Hello everyone, I'd like to take the time to introduce myself. My name is Rob and I currently reside in New Haven Connecticut, approximately 10 minutes from the Yale University campus.

Like I mentioned in the title of this thread, I own a 1991 Yamaha FZR1000 that is in beautiful condition. Each year I store it over the winter months in my garage and this year I decided to insulate all of the pipes that run through the garage thus making the temps drop to around 20 degrees. When I put the bike away last this past November, the clutch was working fine. Now it doesnt work at all. The handle has no resistance at all when I squeeze it. I have spoken to a mechanic at my Yamaha dealer and he said that since it is a hydraulic clutch the cold weather cold be affecting it.

My question is this. Is there anything that I can do to remedy this? Will this restore itself once the weather turns warm or I have I damaged something by squeezing the left clutch handle grip? This has been driving me crazy and I would so appreciate any help that you guys and gals could provide. Thank you so much in advance for your help!

Anybody? Please guys, I can really use your help on this one.

Anybody? Please guys, I can really use your help on this one.

Dont panic, just bleed the clutch if its a hydraulic one!

Hello everyone, I'd like to take the time to introduce myself. My name is Rob and I currently reside in New Haven Connecticut, approximately 10 minutes from the Yale University campus.

Like I mentioned in the title of this thread, I own a 1991 Yamaha FZR1000 that is in beautiful condition. Each year I store it over the winter months in my garage and this year I decided to insulate all of the pipes that run through the garage thus making the temps drop to around 20 degrees. When I put the bike away last this past November, the clutch was working fine. Now it doesnt work at all. The handle has no resistance at all when I squeeze it. I have spoken to a mechanic at my Yamaha dealer and he said that since it is a hydraulic clutch the cold weather cold be affecting it.

My question is this. Is there anything that I can do to remedy this? Will this restore itself once the weather turns warm or I have I damaged something by squeezing the left clutch handle grip? This has been driving me crazy and I would so appreciate any help that you guys and gals could provide. Thank you so much in advance for your help!

Hi there,

dont panic, the thing is with brake/clutch fluid is that it absorbs water, that is why it is recommended that it should be changed every two years. This is the reason that sometimes when you strip down master cylinders or brake calipers you find rust around the pistons or seized parts!

Try warming up the mastercylinder and pipes with a hot air gun or hairdrier first to see if that makes a differance, the piston in the cylinder might just be stuck, a bit of heat and a slight tap may free it off?

once freed off you should replace the fluid and bleed the system.if your garage gets cold replace the fluid with new silicon fluid which does not absorb moisture and should stop this problem happening again.

Good luck!!

Hi there,

dont panic, the thing is with brake/clutch fluid is that it absorbs water, that is why it is recommended that it should be changed every two years. This is the reason that sometimes when you strip down master cylinders or brake calipers you find rust around the pistons or seized parts!

Try warming up the mastercylinder and pipes with a hot air gun or hairdrier first to see if that makes a differance, the piston in the cylinder might just be stuck, a bit of heat and a slight tap may free it off?

once freed off you should replace the fluid and bleed the system.if your garage gets cold replace the fluid with new silicon fluid which does not absorb moisture and should stop this problem happening again.

Good luck!!

You guys were right, it had to be bled. I appreciate the help! You guys and gals be sure and drive safe this season.