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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Potential problem? (Clutch)
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Message started by PerrydaSavage on 08/26/08 at 11:43:13

Title: Potential problem? (Clutch)
Post by PerrydaSavage on 08/26/08 at 11:43:13

For the past few weeks, I have been noticing my clutch exhibit periodic strange behavior … awhile back, I had trouble engaging neutral prior to a start after Bike had been laid up for a week without being started … the Bike had been parked in 1st gear and usually, pulling in the clutch lever and a gentle tug up from 1st will engage neural (most every time) … this time the gear lever wouldn’t budge and even pushing/pulling the Bike wouldn’t free it. I then kept clutch lever pulled in and started the Bike while it was still in 1st … this produced a bit of a “thrashing” sound, but the Bike quickly settled into its normal idling cadence. Never gave it no more mind, as the Bike ran & shifted fine. However, within a few days I have noticed, that as I am approaching my driveway from the street (which has a slight upward slope and usually contains my wife’s car around which I have to navigate) and pull in clutch as I brake and downshift to 1st, feathering clutch to maintain forward momentum sometimes produces an audible “klack”, which disappears as soon as clutch fully engages and I give it some gas or if I completely disengage clutch by quickly pulling in lever. This also sometimes happens during similar slow-speed maneuvers … Bike seems fine otherwise and clutch is showning approx. 3.0mm of "slack" at lever pivot per Clymer recommendations …
Wonder if some of our resident “Wrenchers” might be able to shed some light on this … might I be headed for a potential problem ... don't recall my previous '03 Savage exhibiting this behavior?

2005 stock S40, bought used with 980kms (608mi) on the clock, now 2200kms (1370mi) … oil & filter changed at 1600kms (994mi). Oil Level OK, Riding Style = easy

Title: Re: Potential problem? (Clutch)
Post by serowbot on 08/26/08 at 12:20:37

Other than the fact that you noticed it as different, and you're not new to the Savage, I'd say the symptoms sound fairly normal and are of no concern. Bike transmissions don't like to be shifted when not in motion, and clunking into first is normal. Shifting without the engine running is always difficult.
And your bike is awfully new to have such a problem. Could you just be noticing something that you hadn't noticed before?

One trick, is to release the clutch lever completely and pull it in again, it will usually slip right into gear then.
Hope that helps...

Title: Re: Potential problem? (Clutch)
Post by Moofed on 08/26/08 at 12:46:34

Doesn't sound too normal to me. Rolling the bike to get from first to neutral shouldn't need extra lever pressure once the gears align loosely. And I've never heard a klacking sound while slipping the clutch.

I have no real advice to give, but if it were me I would be inclined to take a peek inside.

Title: Re: Potential problem? (Clutch)
Post by T Mack 1 on 08/26/08 at 13:29:03

5674747D7E7F1B0 wrote:

"Peek inside" :o :o :o.... to look at the tranny means splitting the case.... means full overhaul... :P

Perry, by gear lever .... do you mean the foot gear shift lever? Was it parked on an incline???? I'm wondering if it wasn't fully in 1st....

One possiblity ... The klack may be due to the newer clutch,... that doesn't slip as much or has more clutch material so it isn't "opened" as much as an older clutch. So the meshing of going into first might be more noticeable ..... What speed are you going when you try to pop into first???

Title: Re: Potential problem? (Clutch)
Post by verslagen1 on 08/26/08 at 14:08:56

What oil are you using?

I definitely notice a diference between 40 and 50 wt.
You have a low mile bike, so shouldn't be any major (cam chain) issues.

But, if this continues, I would certainly concider taking off the covers and going fishing for loose bits in the oil sump. (take a measurement of the plunger while you're there, we all want to know what the plunger measures on a low mile bike)

Title: Re: Potential problem? (Clutch)
Post by PerrydaSavage on 08/27/08 at 03:33:28

Thanx for the replies folks ... am going to continue to run it like it is for the time being and make note of any changes in how the Bike runs/behaves/performs ... hoping not to have to go into the engine case as the Bike is such a low-milage machine ... if it comes to that however, I'll be having an m/c mechanic friend of mine have a look at it next spring.
As I mentioned before, my '05 S40 was purchased used from a lady who hadn't ridden it in over a year ... I don't think the Bike was properly stored, just put away ... when I pcked it up with 980km (608mi) on the clock, it still had the original oil in it ... I immediately Rode the thing 550km (340mi) on the highway to home (without a hitch I might add), where the next day I did an oil/filter change right away ...