SuzukiSavage.com - Where does your clutch engage?

kevinphan

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Where does your clutch engage?
08/09/10 at 01:23:38

Seems like mine grabs real early, if you release it maybe a half an inch it'll start to grab and go. Also wondering how firm is the lever feel? Should feel somewhat hard to pull in or easy?

Engine also makes a super funky spinning noise, kinda like something is spinning faster than it should in the higher RPM range, can't figure it out.

2007 S40
12,500mi
Pods, baffled "open" pipe, 160, 55 w/bleed holes.
Forget how many turns out as well. Bike dies under hard braking if I don't give it some throttle.

Any help would be great help, thanks!

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ralfyguy Serious Thumper Offline Posts: 932	Re: Where does your clutch engage? Reply #1 - 08/09/10 at 04:40:27 What do you mean with spinning faster? Is it like a whining noise? When driving or when revving standing still? My clutch goes as easy as I can pull it in with two fingers.
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Routy

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Re: Where does your clutch engage?
Reply #2 - 08/09/10 at 04:45:07

I don't know this carb very well, only what I read.
But has this carb been hacked, more than slightly modded ?
Seems like a huge main jet,......why ?
And could the float level be too high.....to cause flooding while braking ?
If my stock '07 runs a 148 main, (don't know that for sure) I can't figure any modded exhaust needing a larger than 152. But the carb experts here will tell you as soon as they wake up Shocked

My clutch at 5k miles engages quite quickly. You can give it any more amount of freeplay as long as it still releases good.
And if its not slipping under full power, then its not too easy. Mine is just what I would call normal.........comfortable to pull.

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Rich
'07 S40 Blvd stocker, except drilled OEM exhaust and white spacer mod...1/2 (.055)

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kevinphan

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Re: Where does your clutch engage?
Reply #3 - 08/09/10 at 04:53:45

Open exhaust, and pod asked Lancer about it and he told me a 155 should be good but I didn't have one and only had a 160.

It's sorta like a whining noise, it's an odd sound to try define. Under load and in neutral it'll make the same noise.

I'm gonna tinker with the clutch engagement point later on, my lever pull feel is on the stiffer side.

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Charon

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Re: Where does your clutch engage?
Reply #4 - 08/09/10 at 05:45:13

You might want to be sure the clutch cable is lubricated. Whatever oil you use in the engine will work nicely. And check the clutch lever pivot, too. While you are oiling the clutch cable, remember there is a throttle cable and a rear brake cable.

To get an idea whether your clutch is "hard" or "easy" to pull, pay a visit to a local dealership and squeeze a bunch of clutches. That may give you an idea of the range of clutch pulls, though you won't really be able to test engagement points.

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Eschew obfuscation.

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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Where does your clutch engage? Reply #5 - 08/09/10 at 06:09:57 Look at the lines on the clutch cover & see how the clutch throwout is adjusted to hit the rod in the clutch pack. You should be able to move the clutch lever at least 1/8th inch just with the tip of your nose, IOW, need some slack in the cable.
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thumperclone Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline PGR rider riding with respect Posts: 6057 Grand Junction Colorado Gender:	Re: Where does your clutch engage? Reply #6 - 08/09/10 at 06:47:54 3mm slack @ lever
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T Mack 1 - FSO

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Re: Where does your clutch engage?
Reply #7 - 08/09/10 at 06:56:20

When first pulling out, the clutch should start to grab at about 3/4 inch to 1 inch off the hand grip.

Since the bike has a clutch setup for ease of use (light pressure), it has a fairly long travel. Any farther out and you risk slipping in high gear.

For the 2009 Spet 20th PA ride, Photo Joe had shown up and said the clutch was slipping in top gear (4th on his '87). The grab point was at about 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 out from the grip. We brought it back in to about an inch and slipping was gone.

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ralfyguy Serious Thumper Offline Posts: 932	Re: Where does your clutch engage? Reply #8 - 08/09/10 at 07:01:48 thumperclone wrote on 08/09/10 at 06:47:54: 3mm slack @ lever At the pivot point, where the cable adjuster is located, not the end of the lever on the outside. The end should then have about 10-15mm or about 1/2" play.
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PerrydaSavage Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Riding "The Rock"! Posts: 3522 Republic of Newfoundland Gender:	Re: Where does your clutch engage? Reply #9 - 08/09/10 at 07:31:37 The clutches on both of the LS650's I have owned were adjusted so that I could fit a nickle coin between the cable end of the clutch lever and it's pivot housing (approx 3.0mm) with the lever released ... find that this works perfectly!
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Where does your clutch engage? Reply #10 - 08/09/10 at 23:55:42 Perry, will you send me a nickel?
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Wake51 Full Member Offline Murphy's Law Posts: 214 St. Louis Gender:	Re: Where does your clutch engage? Reply #11 - 08/10/10 at 03:32:31 As a new guy... when the bike starts rolling.
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verslagen1

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Re: Where does your clutch engage?
Reply #12 - 08/10/10 at 22:31:42

Quote:

Seems like mine grabs real early, if you release it maybe a half an inch it'll start to grab and go.

And does it have about 1/8" freeplay at the lever? also check with the bars turned either way. This might be an indication that you need to change the clutch rod, so check the marks on the case to make sure you're between them.

Quote:

Also wondering how firm is the lever feel? Should feel somewhat hard to pull in or easy?

shouldn't be sticky, add oil using OF's baggy trick if you don't want to buy the cable lube thingy.

Quote:

Engine also makes a super funky spinning noise, kinda like something is spinning faster than it should in the higher RPM range, can't figure it out.

Also could be an indication of needing a new clutch rod. don't let this go on for too long, can burn out your clutch.

Quote:

Bike dies under hard braking if I don't give it some throttle.

Turn up the idle speed a little. All savages rpm drop when chopping the throttle if the idle speed is too low. it may be combined with float surge as you noted hard braking.

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kevinphan

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Re: Where does your clutch engage?
Reply #13 - 08/11/10 at 04:34:31

verslagen1 wrote on 08/10/10 at 22:31:42: