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northmedic

Expert Class
Posts: 384

posted August 03, 2007 02:36 PM

Edited By: northmedic on 3 Aug 2007 17:02

Clutch woes (help) (edited)

So this issue started about 2 weeks ago - I would put my my bike into gear and could not push it anywhere while the clutch was engaged with the lever pulled in . I have used the bike drag racing on an eighth mile course. I started hearing a chatter and a vibration for a few seconds (as if the plates were rattling) in first gear. I was going to pull the clutch apart, but decided on an oil change first. The oil had about 2200kms and I used Spectra Gold 10W40 and a Wix filter. Dumped the oil and it was slightly darker brown than when new, but no foreign material was present, even after it was strained. Added the new oil (same brands) and filter, started the engine to check for leaks, and heard the chatter right away for about 2 seconds and then it was gone. So now the clutch is operating as normal, no chatter, no vibrations. Any ideas as to what causes this? I also have Bill at Cycle Paints looking into it. Any feedback is, of course, greatly appreciated.

dubious

Needs a life
Needs more time to ride!
Posts: 8442

posted August 03, 2007 09:28 PM

Every bike I have owned would have the plates stick, and drag after a while. Generally worse when the oil is cold.
There are several reasons for this, the plates warp, or the basket gets grooves, and the plates hang up.

Mine drags quite a bit when the engine is cold, clutch pulled in and in gear.
Once you break it free and the tire rolls a couple inches it should roll almost like neutral.
I wouldn't worry about it.

LOL some of my dirt bikes would drag the tire in the dirt for a few feet before the plates would free up... especially the CR500AF running 210 psi compression ( 13.5:1 with decompression grooves machined out of the jug)