possibly fatal technical issue (brake fluid)

[lonesoldier84]

i think i am out of brake fluid. but someone i asked a while back said they had owned their bike for ages and ages and never checked the yamaha brake fluid level measure on their handlebars. i figured if they got away with it for ages upon ages i could put it off until later in the summer without worrying. well now i checked it and it seems to be empty.

i am talking about this: in the following picture look for the black rectangular thing on the right half of the handlebars above the red engine on/off switch



there used to be fluid in there. now it is empty. it used to be yellow coloured if im not mistaken....

is it fluid for the rear brake? it isnt for the front brake is it? if it is for the front brake then i shouldnt ride at all or i risk serious injury from lack of a front brake?

and if it is the rear brake fluid is gone, then i should be fine for the front brake then right? is there someplace i can check the brake fluid for the front brake if the front brake in fact uses brake fluid?

[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.

Put on center stand wheel straight, unscrew the top cap After cleaning it thoroughly. If your missing brake fluid (alot) you a have a more serious issue, if that it the case of course do NOT ride until repaired properly!!

If you have to squeeze the brake lever hard or it feels "mushy" when you do you may also have air in the lines, (that requires bleeding) in addition if you are very low on fluid look for an evident leak anywhere along the entire braking system.

[chuckfz6ryder]

That is the front brake master cylinder/reservoir, the rear is a round plastic cylinder on the right side of the bike below the seat. You may need to add fluid if the pads are very worn, or you may have a leak somewhere. I'd look for both conditions and check rear brake reservoir also.

Chuck

[chuckfz6ryder]

The service manual I looked at said dot4 fluid, but check the top cover of the reservoir, it may say what type right on the top.

[sportrider]

do you have a leak? I rode my FZ6 for two years and never had to add any brake fluid.( I did check it regularly, part of pre-ride inspection) are you sure the reservoir is empty, and it's not just clean fluid? break fluid is clear. if it is empty you need to find out why and fix it before you ride the bike again!!! you need both breaks to operate the bike if one break is down so is the bike!!!

[oldfast007]

Thanks for the correction, it is DOT4 not 3..

[DefyInertia]

i'm gonna go out on a limb and GUESS that your front brake system is in perfect order..........

what initially made you think you were "out of" front brake fluid? the inability to see liquid through the site glass? if so, it's probably just clear (which is generally good) but to check for sure you'll need a lot of light or a screw driver. if your front brakes work well, I wouldn't go opening the system up because it sure seems like you're not "qualified" to do so....that's not to say you won't be soon enough.

in any event, when it comes time to put new fluid in, use RED or BLUE or something else with some color so that it's easier to see and easier to change out the next time (use yet another color the next time). also, be sure to use what the manual/master suggests which I believe is DOT4.

[DefyInertia]

ok, sportrider beat me by a couple minutes....but that guy does not even have an FZ6 so why listen to him?

[sportrider]

6-23 of the owners manual states DOT 4. do not use DOT 3 or you could have break failure. these fluids don't mix!!!

[chuckfz6ryder]

Originally Posted by DefyInertia

ok, sportrider beat me by a couple minutes....but that guy does not even have an FZ6 so why listen to him?

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