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Message started by springman on 11/02/17 at 21:03:53

Title: might have overheated and clutch went weird
Post by springman on 11/02/17 at 21:03:53

Did not know if I should put this here or in Rubber side down. I'm sure someone will move it if required.

We had an unusually warm day today for November. Temp was in mid 80's on ride home. Traffic was horrible. It was stop and stop and maybe a little go. Took me about 30-45 minutes to go 5 miles or so. The heat from the engine was cooking my legs and I was having trouble finding neutral. Eventually I could not get neutral and the clutch remained engaged in first so that I had to pull over and let the engine die while in first. With the clutch lever fully pulled in the bike wanted to keep moving, when I braked to a complete stop the engine died.

Like I said, I pulled over into a parking lot and let the engine cool of for about 30 minutes. I adjusted the clutch at the clutch lever and then rode the remaining 30 miles or so trouble free. I was about 5 blocks from the HOV entrance when the engine died so after those 5 blocks I was moving at a decent pace providing ample air cooling for the engine.

I will be changing the oil as it probably needed it anyway. It feels like the clutch is working fine now. Just curious as to why the clutch did not want to disengage. By the way, the lock nut for the clutch cable down at engine level was fine (still locked) and and at the lever level also. :o

Title: Re: might have overheated and clutch went weird
Post by MMRanch on 11/02/17 at 21:34:33

SpringMan

You know things expand as they get hotter ... I'll bet that includes clutch plates ?

The slicker the oil --- the less heat from friction would build up , so changing oil is a good idea . Thiner oil circulates better and may carry heat out of the head better ??? But I use 10W40 or 10W50 :-?

I am under the impression that , Gas has a cooling effect as it enters your engine . So , it might be that gently barking the motor while your in neutral and sitting still might be A GOOD THING ??? (I'm guessing here) ??? Wasting gas but still "a Good Thing"

Cooler range spark plugs might help keep temps down ???

You know what ... Brigs and Stratton engines usually don't get much air flow , and they don't have BIG FINNs , so why don't they over heat ... Is there a lesson there for us ??? ::)

Title: Re: might have overheated and clutch went weird
Post by verslagen1 on 11/02/17 at 22:20:16

yes, change the oil, especially if it's conventional.
if you're going to get stuck in traffic often, get a radiator fan.
there's just not much else to do. if it's not moving there's no cooling.

Title: Re: might have overheated and clutch went weird
Post by Blade on 11/02/17 at 23:13:44

It can reach the 30's ( 90's) during Summer here in Oz and city traffic can make the engines scorch your legs. Both my Suzuki's - the Savage and the VX800 get very temperamental in these conditions and finding neutral can sometimes be like a game of hide and seek.

On the VX I have I installed a manual override switch on the cooling fan which allows me to put some air over the fins before waiting for the thermostat to get stressed.

Title: Re: might have overheated and clutch went weird
Post by ohiomoto on 11/03/17 at 06:07:08

Clutch plates do expand when hot. Back when I was young an skinny, I raced 125s. One day I was practicing corners at my local sand pit not far from where I lived. When I was done, I rode home. Everything was fine and there were no signs of any issues with the clutch.

The next day I jumped on the bike after school, popped the bike in gear and nothing. The bike wouldn't move. Tore it down and the aluminum drive plates were so worn down that there were ridges at the edges. Friction plates were still perfect. Yet the worked fine the day before when the they were scorching hot.

The drive plates were damaged from me slipping the clutch railing deep sand berms in third gear, but they expanded enough to maintain function throughout the ride and get me home. That's how much things can expand in there.

But our bikes have steal drive plates, so there is no way you could cause the damage I did to that old 125. You should have adjusted the clutch play while you were having the issues and then adjusted it again after it had cooled down or before you next ride.

Title: Re: might have overheated and clutch went weird
Post by piedmontbuckeye on 11/03/17 at 08:37:52

I doubt that changing to a cooler spark plug will have any difference as a cooler plug is designed to dissipate heat faster from the tip so that it will not pre-ignite the fuel mixture by having a glowing red tip. It does not cool the exploded fuel/air mixture as it is just as hot as it ever was when ignited.

Title: Re: might have overheated and clutch went weird
Post by Dave on 11/03/17 at 09:34:17

7E676B6A6361607A6C7B6D656B776B0E0 wrote:

Yep, I agree..........don't change the spark plug heat range. It has nothing to do with the engine operating temperature.

The only reason I would ever consider changing the heat range is if you only rode at interstate speeds all the time.....and the plug was showing a white tip even with a good fuel mixture.

Title: Re: might have overheated and clutch went weird
Post by batman on 11/03/17 at 09:38:03

Running 10w50 oil instead of 10 w40 would be a mistake , lighter oil carries away heat better. You might be able to try a larger pilot jet ,lean mix at idle makes the motor run hotter.Does shifting into neutral really help? how does this effect the temperature of the clutch? I would think with the bike in gear and the clutch disengaged that there would be space between the plates and oil moving through would tend to cool the clutch not over heat it.shifting into neutral may be your biggest mistake.

Title: Re: might have overheated and clutch went weird
Post by springman on 11/03/17 at 09:58:38

Thanks all for the input. I run the rotella dino in summer so that is what is in there right now. I will use rotella synthetic for the next oil change. I may try to go for a little ride before doing anything to the bike just to see if I notice anything weird.

I can understand the engine getting hot, I just thought it was so weird that the clutch started acting up. Specially since I put in new clutch fiber plates and springs at around 16k miles.

Heck, it may just be time for major tune up/maintenance. I was planning on waiting til I hit 30k miles but I guess it is best to play it safe.

Title: Re: might have overheated and clutch went weird
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 11/03/17 at 10:14:01

How you use your clutch matters.
Let space develop in front, pull away, grab neutral, and try to not slip it to keep walking with traffic.

Title: Re: might have overheated and clutch went weird
Post by SALB on 11/03/17 at 11:16:23

1A081A08051619141F570 wrote:

SpringMan

You know what ... Brigs and Stratton engines usually don't get much air flow , and they don't have BIG FINNs , so why don't they over heat ... Is there a lesson there for us ??? ::)

Title: Re: might have overheated and clutch went weird
Post by springman on 11/03/17 at 12:31:32

SALB, I tried about 4 different routes but ultimately they were all going north and they were all in bad shape. At least I now know what caused the traffic. The Astros were coming back and people were trying to get a glimpse. I did not know that yesterday when I was caught in the traffic but I did figure it out when I was on the HOV and saw 3 buses with a police escort and news van following heading south. Yep, them there wuz our boys, the World Series Champs.

Title: Re: might have overheated and clutch went weird
Post by verslagen1 on 11/03/17 at 12:59:17

3B383A21262F252926480 wrote:

Funny anybody would want to get a glimpse of a bus...
But anyway congrats on the champs. [smiley=beer.gif]

Title: Re: might have overheated and clutch went weird
Post by piedmontbuckeye on 11/03/17 at 14:25:24

33303327313937520 wrote:

[quote author=1A081A08051619141F570 link=1509681833/0#1 date=1509683673]SpringMan

You know what ... Brigs and Stratton engines usually don't get much air flow , and they don't have BIG FINNs , so why don't they over heat ... Is there a lesson there for us ??? ::)

Small engines have huge fins on the flywheel that act as a fan forcing air across the fins on the engine. Most also have a splash oiling system that soaks the cylinder and bottom of the piston with oil.

Anyway you look at it, our bikes were not designed for that kind of traffic. Sometimes I just hang a U-turn, and take a different route, even if it is a lot longer.[/quote]

------------

All air cooled motorcycles have this problem. My 3 BMW's had the same issue. Once in Washington DC, I got caught up in a jam getting to Arlington, and it was HOT out - around 90. I had similar clutch problems. Only solution was to get over and let things cool down. I also pushed it rather than use the clutch for slow movement.

Title: Re: might have overheated and clutch went weird
Post by MMRanch on 11/03/17 at 20:06:18

I also pushed it rather than use the clutch for slow movement.

I do that too , unless it on an up-hill slope ! ::)

Some times I just change my direction and go to Wal-Mart and kill 30 min. till the jam-up is over , or call it a good time to have dinner and stop at the next food.

We all get stuck in them sometime ... :P