KTM 1290 GT: Purging air from clutch line

[@Proxima_VN]

Fantastic. Hydraulic clutches are new to me. Just bought a used 2020 SDGT and the clutch wasn’t disengaging when the lever was fully in. Tried this and it’s back to where it should be, saved me a bucket load of stress thinking I’d have to take it hours back to the dealership for them to have a look. Thanks for the video, much appreciated!

[@360Crank]

Glad it worked for you!

[@syafiqabdulghani5510]

God bless u. My '14 SDR clutch has been feeling iffy for awhile. Saw this vid & instantly tried it & it works! Thank you kind Sir !

[@movem1]

Expertise, thank you so much Dan 👍

[@360Crank]

Pleased it worked for you!

[@MrArehammar]

Cool, will try this. My brand new SDR 2021 is already creeping with clutch in.

[@SplashFeedTV]

Dude just saved me a trip to the mechanic!!!!! Several big bubbles and what looks like foam popped up? Fixed my issue though

[@360Crank]

Hah! Glad it worked for you. You can also bleed the air from the little nipple by the lever, and there are other posts that show this, but for my money, (and no tools) this is easy enough.

[@PerEngbergplus]

You just saved my trip to Austria, great tip!

[@360Crank]

Hey, that makes me happy. Austria is so beautiful, the last thing you need is some sort of mechanical issue, forcing you to run for a bike shop.

[@SHates]

Brilliant trick. Couldn't get my bike in neutral when stopped and it kept trying to creep forward. Few minutes of doing this and a few bubbles later it was like brand new again.

[@360Crank]

SHates Happy it worked for you.

[@enchantedape8180]

Will this help with the shifting smoothness on my 14 1290 sdr? Noticed its getting a little harder to shift. Fresh motex oil change usually takes care of this.

[@360Crank]

If your clutch is also engaging too close the the grip, there’s a good chance that’s the case. Aside from the technique I suggest, there is also a small bleed nipple at the clutch lever mount that you can crack open with the lever pulled to see if air comes out. Many people will replace the clutch slave to solve the air in the line problem, but the flicking method is so easy to do that I haven’t bothered. My shifting definitely improved afterward the first time I had this problem and applied this solution. Hope you have success.

[@enchantedape8180]

@360Crank thanks for the response I will definitely try that. I do have adjustable levers. And I'm sure it's well over do for a bleed.

[@Renstah02]

Going to give it a try!

[@ondracervinka4617]

Saved me! Bless you

[@360Crank]

Happy it worked out for you!

[@RSteve-gd8kj]

Dan, I just did it. Seems to have done the trick. My issue has been it’s gotten hard to find neutral at a traffic light. I’ll test ride it tomorrow and update this comment.

[@Playahs1]

How did you fix the problem with the neutral? I got same problem and i have no idea how to fix it? Does this fixed it?

[@dan1ukdsjn]

@@Playahs1 Have a look at cleaning the oil jet! Seems to be a common issue on these motors

[@ktmotos]

Muchas gracias. Ha funcionando.

[@coastriderscc3939]

Cool trick. Cheap and effective = 👍

[@bbrueg2293]

Odd, but it works. Got about 10 small bubbles out

[@360Crank]

Glad it worked for you. I still have this weird idea that a closed fluid system shouldn't have air getting in and that you shouldn't have to spend money with Oberon or some other company to have a reliable clutch. Imagine if brake systems were subject to this.

[@rballenger7]

@@360Crank you would think. got problems with the clutch on a 2018 sar