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Message started by r4fun on 05/11/11 at 15:34:49

Title: Clutch too tight!
Post by r4fun on 05/11/11 at 15:34:49

Hi everyone I hear a strange noise when I'm riding and I was talking with some other guys who have motorcycles and one of them told me to check if the clutch if isn't too tight, I checked and surprise....my clutch was kind of loose but I was able to shift the gears ok.
My question is: "Isn't the clutch too tight if you follow the book witch is saying: the play of the clutch cable should be 10-15mm(0.4-0.6 in)as measured at the clutch level end before the clutch begins to disengage"

Title: Re: Clutch too tight!
Post by verslagen1 on 05/11/11 at 16:51:40

I always leave 1/8 to 1/4" gap at the level with clutch fully engaged.

Now, what noises?

Title: Re: Clutch too tight!
Post by babyhog on 05/11/11 at 17:35:33

I have a clutch issue too. Was gonna start another thread, but while we're on the subject, I thought I'd just tag along. Hope you don't mind, r4fun.

The last couple times I've started my bike, it seems to want to lurch forward, like I'm letting the clutch out, while in the process of starting it, and it kinda hesitates to start. Hubby asked if I had it pulled in all the way, and the lever is touching the grip, so its in as far as it will go. Anybody ever had this happen, and is this as simple to cure as turning the nut on the end of the lever? Forgot to try that when I got home.

Title: Re: Clutch too tight!
Post by verslagen1 on 05/11/11 at 19:14:01

what gap you got at the lever and where's the lever in relation to the marks?

Title: Re: Clutch too tight!
Post by Serowbot on 05/11/11 at 20:31:40

686B6A67657F060 wrote:

If it's been a little while since you started it, the clutch plates may be dry, and that will cause that...
It's normal..

If you think it might be,.. you can start it in neutral, to let the oil circulate...

Title: Re: Clutch too tight!
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 05/11/11 at 20:58:24

Piglt, you may have t rock the bike back & forth while you hold a bind on the shifter to get it to pop into neutral for ya.

Title: Re: Clutch too tight!
Post by babyhog on 05/12/11 at 05:06:07

thanks guys, just never had that happen before. ;)

Title: Re: Clutch too tight!
Post by Arnold on 05/12/11 at 07:05:17

I always thought you should start any engine in neutral.

Title: Re: Clutch too tight!
Post by r4fun on 05/12/11 at 08:05:38

You're right Arnold Savage's book says the motorcycle has to be start it from NEUTRAL.(I,m the guy with the book ;D)

Title: Re: Clutch too tight!
Post by verslagen1 on 05/12/11 at 08:18:32

2C392221212839283F4D0 wrote:

I always thought you should start any engine in neutral.

Title: Re: Clutch too tight!
Post by babyhog on 05/12/11 at 08:50:47

5B485F5E414C4A48431C2D0 wrote:

[quote author=2C392221212839283F4D0 link=1305153290/0#7 date=1305209117]I always thought you should start any engine in neutral.

Correct, you should but we're trying to find out about a problem and it's not clear that she can shift it once started. So I'm waiting to hear, 'yes, I can start it and it does/doesn't creep' or ' no, it lurches when I push the button'.[/quote]

It has only lurched/crept on me a couple of times, but it still starts. And I do mostly start it in neutral, but sometimes I start it in 1st gear. Actually, maybe even 50/50. Never heard that one before, so please explain. Does that apply to cars too? I've driven tons of standard vehicles with no problems starting in 1st gear.

Title: Re: Clutch too tight!
Post by verslagen1 on 05/12/11 at 08:56:17

0D0E0F02001A630 wrote:

It has only lurched/crept on me a couple of times, but it still starts. And I do mostly start it in neutral, but sometimes I start it in 1st gear. Actually, maybe even 50/50. Never heard that one before, so please explain. Does that apply to cars too? I've driven tons of standard vehicles with no problems starting in 1st gear.

In gear it may creep because it's a wet clutch and when you 1st start it's dry (relatively) and sticky. So it's much better to start in neutral cause it turns easier.

Title: Re: Clutch too tight!
Post by Arnold on 05/12/11 at 09:00:14

And there's been lots of accidents with vehicles started in gear too. I mean most vehicle you must depress the clutch to start but people may forget they're in gear, start the engine and let the clutch go.

Title: Re: Clutch too tight!
Post by r4fun on 05/12/11 at 13:23:10

let see if you leave your bike off for few hours you have to start it from neutral but if you're going somewhere just to buy a...cola ;)
and u want to start again you can do it on first gear.

About cars I've always started my car on the first gear because every time I used first gear as brake too I'm not pulling the handbrake.

Title: Re: Clutch too tight!
Post by engineer on 05/12/11 at 13:29:59

I adjusted my clutch this afternoon and Clymer's said to have 3 mm of free play in the gap where the lever seats itself up at the handlebar. My lever adjustment was used up at the handlebar so following Clymer's instructions I adjusted it at the engine end of the cable. The important thing is to have some free play but check the cable and adustment by working the engine lever by hand just to make certain the cable isn't hanging up somewhere. Clymer's is well worth the $24 or whatever they charge for it.

Regarding the other question, motorcycle clutches are different than automobile clutches and as several people pointed out some sticky oil between all those plates can cause it to drag a little bit until the plates "shed" the sticky stuff. Back when almost all motorcycles had center stands that raised the rear wheel off the pavement you could see this effect on a well adjusted clutch. Just the viscosity of the oil would cause the wheel to rotate a bit.

Title: Re: Clutch too tight!
Post by r4fun on 05/13/11 at 17:56:58

Thanx guys, I think I solve the problem.