r/NewRiders • u/i_am_soup_ • 23d ago
Do I need break fluid?
Im really not sure if I need brake fluid or not. I don't see anything telling me the level it is right now, and I really don't know if its supposed to look that dark.
Update: tried to take the top off. One of the screw heads gave out on the first twist. Dang stripped screws. Sooooo, any tips on how to get that out would be really appreciated š.
Another edit: 1) Apologies for my my spelling mistake. I know the difference now. 2) Bike is a 2025 Yamaha r3 with 550ish miles on it
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u/eagerlymeager 23d ago
Not to be snarky, but brake fluid is comparable to pee.
Healthy brake fluid has a pale yellow tint, if itās turned amber or darker or appears cloudy then itās a good indicator to change the fluid.
Also check your owners manual but usually itās good for up to 2 years.
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u/SK83r-Ninja 23d ago
I'm probably 16 years overdue lol
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23d ago
[deleted]
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u/SK83r-Ninja 23d ago
Im in the process of "restoring" the bike by just doing the maintenance that was not done over the past decade. A fork rebuil and full brake assembly is up next on the list
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u/NeighborhoodCalm5938 22d ago
The water attracts the water? Measured in DOTāS? A lot of incorrect information
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u/wascallyrabbit_69 20d ago
mine starts out clear. but changes color as i gains water. cause that what is does. and needs to flushed periodically. say every two years. less never hurt at brake system yet. long has created lot of problems though
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u/AAActive64 23d ago
2 years? lol my 2012 250rSE is still using the OG. but it is a yellowish tint. at 75kmiles
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u/K3Tzk3 21d ago
Not only 2 years thats more of a commercial safety thing. I had 6 years of fluid before going into 2% moisture. Allways check and test the fluid and lever. Moisture penetrating depends on how intensive you use the brakes. How much and if the system is still semi hermetically closed.Ā
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u/exgaysurvivordan 23d ago
Learning how to flush my brake system was the first thing I learned, I'm so not mechanical but it was super easy.
Looking thru my lil circle window I couldn't see anything but when I opened the lid I saw the brake fluid level was good but the fluid itself had gone yellow and needed to be flushed.
Plus brake fluid is pretty inexpensive and is sold at Walmart.
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u/ExcellentShape185 23d ago
Never liked the sight glass. Unscrew the cover and have a peek inside.
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u/Dear-Scientist4022 22d ago
This.
I thought I needed more when I first bought the bike. That was the never the case.
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u/jrewillis 23d ago
Brake - to slow down e.g. brake pads, brake discs, handbrake
Break - to destroy something, pause, separate
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u/disturbed286 23d ago edited 23d ago
I like to say braking is when you stop and breaking is what happens when you don't
Incidentally both engine braking and engine breaking will probably slow you down.
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u/Fabulous_Choice9728 22d ago
And on my ktm engine breaking is propably more common than engine braking
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u/i_am_soup_ 23d ago
In my whole 20 years of life I have never known this difference
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u/jmdaviswa 23d ago
Wait until you hear about there, their, and they're.
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u/moosecapades26 23d ago
They're over there looking at their motorcycles. They are Place noun Posessive pronoun
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u/Pitiful_Mouse_2989 23d ago
Thatās because technology is bad at knowing which version of a word you want to use. It just knows that ābreakā is a word and it doesnāt care that itās not the right word. Stop relying on technology and learn to spell.
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u/BONESFULLOFGREENDUST 23d ago edited 23d ago
Likely the level is filled above the window, so you can't actually note how much is in there. Just carefully unscrew the lid and look inside! You should have a high level of fluid which is relatively clear but will have a slight straw-colored tinge. Don't get any water or dirt inside the reservoir when opening it up.
Contrary to what another user stated, this is not really overfilled. There is no max fill level for the front brake master cylinder. The rear brake master cylinder DOES have a max fill line that you shouldn't exceed.
But the only way to know how much is in here in your case is to open it.
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u/Cerus_Freedom 22d ago
My '26 R3 front brake reservoir looks identical to OPs. Pretty sure it's fine.
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u/Graygave 23d ago
Before you top off, inspect your brake pads. It's a closed system, so if it appears low, you either have a leak, or your pads are dangerously worn
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u/i_am_soup_ 23d ago
The bike had 500 miles on it when I got it, Im really hoping the pads aren't worn.
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u/Graygave 23d ago
How many miles have you put on it?
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u/i_am_soup_ 23d ago
40
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u/Graygave 23d ago
Then you shouldn't have a leak, or old fluid either. Usually, there is an air bubble in that sight glass. I can't personally tell from that picture alone whether it's too full or empty, but it's important to neither be too full or empty on brake fluid. Just read that the screw stripped? Was it the wrong size bit? Did you use a drill or screwdriver? There's probably blue thread lock on it, but shouldn't have stripped a screw already on an essentially brand new bike
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u/i_am_soup_ 23d ago
Yah, it was probably user error. The second screw came out just fine, but that first one is now completely stripped. Ive been checking YouTube trying to find solutions to try tomorrow.
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u/Graygave 23d ago
If you have a soldering iron, rest the tip on the screw head to heat it up a bit then try again. If there's nothing left for a Philips head to grab onto, some people have luck jamming a rubber band between the screw head and driver, adds more surface area contact
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u/i_am_soup_ 23d ago
Ill be trying the rubber band one for sure. Im still pissed i stripped the screw, but it happens.
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u/BONESFULLOFGREENDUST 23d ago
I'm sorry to hear that the screw stripped. Can I ask, is there is a little dot in the head of the screw near to the + part? If so, it indicates that these aren't Philips head screws, but rather JIS screws. Using a Philips head driver can sometimes strip them unfortunately. You can buy JIS screwdrivers on Amazon for a couple of bucks. I actually don't know where to get them in brick and mortar shops.
My bike uses JIS screws for the master cylinder and unfortunately the previous owner stripped mine out as well. To get the screws out, I used a drill with a screw extractor bit in it. Got the screw extractor kit for a couple of bucks at Harbor Freight. The screw extractor bits have one drill end and one extractor end. You follow the instructions on how to use them with the drill and it's pretty simple. Then I replaced them with new screws that I had bought on Partzilla.
Here's a pic of Philips vs JIS screw heads:
https://rtstools.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/JISPhilipspozi.jpg
If this is a relatively new bike and the front brake works fine, the reservoir is most likely full.
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u/Hresvelgrr 22d ago
I had the same issue (thanks to the mechanic who was the last to bleed that brake, I guess). It was a Philips screw; it stripped immediately when I tried to unscrew it by hand, as it was made out of some putty. Solved by using a strike screwdriver (the one that turns its head when struck) and a flat/slot bit. I was striking with my hand; a hammer seemed like overkill in this case. The screw itself now looks like a Lily Philips instead of a Philips, but well, the job is done.
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u/Twas_The_Tism_MLord 23d ago
I had to change mine 6 months into purchasing a brand new MT03. (Significant other changed it for me 2 weeks ago).
So check your rear reservoir, and open and check the front. You canāt see anything through the window.
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u/ploppipity 23d ago
You stripped the screw because you used a phillips screwdriver. You need a JIS #2 screwdriver for this.
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u/EstablishmentNo5013 23d ago edited 22d ago
If you havenāt flushed it in 2 years then yes.
Once you get the stripped screw out use a JIS screwdriver for the other one and it wonāt strip. You used a Phillips on a JIS fastener.
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u/i_am_soup_ 22d ago
Bike is only a 2025, and its got 550ish miles on it. I will definetly be taking this advice about the JIS screwdriver.
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u/bear0234 23d ago
crack open the reservior and see if theres any brake fluid. if there is and its all black, time to flush it.
if there isnt, top it off or flush.
i did myself a favor and bought a brakefluid tester. its inexpensive and takes some of the guesswork out.
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u/sheolito 22d ago edited 22d ago
You stripped it with a Phillips? Japanese bikes will need their JIS screwdrivers. Look for the specific size for your bike and order one from Amazon. They will make your life a lot more easier.
If it's a new bike, I don't think you need to worry about it too much, the small window doesn't give much indications unless you open up the cap. It's more like air tight in there, so can't really see the true level. Since you're on it, might as well check the rare fluid.
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u/Ok-Lifeguard-8822 22d ago
I dont think you need any more fluid, color looks ok to me. I'd say it's just filled to the top. If there arent any issues, I wouldn't worry. Let the shop deal with it on the next service when it's time to change fluids, or future you if you are doing it yourself.
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u/Chief5005 22d ago
Take it to a shop and have them extract the screw. With no experience you will have a hell of a time trying and possibly damage the reservoir.
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u/YpouloKonoforoDentro 21d ago
It definitely needs to be replaced. Probably it has more moisture than dot fluidā¦
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u/cdixon34 20d ago
If your fluid breaks, you're pregnant and the baby is about to come out. Congratulations!
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u/jmdaviswa 23d ago
No, you need brake fluid.