Stupid clutch lever question

[bill lumberg]

I am OCD, and I pull pegs and levers several times a year and clean and lube them. They get crunchy fast riding in wet weather.

Today, when I pulled my clutch lever, the bushing (?) was gunmetal blue on one side. Not the brass cylinder, but the collar that’s pressed into the lever, the one that doesn’t come out.

The blue wouldn’t come off. Not green copper fouling, this is deep blue, and wasn’t going anywhere.

Not a cause for alarm, but I’ve never seen this before. Have you guys seen this?

[Toter]

I pulled mine just the other day to install a new brass bushing and when I cleaned out the pressed in bushing, I remember it looking uniformly grey. It may have been gunmetal blue, I didn't really concentrate that close on the color. Curious as to why yours was only colored on 1 side. Maybe there is a teflon insert or coating that has worn off. I only have 22k on the 15 ES. I know you have more mileage on yours. Interesting.

[rbentnail]

The blue is from heat treating to harden it so other components wear before it does. Ignore it, it's normal.

[bill lumberg]

Good to know. With over 80k miles on the last and over 50k miles on this one, this is the first any hint of blue has shown. Still works as it’s supposed to.

[Cav47]

When I went through all my clutch diagnostics a while back, I noticed the same thing. We pulled mine out and had a litany of cleaners on the bench that were used on all those parts. It was that grey/blue that you are talking about. It sure was a pain putting it back in the rubber boot.

[nvrclvr4umname]

I am OCD, and I pull pegs and levers several times a year and clean and lube them................

Me too Bill. I won't speak to the pegs, but as for the levers, caliper grease is the best lube I've found to date, for the levers.

[Bounce]

It's too easy not to do it when doing an oil change (or every other one).

[tominca]

Do the rest of you also have to clean the switch in the clutch housing. Mine gets fouled and the bike no longer starts with just the clutch pulled in, requiring a shift to neutral. I'm overdue to clean out the clutch bearing, but I always have to use contact cleaner on the switch.

[HotRodZilla]

Do the rest of you also have to clean the switch in the clutch housing. Mine gets fouled and the bike no longer starts with just the clutch pulled in, requiring a shift to neutral. I'm overdue to clean out the clutch bearing, but I always have to use contact cleaner on the switch.

No. Never. That sucks!

[rbentnail]

Do the rest of you also have to clean the switch in the clutch housing. Mine gets fouled and the bike no longer starts with just the clutch pulled in, requiring a shift to neutral. I'm overdue to clean out the clutch bearing, but I always have to use contact cleaner on the switch.

No. Never. That sux!

Really- I have NEVER cleaned any handlebar switch.

[raYzerman]

If it's a Gen3 the clutch and brake lever switches require attention.
I use a silicone grease on the clutch/brake pivots, it won't wash out very easily. Caliper grease qualifies.

[tominca]

Do the rest of you also have to clean the switch in the clutch housing. Mine gets fouled and the bike no longer starts with just the clutch pulled in, requiring a shift to neutral. I'm overdue to clean out the clutch bearing, but I always have to use contact cleaner on the switch.

No. Never. That sucks!

Well, damn! That sucks. Why me?