SuzukiSavage.com - Print Page

SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl
General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Clutch slips from second to first
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1657674719

Message started by Surviving Philadelphia on 07/12/22 at 18:11:59

Title: Clutch slips from second to first
Post by Surviving Philadelphia on 07/12/22 at 18:11:59

Yo savages,

When I pull off the line from a stop and shift up to second, my bike's been knocking itself back to neutral/first. I'm able to shift back to second after lowering the RPMS and keep on my way. It seems like it's happening more frequently over time and usually under hard acceleration.

Should I install a new set of plates/springs?

thank you

Title: Re: Clutch slips from second to first
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/12/22 at 18:59:22

Have you tried slamming the throttle shutandjakkin the shifter at the same time? No clutch?
If it's bouncing off of second, the shifter might be loose. Have a look.
Eyeball the rod usually a Lift shift doesn't have trouble, the push ,downshift,, flexes if it's bent.
Have you gotten harsh Gettin it in first? That can bend on e.
Are you goin at it
With Gusto?

Title: Re: Clutch slips from second to first
Post by Surviving Philadelphia on 07/12/22 at 19:05:56

Thanks Justin I can check some of these out tomorrow. About shifting with gusto I'm guilty some mornings of not giving enough force but it's definitely kicking back down on it's own.

What you mentioned about going into first is interesting -- When i'm at anything over an idle it doesn't want to shift down into first (not that I try to force it), can make a hell of a rattle sometimes if I try. I figured this was just normal. You think I could have bent something that way?

Appreciated

Title: Re: Clutch slips from second to first
Post by ohiomoto on 07/12/22 at 19:18:54

The shift rod is probably bent. I had a similar issue on my bike and the rod snapped not long after. I had to ride home in 2nd gear.

Title: Re: Clutch slips from second to first
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/12/22 at 20:14:04

Do you sit in neutral And hold the clutch lever in?

Title: Re: Clutch slips from second to first
Post by Surviving Philadelphia on 07/13/22 at 05:46:26

I'm in city traffic all day everyday, usually sitting in first with the level pulled in unless I catch a full red light. Stop signs in Philly are more a suggestion than an actual stop.

When you guys mention the rod being bent, are we talking about on the shifter or the internal rod that comes in different sizes?

Title: Re: Clutch slips from second to first
Post by ohiomoto on 07/13/22 at 06:23:29

Shift linkage.

http://https://www.motorsloop.com/images/suzuki/ZULS650SAVAG031.JPG

Title: Re: Clutch slips from second to first
Post by Surviving Philadelphia on 07/13/22 at 06:28:34

Hey thanks for the picture man I'll check this out today.

Title: Re: Clutch slips from second to first
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/13/22 at 21:47:32

Who's taking a swing at if it's bent
How did it get that way?

I'm goin with clutch Lever held in
In first
Gears stop and are not ready to engage
Rather than let clutch lever out and bounce off the friction zone, spinning the gears, got determined to put it in first and applied the boot.
I watched a guy do that at a red light once. But he wasn't just pushing a little hard, he was raising his boot almost a foot and stomping. I was not about to get in that.

Title: Re: Clutch slips from second to first
Post by Surviving Philadelphia on 07/14/22 at 14:43:42

So I took a look today before hitting the road -- there's definitely a slight bend to the rod, doesn't seem all that bad though. Time to replace?

Title: Re: Clutch slips from second to first
Post by ohiomoto on 07/14/22 at 17:58:54

The slight bend is making the linkage shorter than it was from the factory. So it might be out of adjustment.

You should replace it because it could bend more and eventually break as mine did.

In the meantime, you could adjust the rod by making it slightly longer. This might clean up your shifting issues. But that's not what I would do. I would leave it alone until the new rod shows up. Then I would bed it straight, measure the length between the ends and use that as a guide for installing the new rod.

Hopefully, that will solve your issue and you won't have to go digging around.

Title: Re: Clutch slips from second to first
Post by ohiomoto on 07/14/22 at 18:02:26

Oh yeah, Check out Drag Bike Mike's threads. Somewhere in there, he covers how to make sure the nuts linkage is set up properly.

For example, there is a punch mark on the end of the shift shaft. The cut in the linkage has to be lined up with that dot. That will affect the geometry of the linkage.

Title: Re: Clutch slips from second to first
Post by badwolf on 07/14/22 at 19:32:43

Yes! Make sure the slot lines up with the dot! On ''most'' bikes the shifter is adjusted by moving the lever on the spline, NOT THIS ONE!
If the dot is not lined up with the slot the rod will hit the bottom of the engine case, (that could be why yours is bent) interfering with the shifting action.
Adjust the length of the rod to get the shifter in the ''right'' place for your foot.
Check to see if the rod hits the case, the paint will be marked-up.
That could be your whole issue.

Title: Re: Clutch slips from second to first
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/15/22 at 10:26:03

It's gonna flex, particularly on the down shifts. It's not gonna last.
Now, it's up to you to figure out how you bent it. Read what you have been told. Think about it

Title: Re: Clutch slips from second to first
Post by DragBikeMike on 07/16/22 at 16:08:40

The older bikes don't have the punch mark. My 2016 had it but the 1997 engine I have did not have a punch mark. I will try and post some pics.

Title: Re: Clutch slips from second to first
Post by DragBikeMike on 07/16/22 at 18:57:04

This is what the punch mark should look like. The slot in the lever should line up with the punch mark. If yours doesn't have a punch mark, try to orient the lever exactly as shown in this picture.

Title: Re: Clutch slips from second to first
Post by DragBikeMike on 07/16/22 at 19:00:46

You don't want it set up like this. It will cause the link rod to hit the underside of the alternator cover. That will prevent the shift linkage from rotating the shift drum on upshifts (1st to 2nd, 2nd to 3rd, 3rd to 4th, 4th to 5th). It will downshift OK, but upshifts will be messed up. The problem will be primarily confined to the 1st to 2nd shift due to the extra detent in the shift drum (neutral detent).

Title: Re: Clutch slips from second to first
Post by DragBikeMike on 07/16/22 at 19:02:29

When it's out of whack, the shift rod hits the alternator cover on the upshifts. Like this. Note that the rod is also bent.

Title: Re: Clutch slips from second to first
Post by DragBikeMike on 07/16/22 at 19:03:28

When things are correct, the rod remains well away from the alternator cover on the upshifts. Note that the rod is straight.

Title: Re: Clutch slips from second to first
Post by DragBikeMike on 07/16/22 at 19:06:59

Youa also must be concerned about clearance between the shifter lever and the footpeg/frame. It gets close on the upshifts. If the lever on the transmission shift shaft is out of phase, or the rod is too long, the shifter lever will hit the footpeg/frame before the shift is complete. Again, only on upshifts.

Title: Re: Clutch slips from second to first
Post by verslagen1 on 07/16/22 at 19:22:50

61676814161115250 wrote:

The older bikes don't have the punch mark. My 2016 had it but the 1997 engine I have did not have a punch mark. I will try and post some pics.

both my 88 and 96 did have the punch mark.

Title: Re: Clutch slips from second to first
Post by Surviving Philadelphia on 07/21/22 at 18:19:26

Whoa! Great pictures thank you a ton bro!

Just got the rod in the mail, I should have it on tomorrow after work after I change the oil.

I'll upload some pictures of the bend also.

Appreciated!

Justin good point about why it got that way, definitely a lot to consider here... I'll be keeping a spare in my backpack just in case.

Title: Re: Clutch slips from second to first
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/22/22 at 11:19:02

If you're having a problem dropping into first from neutral, and it will do that if you sit in neutral with with the clutch pulled in long enough for the transmission to stop spinning, if it does not want to drop in, just let the clutch out enough to make contact and spin the gears, pull it back and gently press down, it's gonna say
Riiikk, and you will be in gear. That operation takes a second once you get it. Best is to Not sit in neutral with the clutch pulled in.

Title: Re: Clutch slips from second to first
Post by Surviving Philadelphia on 08/04/22 at 06:18:21

So.

Turns out I'm dumb as hell.

The Rod is not bent -- I think at this point the shifting issue has been poor shifting on my part.

BUT - the previous owner put higher risers and handlebars on the bike -- the clutch cable is routed between the triple tree and the tank, (I'm guessing they did this cause of clearance on the new risers/bars). I think because of this the cable is not adjusted properly -- also when resting on the stand, the cable is being pinched between the tank and the tree -- the rubber on the cable is worn down so much that the wire is exposed/eaten away at.

I think replacing the cable is one option, but i've been thinking about upgrading to either Murray's or Vers's Carb kit -- and I think they include a new cable with the kit. Is this line generic and could it be replaced with something longer?

Edit: Got my cables mixed up -- anyone know where I can get a longer clutch cable?

Thanks