Clutch lever went slack

[narow37]

if you are saying that you are giving it gas and it feels like it doesnt want to really pull you forward then I would say that the clutch isnt adjusted right on (read: slipping clutch). if you haven't followed the clutch adjustment "how-to" here it is.
http://www.bigdogbiker.com/forums/how/2025-how-adjust-your-clutch.html

 

[what?]

yeah i did this. felt more like it was bogging down....like it was starved of fuel or something.
the clutch adjustment seems temperamental from some of the other posts i read.
I'll have to mess with it a bit i guess. should it be very easy to get into neutral or is this something that becomes easier as the bike breaks in. it only has 1500 miles on it.

 

[Raywood]

yeah i did this. felt more like it was bogging down....like it was starved of fuel or something.
the clutch adjustment seems temperamental from some of the other posts i read.
I'll have to mess with it a bit i guess. should it be very easy to get into neutral or is this something that becomes easier as the bike breaks in. it only has 1500 miles on it.

Sounds like it's too rich at the transition point. You need to pull the jets and let us know what they put in it. If the pipes were ordered from BD they would have come with a 31/76 combo. Easy to change and carb is easy to adjust but we need to know what you have in it right now and where your located (elevation). And what other mods you have ie. aircleaner, motor and such.

 

[what?]

I hear what your'e saying.
But why would this happen all of a sudden. Prior to the hub nut issue I didn't have any problems with it bogging like that.

I'm not sure how to do that (pulling the jets that is). I'm still learning this bike.
The service record did say that the bike had a jet kit installed previously, so i do not think it is stock.
Bike was brought in due to back-firing during deccelaration. The shop fix was to adjust the jetting, pipes had the baffles cored out and an intake seal installed. This was way back in 08.

 

[what?]

Oh...........and I'm at sea level. same elevation as the guy I brought it from. so i dont think thin air is an issue.

 

[narow37]

remove the air cleaner and backing plate(if original air cleaner), this gives access to the carb. turn off the gas at the petcock. there is a bolt on the bottom of the bowl to drain the gas before you remove the bowl. next, there are 4 screws that hold the bowl on the bottom of the carb. now you have access to the jets. the "main" jet is just above the where the drain plug is on the bowl. the intermediate jet is offset from the main. the jets will have numbers stamped on them. those are the numbers we need.

 

[what?]

I'm tentative about doing this.
I did not have this problem before the clutch adjustment.
I do not want to create another problem if I don't have to.

Would the clutch adjustment do this? I took the bike out today and I got to the gas station, topped it off with fuel when the bike bogged down.
It seemed as if the bike had low battery charge then all of a sudden it started right up. I got it home and looked it over and everything seemed OK. Took it out again and got a little further this time when the bike bogged and cut off again. The oil pressure light was red. checked the oil and it was full.........sat for a few and started off again. went for about a mile and guess what happened. I repeated this a couple times until i got the bike home. i'm not sure if checking the dipstick was relieving pressure or not.
It does not seem to be the jetting as I got on it a few times this morning and got through a few gears with no problems, no lack of response and no bogging or backfiring.
Man i'm getting frustrated. I haven't even had the bike two weeks and it's giving me problems.

 

[narow37]

sounds like the gas cap isn't venting. look for a white cap on the underside of the gas cap. if it is there take it off, if not take the gas cap apart and clean it. if this is the problem, basically the gas tank is working under a vacuum and not letting fuel flow to the carb.

 

[what?]

man o man.
this bike is getting my blood pressure up.:angry:

i checked the gas cap and it seemed ok.
when i was messing with it I noticed the tank seemed low. inserted a dowel and it was very low.

drained the tank and in doing so noticed a small rubber hose connecting the right side of the tank to the left side where the petcock is.
is it possibly for this to become blocked and prevent gas from going to the adjacent side or is the tank connected elsewhere also.
anyway drained all the gas and had plenty of flow through the reserve and the main. no obstruction to the carb either. topped it off and took it for a twenty minute ride with no issues.
now what?

thanks

 

[narow37]

if the problem comes back, you may have some debris on the petcock screen(filter). remove petcock and check for obstructions. heres to hoping that you got it fixed whatever it was.

 

[what?]

yeah. i gotta take it easy and pinpoint the problem. when i do i'll be sure to post

thanks bro.

today was a beatiful day here. mid 80's. at least i got out for a bit. sittin back having a few now.