need tech help - does this mean anything(with photo at last)

[oaf]

while riding last week I noticed that the top of my clutch cable is discolored where it exits the banjo bolt on the reservoir. the cable does not seem swollen, just discolored brown. the brake hose is not this way. i am about to flush and replaced the fluids this fall. does this mean that the hose is leaking and should be replaced? any help is greatly appreciated. i will attempt to attach a picture for clarity.

[oaf]

second attempt at photo. I ain't real good at this.

[caffeinejunkee]

My 695 clutch line did the exact same thing (based on your description since I can't see the pics). I'm not sure what caused it and assumed it was maybe moisture getting in there?

[oaf]

apparently i suck at computers. the color is on top of the hose, not on bottom. i would think if it was leaking it would go to the bottom. the color is brown, almost burnt looking and is on the outside of the braiding, either under the plastic sheath or is the sheath itself discoloring maybe from UV exposure. one more try at posting photo.

[oaf]

ok so here's the link to the photo.
http://www.me.com/gallery/#100008

[fastwin]

Can't get to your photo, I am technically challenged also... stone axe kinda stuff for me!

I assume if it were leaking you'd know it by the fluid dripping from the connection and the loss of fluid level in the reservoir. CJ, since you had similar issues did you actually loose fluid? Or is it just a discolorization?

[caffeinejunkee]

My fluid level remained stable, and I never felt or saw fluid in this area. It was just the discoloration on mine (as oaf indicates, seemed to be between the braid and the sheath). I never actually looked to see if it was all the way around the circumference of the line or limited to the top side. It was not solid, and it did not appear to be on the sides of the line. So, I assume it was limited to the top. It was in the same location (near reservoir) described by oaf, though.

[svoloch]

clutch fluid seems to discolor nearly instantly on a duc, so don't be surprised if it goes black again after a few pumps of the clutch after you flush it.  Are you sure it's not just discolored from the crap that's discoloring the clutch fluid?

[oaf]

if it is coming from the clutch fluid, i would think that it would have to be leaking into the sheath from somewhere. either the crimp inside the banjo bolt or inside the hose itself. it does not seem to be getting bigger and it is on the top of the hose. i would think if it was a leak it would progress and 'run' once it was outside the hose. I'm just not sure enough about that to just ignore it. i figured if it was a problem one of you experts would have seen it before. still can't figure out the pics but I'll learn eventually. thanks.

[hypurone]

I have seen what you are talking about before. It happened on a set of lines on my Mean Streak. I would still like to see a pic but in my case it was just the housing discoloring after the protective sheath had pulled away. Ozone is a nasty thing for rubber and most other things. Great for keeping excess radiation out tho! 

If you have the image hosted somewhere (photobucket, flickr etc) then use the "insert image" button above (second from the left on the bottom row) and paste the DIRECT LINK to the image (not the website)

[oaf]

one more try at a photo

[oaf]

ok it's a little dark, but that is the clutch line exiting the banjo bolt.

[hypurone]

Similar to my scenario. That is the clear protective housing turning color. It would most likely "clean up" with mineral spirits or the like. It could have had some brake fluid spilled on it and simply wiped off instead of actually cleaned or I would def not worry about it unless your fluid level is dropping....

[junior varsity]

Doesn't look like a problem to me. If it really bothers you, the Spiegler lines are a great upgrade and easy to swap in.

[oaf]

cool. thanks guys.