T-Mack1

Just reread your post.....can you help me to understand the grabbing that you talked about.

Also will let you know how it feels tomorrow when I ride.

By grabbing I mean that even though you have the lever pulled in, there is still a little bit of pressure on the clutch plates and the bike sort of wants to move.  

Now, I've seen people adjust their clutch so that it engages/grips/grabs (choose a word) close to the handle bar grips.  They do this because it is easier to hold for people with small hands.  Problem is some people go too far.

I have a simple test for grabbing but it requires you be able to balance an extremely slow moving bike (like the "go slow" races at bike meets).  Not always easy for a new rider so I'm not going to post here.  I don't want people tipping over and scratching their shiny bikes.

Hey guys,

Sorry I havent had time to get back sooner....but I rode my bike and it seemed ok except it seemed longer before it engaged,since the guy let it out all the way, so I tried to adjust it back in some.I read that when you do you need the notches(?) to line up and I couldnt get it to do that,so I left it alone for now.
Gosh this is so hard to describe when you are new and dont know the right words

But I should have had someone with me when I did it.Maybe I can get someone to come over and check it.
But I thought the little wheel thing and adjuster was suppose to turn seperately....they didnt.So I used a little WD-40 plus on the cable at lever. This helped some but not much on the adjuster.
Oh well,I'll just have to get someone to show me.

I'm glad I got to ride again and won't ride it alot until I check this.

But thank ya'll for all the info. It is helping me alot!

And I'm not quite as worried about things when I feel like I know more/understand and can learn to do some things myself.

But someone here said When you get it serviced the clutch can get a little tighter....why is this? Do they adjust the clutch? Questioning this because I'm Just trying to learn.

Hey Free,

The notches only have to line up if you are removing the cable.

If you're adjusting, they go where ever they want to.

I suppose what he meant was when they adjust the clutch cable they make it as short as possible so it seems tighter, but actualy it just grabing the clutch at a different spot when you pull the lever.  

FreeSpirit,
  Talked to several people and they reminded me they teach the legs down walk forward at the safety courses.  
 So,   to test "grabbing" which could also be called "not totally separated clutch plates",  go to a flat empty parking lot.  With engine running, and clutch lever pulled in, push off and coast a bit.  The bike should roll to a stop in just a couple of parking spaces.   If the bike rolls more than it seems it should (5, 10, 15 parking spaces) or if it keeps rolling, then turn around and try test again in opposite direction, just in case you where going down hill.   If the bike still rolls too much, the clutch is not fully separating and you are getting some grabbing.

Easy fix,  just adjust the little do-dad at the lever so that clutch engages/disengages a little further out.

Can you see me scratching my head trying to remember if it needs to turn in or out.  It's turn it in.

Ok, one more question.......

Is it better to have the clutch adjusted more out or more in(in to me being tighter).

Or is it better to have it kinda in the middle?

I'm laughing at myself.Because I'm half asleep from working night shift and I'm not sure if this even makes sense

I'm just trying to learn......but maybe I should get some sleep first and post later.

But I think this is basically what I want to know. If there is a answer to this question.

T-Mack1

Ok,perfect answer, I got it now!

Thanks

I think one reason I also got concerned was because I remember I burned my clutch out in my first Car with manual transmission. I think I was riding the clutch though,so mechanic said!....I was really young/16yo

I dont want to hurt my Motorcycle,so I want to learn as much as possible