KAK
Parking Attendant
Posts: 4
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posted November 13, 2012 02:47 PM
 Edited By: KAK on 13 Nov 2012 22:50
"Play" at clutch lever changes.
Hello. Tried a search but no luck. Hope you can help me out.
I have an '07 14, owned it since new. I'm easy on the clutch, no hard launches/racing but I like to roll it on up to 120 or so now and then. I keep fresh oil in the bike always. Never saw anything in the oil at change time.
I've tried changing the fluid and basic bleeding and I also replaced the clutch springs with Brock's (as suggested) but no effect on the problem. The problem started showing itself at about 3K. I now have 11K and it seems to happen more often now. I've been able to live with it but it's getting annoying.
When you first get on the bike the clutch lever feels normal, meaning there's little play or slack when you begin to squeeze the lever. You can feel obvious pressure immediately as you disengage the clutch. If I just cruise through the gears shifting at low rpm's, say 3 or 4K, the lever play is usually minimal. But more often than not, if I accelerate and shift at higher rpm's, say 5K and up, there is suddenly extra play at the lever. Instead of little play, I now have about 1" of play before feeling obvious pressure/resistance. I can then ride another 5 seconds to a minute before the play dissappears/returns to normal. I don't touch the lever or shift or anything, the lever just seems to build up to normal pressure by itself. The harder the acceleration, the more obvious the problem. I always have enough lever to shift smoothly as it should but the change in lever play really throws off my hand/foot timing because the clutch begins engagement and disengagement at different points of lever travel.
I really want to fix this myself. I have a little knowledge of clutch operation but I can't begin to figure this out. It's like a part is sticking or releasing slow to allow complete engagement. That's what I THINK. If the clutch hasn't fully engaged yet, then you would feel extra play in the lever at that moment, correct? I can't understand how it can come and go. Could it still be fiber or steel plate related or would worn plates give you a problem like this 100% of the time? I don't notice any slipping or dragging. Maybe the push rod or piston in the slave? When the lever has this extra play, I squeeze it in that 1" and release it and it returns quickly to the stop, like a spring loaded feel it should have. I see nothing wrong with the MC operation. The MC plunger pushes in smoothly and pops out quickly without any drag or stiffness.
I've read some posts from smokinZX14 and others and I hope you guys can help. Sorry about long post but I'm trying to describe this thing best I can.
  
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zixxer14
Pro
Damn that was Quick
Posts: 1233
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posted November 13, 2012 08:34 PM
I would suggest you rebleed the system with a mity vac brake bleeder as it sounds like air is moving around in your lines or cylinders.
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KAK
Parking Attendant
Posts: 4
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posted November 17, 2012 12:48 PM
Thanks for the reply. I did use a Mityvac but no air came out.
Wow. 200 views and only 1 reply. Maybe too much to read or a hell of a puzzler?
Shift through one or more gears and suddenly there's an inch of play at the lever. Harder acceleration seems to worsen the problem. Ride a few moments and without touching anything, the slack goes away and you have full lever again.
Seems like during reengagement something is slow to return or not seating immediately and until it does you'll have that slack at the lever. That even make sense? Can one or more fibers or steels be damaged and not allow the pack to seat immediately during reengagement? If a plate problem, could it cause an intermittent problem like I have? The problem comes and goes. Could the push rod at the slave somehow stick temporarily?
Hate to take the bike to the dealer. Thanks for any help.
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biggmoinc
Zone Head
Posts: 747
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posted November 17, 2012 01:31 PM
Maybe need a new hydraulic clutch line, maybe its collapsing and not allowing fluid to move as it should but returns to normal after a longer period of inactivity
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07 ZX14 bmc filter, muzzy m14, 16/44,66",auto shift, 6'3, 204lbs/1.54/3.99/6.03@120/7.8/9.32@147
biggmo@aol.com
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kawa74
Expert Class
Posts: 226
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posted November 17, 2012 01:52 PM
You need to pull Clutch apart,
Pull cover and watch Clutch when you pull lever, get a Helper, work it and see what it does.
Check for correct installation and Order of Fibers, steels
Check Pressure Plate Splines and fitment onto Hub Splines
Check Pressure plate springs for breakage and wear into Plate holes,
Check for Broken Fibers , damaged Ears binding on outer Basket
Check for warpped steel floaters, to check place on a pane of glass or mirror
Check splines of Steels for damage or Sticking , they Must Float when Clutch disengaged
Check inter Hub for damage
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"I have never met a man so Ignorant that I coun't Learn from him"..."Galileo"
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Shane661
Needs a life
Posts: 11494
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posted November 17, 2012 02:34 PM
Edited By: Shane661 on 17 Nov 2012 22:35
Check the clutch slave and pusher rod as well. What you are describing sounds hydraulic in nature to me, not mechanical. I have had a similar experience and it was related to the slave. You can check the slave without removing the rest of the clutch.
Shane
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Quarter Pounder
Pro
with Cheese
Posts: 1069
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posted November 18, 2012 08:56 AM
make sure you crack the banjo bolt near the master cylinder...can't tell you the number of times I've found a bubble hanging out right there trapped.
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SWB 2008 ZX-14
9.19 @ 151
5.98 @ 123
1.53 60'
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KAK
Parking Attendant
Posts: 4
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posted November 18, 2012 09:22 AM
I appreciate the help. I might not have a trained eye to see unacceptable wear on certain parts but I'll check things best I can.
Shane661, you said you had a similar experience that was related to the slave. What did you do to fix your problem?
Wish I understood clutch operation better. I think the problem begins during reengagement. It doesn't always do it. But when it does the lever has that extra slack. I don't know why harder acceleration would worsen the problem. Temporarily, something isn't returning or seating completely? It seems once things "settle" the lever is good again. Sometimes I get a full lever again after just a few seconds and other times it takes maybe a minute.
Am I on the right track? If something was wrong with clutch reengagement such as a sticking/slow to return part, would you feel it at the lever?
I notice no other problems. No obvious slipping or dragging issues. Shifting seems normal. Just the extra slack appearing and dissappearing. Thanks for taking the time.
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