycle. It is located on the clutch or brake lever and uses hydraulic pressure to engage or disengage the clutch or brake.
What does the slave cylinder do on a motorcycle?
The slave cylinder is responsible for pushing the clutch or brake piston inward, which disengages the clutch or brake. When you pull on the clutch lever or brake lever, the slave cylinder is activated and pushes the piston inward. This causes the clutch or brake to disengage, allowing you to shift gears or stop the motorcycle.
When do you need to replace the slave cylinder on a motorcycle?
If you find that the clutch is hard to pull, or that the clutch has a very small sweet spot, then you may need to replace the slave cylinder. This is because a worn or damaged slave cylinder will not be able to fully engage or disengage the clutch or brake, which can cause problems when shifting gears or stopping the motorcycle.
How to replace a slave cylinder on a motorcycle
Replacing a slave cylinder on a motorcycle is not a difficult task. However, it is important to follow the steps in the service manual for your specific model. Here are some general steps that are involved in replacing a slave cylinder.
1. Remove the old slave cylinder:
- Drain the brake or clutch fluid from the reservoir.
- Disconnect the hydraulic line from the slave cylinder.
- Remove the bolts that hold the slave cylinder in place.
- Remove the slave cylinder from the motorcycle.
2. Install the new slave cylinder:
- Clean the mounting surface of the slave cylinder.
- Apply a gasket sealant to the mounting surface of the slave cylinder.
- Install the new slave cylinder on the motorcycle.
- Secure the slave cylinder with the bolts that you removed in step 1.
- Connect the hydraulic line to the slave cylinder
- Fill the brake or clutch fluid reservoir.
- Bleed the brake or clutch fluid system.
Once you have installed the new slave cylinder, you should test it to make sure that it is working properly. Pull the clutch lever or brake lever and make sure that the clutch or brake disengages smoothly. If the clutch or brake does not disengage properly, then you may need to adjust the slave cylinder.
