Triumphrat

Beemie

The manual says to replace the clutch and brake system seals, which would include the piston assemblies, every 2 years.

Does everyone do that?

All the parts involved would be a small fortune, maybe even midium sized.

lovecuba

I believe, in this case, that the advice given in the manual is for 'purists'.
The seals rarely give out suddenly as they are not under huge pressures. Gradual wearing is the order of the day and some seepage will generally occur to indicate wear. If this is noticed promptly then seals only should be required. The pistons will need replacing if deep score marks are evident on them.

ClassiclyMobile

I replace the fluids every 2 years and wait for seals to fail. No failures in 10 years.

Beemie

Since my Bonneville master cylinder seals lasted almost 30 years I was a bit skeptical about the recommendations for the triple.

I guess if I had changed the brake fluid in those 30 years the cylinder might not have corroded and the seals wouldn't have failed.

I'm doing better with the Thunderbird, but I'll be really surprised if I make it another 30 years without retiring to a scooter.

MickMaguire

are you sure - I dont have my manual here - but I would have sworn it was fluid every 2 and seals and hoses every 5.

From what I have seen here most people don't change them, and dont have any issues caused by not. Over on the T3 forums I see guys changing them for the first time on pre-95 bikes for the first time.

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Mick...

Just remember; an awful lot of the free advice you will get on forums is worth exactly what you paid for it. There will always be somebody trying to convince you to do something really stupid, just because they did it or want to do it.

Bobby K

I have a 95 Bird. Rebuilt the front MC last year (leaking) using a 2003 Honda Shadow Spirit kit. (Can't remember where I got that tip). I see that my clutch MC is in need of attention now, those parts will have to come from Triumph.

Beemie

The factory workshop manual says 2 years for both services.
Unfortunately it looks like the master cylinder "seals" are part of the piston assembly and perhaps not separate items.
So multiply $50-$80 times the number of pistons, and considering each end of the brake and clutch lines, it accounts for quite a bit of money.

MickMaguire

2 years is un-necessarily low in my opinion - heck my bike was that old when it left the dealership!

I will have to look out my factory service checklist sheet - I feel like that may be where I got the 5 years from.

__________________
Mick...

Just remember; an awful lot of the free advice you will get on forums is worth exactly what you paid for it. There will always be somebody trying to convince you to do something really stupid, just because they did it or want to do it.

ssevy

The biggest enemy to seals is water in the hydraulic system. Once corrosion and rust begin to appear, they create an abrasive surface in the cylinders which the seals begin to rub upon. Doesn't take long to wear through a seal like this. If you change out your fluids annually, the water has no chance to cause corrosion, and your seals are only moving in an environment of nice slippery brake fluid. Since catastrophic failure is highly unlikely without seeing some seepage as a prior warning, I wouldn't worry at all about them. If you are changing your fluids yearly, you may never see this at all. I have rebuilt car master cylinders in the past, and usually if they are leaking, the cylinder is already pitted to the extent that the whole unit needs replacing. It isn't often that a seal kit will make a lasting repair once the corrosion has begun, even if you then put in fresh fluid.

gregp

Interesting! I need to rebuild my front caliper and master cylinder as well. Where did you purchase this kit? Was it a Honda kit? Do you happen to have the part #?

Thanks!