Rusty pipes and leaking brake fluid after 3 months?
Discussion
Ok, I'm pretty sure this isn't normal, but I'll ask you guys what to do. I was giving my bike a check over yesterday and fitting my new number plate, and I noticed two "odd" things then cleaning it. The first is under my bike, and I think the exhaust pipe has gone rusty - should this have happened after just 3 and a bit months and only 650 miles?
The second is more worrying. The brake line going to my rear brake seems to not only be restricted and at odd angles because of the clips holding it on, I think its leaking.
Heres a couple of pics:
Picture 1:
I'm guessing because of the little screw nut thingy this is the enhaust pipe (why does it need a screw on it?), its right at the bottom of my bike but should it really be this rusty having been new in August, and only ridden 650 miles?
Picture 2:
This hose goes to my rear disk brake. As you can see, both clips in the picture are causing the like to kink and have caused it to be "squashed", but what worries me most is if you look carefully in front of the first clip there is some liquid - this is brake fluid. Thisd can't be good. I still have enough fluid accurding to my little gauges. Can I sort this out my just straightening the clips and flattening the brake line, or should I take it back to the dealership to have it checked over?
Bloody Italian bikes, falling apart and nothing working properly...
>> Edited by m1spw on Sunday 18th December 21:43
The second is more worrying. The brake line going to my rear brake seems to not only be restricted and at odd angles because of the clips holding it on, I think its leaking.
Heres a couple of pics:
Picture 1:
I'm guessing because of the little screw nut thingy this is the enhaust pipe (why does it need a screw on it?), its right at the bottom of my bike but should it really be this rusty having been new in August, and only ridden 650 miles?
Picture 2:
This hose goes to my rear disk brake. As you can see, both clips in the picture are causing the like to kink and have caused it to be "squashed", but what worries me most is if you look carefully in front of the first clip there is some liquid - this is brake fluid. Thisd can't be good. I still have enough fluid accurding to my little gauges. Can I sort this out my just straightening the clips and flattening the brake line, or should I take it back to the dealership to have it checked over?
Bloody Italian bikes, falling apart and nothing working properly...
>> Edited by m1spw on Sunday 18th December 21:43
The top pipe looks like an exhaust pipe, it is quite normal for exhaust pipes to corrode like this. I take your word for it that the lower picture shows the brake lines. Any leak from the brake hydraulics is potentially serious and should be corrected. Brake fluid is highly flamable, and corrosive, and of course there's the risk of running out of brake fluid or even suffering a catastrophic brake failure if the hose/union lets go completely.
The corrosion of the exhaust is completely normal, it's mild steel covered with a thin layer of cheap paint which lifts off within weeks of purchase. If it's really bothering you, you can remove the exhaust and respray it with some PJ1 fast black but it's hardly worth it, you can get an aftermarket exhaust in stainless for about £80, this will get you a bit more 'performance' too.
Seeing as your brake fluid reservoir level appears to be normal, the fluid leak could easily be 2 stroke oil or fuel that has dripped onto the brake line when you've refilled/overfilled.
My advice is to clean the area with a good quality degreaser and monitor it for any future signs. If you want to be really meiculous - it might be worth removing the P Clip and having a look at the condition of the hose but they're pretty tough and work under high pressures so if it was pierced there would be more evidence of leakage than in the photo. (And a definite drop at the reservoir)
Seeing as your brake fluid reservoir level appears to be normal, the fluid leak could easily be 2 stroke oil or fuel that has dripped onto the brake line when you've refilled/overfilled.
My advice is to clean the area with a good quality degreaser and monitor it for any future signs. If you want to be really meiculous - it might be worth removing the P Clip and having a look at the condition of the hose but they're pretty tough and work under high pressures so if it was pierced there would be more evidence of leakage than in the photo. (And a definite drop at the reservoir)
dern said:
Do you commute to the isle of wight... from southampton?
Ah, ok. Sorry, wasn't sure what you were referring to. No I don't go through the sea, I don't even live near the sea. I have gone through a couple of inches of water once, and its got a bit wet a couple of times but apart from that its been stored inside a garage all the time. I was really surprised as I was expecting it to discolour (which its started doing), but I really didn't expect it to rust at all, let alone within a couple of months!
m1spw said:
Do you commute to the isle of wight... from southampton? 
its a 35 minute ride to the dealer
This is a 50cc yeah? So presumably the dealer is two miles away?
re Brakes - take the P clip off, check the hose underneath and maybe reshape the P clip to stop it kinking the brake line quite so much.
Nearer to 1 mile actually...
m1spw said:If that's happened from new I'd be pretty pissed off I think... especially if it's visible. If it's hidden then it's not the end of the world although I have to say that that's a hell of a lot of corrosion for 3 months from new and I'd wonder how long it's going last.
Ah, ok. Sorry, wasn't sure what you were referring to. No I don't go through the sea, I don't even live near the sea. I have gone through a couple of inches of water once, and its got a bit wet a couple of times but apart from that its been stored inside a garage all the time. I was really surprised as I was expecting it to discolour (which its started doing), but I really didn't expect it to rust at all, let alone within a couple of months!
dern said:
If that's happened from new I'd be pretty pissed off I think... especially if it's visible. If it's hidden then it's not the end of the world although I have to say that that's a hell of a lot of corrosion for 3 months from new and I'd wonder how long it's going last.
Yup, it was brand new when I got it on the 26th of August. Its under the bike so you can't see it unless you are lying on the floor or bending over looking at the bottom of the exhaust. Its got a 3 year warranty so I'm not too worried about it.
Stu 9-5 said:
The corrosion of the exhaust is completely normal, it's mild steel covered with a thin layer of cheap paint which lifts off within weeks of purchase.
Yes, I am inclined to agree with this rather than with dern's view. Since it was painted, not chromed, it's only to be expected. The painted exhaust I put on my MZ went like this over a similar timescale and then stayed like it; a year on it's still the same and in no danger of going through.
Stu 9-5 said:
Seeing as your brake fluid reservoir level appears to be normal, the fluid leak could easily be 2 stroke oil or fuel that has dripped onto the brake line when you've refilled/overfilled.
Those three fluids both smell and feel distinctively different, so it's the work of moments to tell which it is.
Having determined that it's brake fluid I'd replace the hose straight away. Never
with brakes - if they're going to fail they'll fail when you really need them, because that's when there's most strain on the system... New hose, and realign those P clips so the hose runs straight even if you find it is spilt fuel/oil.
Pigeon said:
Having determined that it's brake fluid I'd replace the hose straight away. Never
I cleaned up the pipes and straightened it out as much as I could be moving the P clips around.
Thanks for all your help guys.
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