K11 Owners Group

The Colonel · Joined: 29 May 2005 Posts: 15

Here's one for you high-milage riders.....

Is it necessary to remove the heated handgrip to replace the front master cylinder? The drawings I've looked at seem so.

Tom in Cincinnati

Flying Duck · Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 12:29 pm Post subject:

Yes.

CAUTION: Be very careful where the wires connect to the heating element on the grip. If you break that connection you won't be able to resolder it as solder won't stick to the heating element.

The easy way: (I've done this on my RS.)

Feed as much slack as you can on the HG wiring into the handlebars and pull it out of the end of the handlebar. Cut the wires (leaving enough to reconnect them) and remove the grip. Replace the master cylinder and then reconnect the wires when you put the grip back on.

The "right" way:

Remove the gas tank and locate the white four wire heated grip connector where it branches off to the pairs of wires for each side. Using a pin inserted from behind you can depress the tangs on the terminals for the wires and remove the terminals from the connector. Tie a string to the pair of wires for the right side and carefully pull the wires through the handlebar when you remove the throttle grip. The string is what you'll use to pull the wires back through when you're finished.
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93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
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Phil Marvin · Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 2:21 pm Post subject:

Hi, Tom,
Can you not rebuild the master cylinder? I rebuilt mine on my second K1100LT and it worked well. I honed the cylinder and replaced the piston and seals, all without removing it from the handlebar. I did it that way because it is a PITA to remove the master cylinder with heated grips. It was also much less expensive than a new master cylinder. Prior to rebuilding mine, I did buy a used master cylinder from Beemer Boneyard or one of the other decent used parts dealers. Should you want/need one, mine is available.
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Ride Safe,
Phil Marvin in El Paso, TX
'94 K75A/3
'95 K75RTP

Saltcreek · Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 4:06 pm Post subject: Re: Front Master Cylinder

The Colonel · Joined: 29 May 2005 Posts: 15

Phil,

Thanks for the idea, but it was already reuilt once, and the result wasn't very good. The local independant shop (not a great one, IMO) said that the Master Cylinder didn't have long to go when they rebuilt it last fall.

I wish we had a BMW dealer or a good indie shop. Closest is 170 or so miles. There are three Honda shops on the way to work, though. Along that theme, I jost sold my Benz and bought a Toyota Avalon--great car!

Tom in Cincinnati