Motorcycle Repair: Clutch, hydraulic clutch, honda vt700

Question
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Followup To
Question -
Hey Chris.

I have an 86 Honda VT700, which has a hydraulic clutch.  The clutch won't disengage.  If I loosen the bolts on the slave cyclinder about an inch, and then pump it out and tie the lever in, and then tighten the bolts, it disengages and can be held this way.   AS sson as I engage it, however, It can no longer be engaged until I repeat the process.  I've had this problem before, but after tightening the bolts it worked fine, until now.  Is this a Master/Slave cylinder problem or a clutch problem.  

Thanks for your time.
Answer -
Hi Joshua.
 This is a common problem with all bikes that use a hydraulic clutch.  What you have is called a reverse trap which has caught air bubles in the system.  Air compresses, hydraulic fluid doesn't.

Bleed the system.

 After you bleed the system, follow this proceedure;

1)  Place a box-end wrench on the banjo fitting and a rag around it (there will be a spurt of fluid).

2)  Engage the clutch normally.

3)  With the clutch engaged, crack open the banjo fitting and close it up again.

4)  Release the clutch.

5)  Test for pressure in the system.

6)  Repeat steps 1-5 as needed.

 If you need to do it more than 3 times, then test the system for a rebuild of either the master cylinder or slave unit.

Good luck.
FALCON

Hey Falcon.  THanks for your reply.  I have already vacuum bled the system.  I am almost positive no air remains.  There is enough pressure to keep the clutch pushrod in with the lever pulled, it is only after i release it that it becomes ineffective.  ALso,  I have managed through the previous procedure to get it working a little, but now the engagement zone is dangerously small, about a 5 mm let off engages the clutch.  The Master does push fluid, but it seems to me that it fails to do so with any sort of back pressure.  I've done some research, and the mechanics of the master are still a little vague.  Is it possible that a bad seal on the impeller would allow fluid movement, but not under pressure?  Again, thanks for your time.

Answer
Hi Joshua.
 As I said, since the other proceedures didn't fix the problem, then the seals are bad.
 A rebuild kit for the slave unit is usually around 20 - 30 dollars.  Start with that one as they are usually the first to go and it is the easiest proceedure.  It takes about 30 minutes to do, on average.  A rebuild kit for the master cylinder will be about double that of the slave unit rebuild kit.

Good luck.
FALCON