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[Rebel1]

I was at the dealership yesterday with a question about the clutch engagement on "my" new 2015 CVO limited.  I was informed that it may need to be bled BUT they can not do anything to any clutch or brake system until they receive their "new" shipment of DOT4 fluid.  I asked what the problems are with the current brake fluid and was told that Harley has determined that numerous clutch and brake issues have been traced back to "bad" DOT4 fluid.  Sooo, the MOCO has ordered all DOT4 be pulled from the shelves (and tech's benches) and not to take in any work that could require adding/replacing DOT4.
Has anyone else heard this or is my dealer the only one talking?
Bob

Hope I posted this in the right place.

[Twolanerider]

Had heard nothing.  Since you know they don't make their own and it's only something else relabeled you have to wonder.  Even if it's true though it's still the lamest excuse ever to turn a customer away.  Go to the local auto parts store and buy some standard well known Wagner or other fluid and get your customer's work done.

[Rebel1]

After they told me this, I went to the local NAPA store and bought a small bottle of DOT4 with the intent of bleeding it myself.  However, I found out that I need to pull, or at least loosen, the exhaust to get the cover off to get to the bleeder.  For the time being, I'm going to ride it and see if the engagement point changes after some miles are put on the bike.  I just bought the bike and even though it's a 2015, it still has less than 1k miles.  That will change quickly, now that I own it!
Bob

[110tHunDer]

When did this order come down?  I just had my brakes and clutch flushed last week and the RO states DOT4 was used.

[Rebel1]

The dealer told me that they got this info late last Friday and that they got all their inventory(and tech's stash)pulled Tuesday, since they are closed on Monday.
Bob 

[grc]

This is no doubt related to the several hydraulic clutch recalls they've had in the past few years.  The ones where they claimed the system developed gas and caused the clutch to not release when the lever was pulled.  I call BS on this, since as Twolane mentioned they don't make their own brake fluid, they buy it from a vendor who no doubt also sells it to other companies as well as parts stores.  If the fluid was the problem, I would expect we would have heard of widespread problems with other vehicles by now, since Harley's problems started with the 2014 models.  Unless of course it's counterfeit Chinese DOT4 they got for a really cheap price but no one else was dumb enough to buy it.

Jerry

[110tHunDer]

If I got the bad stuff, my bike is loving it, so far.  Moved the friction zone in to the middle right where my '04 SEEG always was.  Feels much more natural, to me, at least.  Hope it stays there, but so far, so good after 200 miles.

[rayson56]

Interesting. I'll keep an eye this thread. Thanks Bob for the heads up.

[FLTRCVO]

Just to expand with changing out the DOT 4 Brake fluid, I created a hell of a time for my self a few years ago when I did it on my 2009 CVO Road Glide, brake wasn't near perfect at all come to find out my draining of the brake fluid triggered some codes and the ABS crap. My dealer repaired / cleared it for free. Am I the only idiot that did this?