SuzukiSavage.com - Clutch adjustment and shifting gears

SavageRider

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Clutch adjustment and shifting gears
02/18/05 at 15:59:40

As a newbie to this forum, I first did a search for past posts on Clutches. I didn't see anything that answered my questions, about shifting into first Gear, as well as between gears.
When I engage the clutch lever and shift the bike into first gear it kind of grind/clunks and when I shift between gears it also sounds like it grinds a little (don't like that description but not sure what else to call it). The clutch doesn't seem to slip nor does it creep with the clutch engaged. I have the 3MM space required at the handle to lever.
I guess the question is, is this normal for this bike or do I have a problem. It has 4,000 k on the Odometer and it's a 2001.

Any insight would be welcomed.

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sluggo

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Re: Clutch adjustment and shifting gears
Reply #1 - 02/18/05 at 16:46:26

what you desribe sounds pretty normal . it's more a feeling in the foot than acutually hearing it.

as you become more experienced you will find that you will not need the cluth to upshift.

with alot of experiece you will be able to downshift without cluth.

and one day you will need to shift into first without clutch at all. learn how to do it. it's a wild one but can be done. broke clutch cable situtation. :'(

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SINGLES RULE, HARLEYS DROOL

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diesel Full Member 2004 No Login Offline Posts: 181 Watsontown, PA	Re: Clutch adjustment and shifting gears Reply #2 - 02/18/05 at 22:30:54 SavageRider: you have terms"clutch engaged" and"cluteh disengaged" backwards. disengage clutch to shift-engage clutch to move.
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Savage_Greg

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Re: Clutch adjustment and shifting gears
Reply #3 - 02/19/05 at 07:27:24

SavageRider wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:02:

As a newbie to this forum, I first did a search for past posts on Clutches. I didn't see anything that answered my questions, about shifting into first Gear, as well as between gears.
When I engage the clutch lever and shift the bike into first gear it kind of grind/clunks and when I shift between gears it also sounds like it grinds a little (don't like that description but not sure what else to call it). The clutch doesn't seem to slip nor does it creep with the clutch engaged. I have the 3MM space required at the handle to lever.
I guess the question is, is this normal for this bike or do I have a problem. It has 4,000 k on the Odometer and it's a 2001.

Any insight would be welcomed.

With all that grinding and crunching, it almost sounds like Sluggo has been driving your bike Shocked

(just kidding, cause I've had a broken clutch cable too)

Anyway, how about oil? Someone didn't dump some 90W gear lube in there did they? Besides that when it is cold there might be a little bit of clunkiness going into 1st, but normally that clears up when it is warm.

Maybe try changing the oil (if this is a used bike for sure).

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SavageRider

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Re: Clutch adjustment and shifting gears
Reply #4 - 02/19/05 at 07:48:22

Thanks again for the replies. I see now that I swapped the terms engage and disengage when referring to the clutch ???. Just after buying this motorcycle, I went to the dealer and bought oil, oil and air filters and replaced all.
It seems from Sluggo's post, that what I'm experiencing is normal. I last rode over 30 years ago and it's like starting over on some of things. Undecided

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bobo383

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Re: Clutch adjustment and shifting gears
Reply #5 - 02/19/05 at 07:52:48

Always had a rough thump going into first, cold, with a manual clutch machine - mostly ATVs and dirt bikes but a little with the Sav.

I read on a dirt bike forum it has to do with the wet clutch partialy "drying out" when the bike sits not running, causing the clutch to be slightly engaged (or at least very stiff) at first startup, even when the lever is pulled.

Don't know if I believe it or not, but it's the best theory I've heard so far.

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slavy

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Re: Clutch adjustment and shifting gears
Reply #6 - 02/19/05 at 08:09:41

It is hard to give an answer just by somebody's description ???, but the way it sounds there might be couple of reasons:
1.High idle- should be 1000-1200 RPM
2.Thick oil- should be 10W-40 or 20W50 , depending on the temp.
3.Improper clutch adjustment- there should be a little free play and when You squeeze the lever in gear You should not feel the bike trying to creep forward /the bike should idle at the same RPM in "N" and in 1st with the clutch pulled in/
4.And here- 2 more rare possibilities:
a.warped clutch plates-if somebody before You severrly burned the clutch
b. grooves dug in the Al clutch basket , by the clutch plates /in high milage bikes ot if 370 lbs Farmer John was learning how to ride on this bike/

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Savage_Greg

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Re: Clutch adjustment and shifting gears
Reply #7 - 02/19/05 at 08:59:43

A bike would have to sit a long time for a wet clutch to really "dry out". I mean, granted the majority of the oil runs down into the crankcase as it sits, but I've never found my clutch to be "dry" by any means when I've opened it up. Always coated in oil even after the oil is drained first. There are grooves in the friction plates that retain oil too.

What might be the case, is that the oil is cold and therefore thicker, and it just takes a few miles down the road to get it up to operating temp when it allows the clutch plates to separate easily.

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bobo383 Serious Thumper 2004 No Login Offline Neck=Red Posts: 516 Arlington, TX Gender:	Re: Clutch adjustment and shifting gears Reply #8 - 02/19/05 at 09:15:48 That makes better sense than the dryout theory. I think I'll buy that explanation.
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sluggo Serious Thumper ModSquad Offline big singles lead, twins follow the pack Posts: 4744 moses lake washington Gender:	Re: Clutch adjustment and shifting gears Reply #9 - 02/19/05 at 10:26:07 Savage_Greg wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:02: With all that grinding and crunching, it almost sounds like Sluggo has been driving your bike [glow=red,2,300]HEY, I RESEMBLE THAT REMARK. [/glow]
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bentwheel Serious Thumper 2005 No Login Offline Ride free, citizen Posts: 658 Sarnia, Ontario, Canada Gender:	Re: Clutch adjustment and shifting gears Reply #10 - 02/19/05 at 13:22:11 If you hear a clunk when you put the bike in gear, try this, I bet it works. Pull in the clutch and hold it for five to ten seconds before putting it in gear. 8)
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Savage_Greg Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Don't go around your ass to reach your elbow... Posts: 7844 SW Washington State Gender:	Re: Clutch adjustment and shifting gears Reply #11 - 02/20/05 at 06:46:03 Yes, that'll give the plates time to separate and the driven clutch hub (Pressure plate? Basket?), time to stop rotating. After all, with the bike in nuetral, you have to realize that the transmission shaft is spinning (what is the name of that shaft? I don't have my book).....
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Savage_Greg Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Don't go around your ass to reach your elbow... Posts: 7844 SW Washington State Gender:	Re: Clutch adjustment and shifting gears Reply #12 - 02/20/05 at 06:46:41 sluggo wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:02: [glow=red,2,300]HEY, I RESEMBLE THAT REMARK. [/glow]
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bentwheel

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Re: Clutch adjustment and shifting gears
Reply #13 - 02/20/05 at 09:51:40

Savage_Greg wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:02:

After all, with the bike in nuetral, you have to realize that the transmission shaft is spinning (what is the name of that shaft? I don't have my book).....

Transmissions have two shafts, a main shaft and a counter shaft. The latter of course carries the sprocket/pulley.

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Savage_Greg Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Don't go around your ass to reach your elbow... Posts: 7844 SW Washington State Gender:	Re: Clutch adjustment and shifting gears Reply #14 - 02/21/05 at 04:57:17 Those are the ones.
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