2006 K9 Trans/Clutch Issue (Or Barkly takes a crap)

[JaiLeR]

Hello all,

Well something took a crap last night on the way home. After two weeks of being home with our new son, my sweetheart wanted to go for a quick spin to see if she was up to riding on her own again. We rode about 5 miles to get an ice cream and stopped off to see some old friends. On the way back to the barn we go through a 50mph and then a 60mph zone that starts at the bottom of a hill. About half way up I am in 6th gear doing roughly 65pmh and then all of the sudden we lost forward thrust and the clutch lever goes slack. I figured “aw $#(* the clutch just took a dump like I have seen with some of the guys on Big Dog Biker” I get it safely over to the shoulder and try all of the gears and all are a no go. There is, and never was any notable noise, bangs, pops, coughs, or sputters.

I opened the primary this morning and although there are bits of sealant, there are no metal shavings or chunks, and the bearing carrier does not look broken. “Note it is still bolted onto the input on the trans.” There is a hell of a lot of play in the carrier when I move it, and the clutch has no pressure at all. I checked to make sure that when I put pressure on the end of the push rod that the lever then has resistance, and it does. Anyone seen this?

 

[JaiLeR]

Side note (Read – Bitch): last night was Thunder Thursday out at state line and the first really nice day we have had here, so there were lots of bikes out. Of the 25 or so wanna’ be bikers that drove by, 3 stopped to see if I needed help! I could hear the others slow down as they saw the bike and then drive on. There were even a few cagers who stopped to see if they could help, but what got under my skin was the guys on bikes. Hell there was even a guy with an empty four position snowmobile trailer that drove by! I hope someone puts a boot to me if I ever think of passing up someone who needs help. The insurance guy got a tow truck out after about 2 hours, but they did take care of it.

 

[Fibersnake]

Jailer,

Does not sound good, and hopefully it something minor that takes a quick easy fix. I am sure more folks that are familar with clutch and tranny problems will pipe on here soon and possible be of some good use.

I did notice one thing in your post though, you mentioned that you were in 6th gear at 60-65MPH. Not sure of your particular situation, but on mine that is too low to be in 6th. It barely put it at 2000 Rpm and any slow down has my tach lights flashing between 1500 and 2000.

Our bikes do not like to see below 2000 RPM or being lugged. For my particular situation, seldome will I pop into 6th until I am running 70-75 or more. Like to keep my RPM between 2500 and 3000.

Just be careful on possibly lugging it. Hope you get an easy fix and up and riding again real soon.

Love the Tele by the way.

 

[JaiLeR]

Sul, no I had them tow it to the house last night and threw it up on the lift this morning. I have to go get the sockets to pull the rest of the primary out. I hope that it is something simple and not the trans.

Fibersnake, thanks for the advice. I would hope that the bike could take more than pulling up a hill without breaking. It’s not like I ride it hard. I’ve never even tried to spin that big fat tire!

I'll let you know more when I find out more.

 

[05chop]

Let me add to the mix.I had a clutch hub nut back off from no lock tite. But i still had power to the tire and whole lot of free travel in the lever. Makes me think sul is right.

 

[Fibersnake]

JaiLeR,

Agree that the low RPM should have nothing to do with the problems, indicated, just saw passing on to be careful about lugging it, more for the wear and tear on engine more than anything else. Open you get it up and running soon.

 

[bdmridgeback]

If you can grap ahold of the clutch/drive gear assembly and wiggle it around, the carrier or output shaft is broke. If you can put it in gear and not roll the bike at all then it is probably the carrier. I would think that if the output shaft was broke, you could put it in gear and still roll the bike.

If the carrier broke and it did in a fashion where it didn't make a bunch of racket, then you would still be able to ride the bike. I rode mine about 1000 miles after mine broke. I only found out it was broke because the bike was pulling at stops.

 

[JaiLeR]

:bang: Well I have it all the way down to the inner primary and can still spin the input shaft with it in gear. Looks like a trany issue. :bang:

 

[Mickeetwo]

Man that sucks sure sounds like a main shaft. How many miles do you have on the bike and what is the biuld date.

 

[narow37]

that sucks Jailer, seems like we are hearing about this tranny problem too much

 

[Vegas]

Ouch.....

 

[N8KAM]

Sounds like it's time to call the puppy farm... Sorry to here of your trouble..

 

[Gas Man]

Sounds like it's time to call the puppy farm... Sorry to here of your trouble..

agreed

so with it in gear you can spin the input shaft with no output shaft movement?

 

[Fibersnake]

JaiLeR,

Damn sorry to hear that. It does not sound good, but hopefully the farm will get you taken care of. Is it still under the pet protection program???

If this ends up being another tranny, does anyone know right off hand if these are spread over a few years or just one or two.

I will go and search so that I do not appear to be a noobie!

 

[Fibersnake]

Ah,

I see it was some 05, a few more 06, one or 2 04 and even it appears to be a 07 out there. Guess it is not year specific. Sucks for sure!

 

[KnotSo]

Man, that sucks, I feel like riding over and taking a look see.

You have a good dealer over there that can prolly get you going in short order. Warranty still in effect?

 

[JaiLeR]

Well I have it all the way down the trans now and it is inside there where the problem lies. The bike has about 6.5k in miles and the warrantee expired in April of this year. I plan on pulling the trans the rest of the way out and heading out to the dealer to see what they have to say first. I am hoping that the farm will cover the unit as this seems to be a fairly common issue. Thanks to everyone for the input and feedback. I will let you all know what I find out. At least it did not lock-up when it gave out!

KnotSo - if you are over this way give me a shout.

 

[JaiLeR]

Well the trans is in the wrenches hands now. He states that he has seen a few of these and believes that they are sonic fractures. Hmm?? I wonder if he is referring to the Tesla theory of a resonant sonic frequency that causes a material failure?? He also states that they typically stand by these failures even if it is just the parts. I hope to hear something tomorrow after they talk with the farm.

 

[JaiLeR]

Good News. The farm is going to fix or replace the trans and all I have to cover is the shipping from the dealer!

 

[N8KAM]

Good to hear.:2thumbs: Keep us up to date.