possibly fatal technical issue (brake fluid)

[sportrider]

Originally Posted by chuckfz6ryder

That's rough man, the fz6's body isn't even cold yet.

thats funny

[FZ6inNH]

Originally Posted by chuckfz6ryder

That's rough man, the fz6's body isn't even cold yet.

Of course it is! He killed it on its last ride!

[bd43]

When you say it appears to be empty, how did you check it? Did you open the top of the reservoir or looking through the sight window? If it's through the site window, and you haven't seen any leaks around the hoses or caliper area, I suspect your pads are worn right out and half your fluid is sitting in the calipers. My 2 cents.

P.S. who the heck is "sportrider"? Isn't it customary to tell everyone that you've under gone a sex change or something?

Originally Posted by oldfast007

Yes that is the front brake reservoir, and yes it had better be full of clean almost clear DOT3 brake fluid, the rear unit is under your seat and should be a clear container with level marks.

Whoa!!! This is wrong, do not use DOT 3 brake fluid in the FZ6. The application requires DOT4 and it is specified that way in the owners manual (2004) on page 6-23. Harley got smart and went to DOT 5. I found this out when I service the bikes the first time.

[jsteinb95]

Originally Posted by HavBlue

Whoa!!! This is wrong, do not use DOT 3 brake fluid in the FZ6. The application requires DOT4 and it is specified that way in the owners manual (2004) on page 6-23. Harley got smart and went to DOT 5. I found this out when I service the bikes the first time.

This has already been addressed.

[sportrider]

Originally Posted by biker_dude43

When you say it appears to be empty, how did you check it? Did you open the top of the reservoir or looking through the sight window? If it's through the site window, and you haven't seen any leaks around the hoses or caliper area, I suspect your pads are worn right out and half your fluid is sitting in the calipers. My 2 cents.

P.S. who the heck is "sportrider"? Isn't it customary to tell everyone that you've under gone a sex change or something?

your a funny, guy???

Originally Posted by jsteinb95

This has already been addressed.

Soooooooooooo!!!!

[sportrider]

Originally Posted by jsteinb95

This has already been addressed.

Originally Posted by HavBlue

Soooooooooooo!!!!

...and in the blue corner...

[wrightme43]

Hey Lone. Your bike is a 06. Like Nate said its time to change the fluid. Its not good any more.

The fluid down in the caliper has been exposed to heat, moisture, brake dust, and road grime. It slowly works it way past the piston seals in the caliper as they move in and out.

2 years is max on a bike. Its not like a car where stuff can fail and you be ok.

Here is my advice for what its worth.

I highly highly reccomend you replace your brake fluid. I would like you prior to doing that remove the calipers, and inspect your brake pads. You want lots of pad, a worn brake pad is not as effective a heatsink as a thick pad. Dont wait for them to wear out.

Follow Nates advice and get a blue or red fluid. If you dont know how to bleed brakes or would like to verify your method post up and ask.

Your brakes could be very worn and have used the fluid in the resivoir to push the pistons out to make up for the worn brakes.

Brakes are not to be treated lightly and this is a great bike to learn on.

Originally Posted by wrightme43

The fluid down in the caliper has been exposed to heat, moisture, brake dust, and road grime. It slowly works it way past the piston seals in the caliper as they move in and out.

2 years is max on a bike. Its not like a car where stuff can fail and you be ok.

First I want to know where moisture got into a sealed system. Second, if two years is max I am more than 2 years over due and there isn't a dang thing wrong with my brakes on any of my bikes. I suppose if you let everything just get gunked up and turn to crap with leaks an low pads you would encounter issues. The owners manual doesn't even suggest a change interval in the first 20,000 miles and that's probably because that's as far as the scale of time goes on the page and not the relative time that fluid may in fact be good for..

Brakes failing on a cage is no different than brakes failing on a bike as either way it ain't stopping and that Houston is a serious malfunction......