Clutch

Energy One
G

Gareyh1968

Member
Ok had my clutch worked on picke the bike up and it ran great. Shifted great and everything. After about 80 miles it was like I had no clutch. I was at a red light and the bike was inching forward. I got on a bypass to head home so I wouldn’t have to use the clutch. When I exited and got to the stop sign the clutch felt normal. What could cause this? Before when I squeezed the clutch it was easy and would barely engage just before touching the handle. Then I ride 5 miles and it’s ok
 
S

Sven

Well-Known Member
Reached a high level of heat? So, did you shift a lot in heavy [creeping] traffic?
Notice you rode so no shifting and more cooled the clutch pack. You come to a stop and all is normal because no excess creep in traffic?

Clutch inching forward = Excess heat.
Normal at stop sign = A clutch does not self repair itself.

Until the OP's info changes, this is the [heat] scenario and the guess at it.
 
G

Gareyh1968

Member
Would the heat make it feel like it had no clutch when you squeeze the clutch handle? It felt like the cable was to loose is the best way I can explain it
 
Jersey Big Mike

Jersey Big Mike

100K mile club
Gareyh1968 said:
Would the heat make it feel like it had no clutch when you squeeze the clutch handle? It felt like the cable was to loose is the best way I can explain it
Click to expand...
Pull the inspection cover check for fluid level, if ok, I'd drain and pull the cover off and check the clutch hub nut.
Also check the routing of the clutch cable and see if its got any places its getting hung up.
 
S

Sven

Well-Known Member
Gareyh1968 said:
Would the heat make it feel like it had no clutch when you squeeze the clutch handle? It felt like the cable was to loose is the best way I can explain it
Click to expand...
Perfectly explained.

When racing, the lever play goes loose, so yes... heat related is the guess by using the empirical deduction.
Like I said, the clutch center bolt does not loosen up and retighten itself back up.

Mike, he took a ride to cool the engine off, then at the stop the clutch center bolt tightened up. Not trying to be a dick. Read the OP's description... what little is said. Now, ask yourself again if it's a loose center nut... just happened once.

See if you agree.
1. Plates grow out ~ still touch ~ pushes pressure plate out ~ rod floats away from p/p ~ lever play excessive.
2. Lever is pulled in ~ plates still [ever so] touch ~ rod is taken up ~ creep occurs ~ throw is all she wrote with expanded plates ~ rolling to that rear bumper.


Signed,
NOLTT
 
Jersey Big Mike

Jersey Big Mike

100K mile club
Sven said:
Perfectly explained.

When racing, the lever play goes loose, so yes... heat related is the guess by using the empirical deduction.
Like I said, the clutch center bolt does not loosen up and retighten itself back up.

Mike, he took a ride to cool the engine off, then at the stop the clutch center bolt tightened up. Not trying to be a dick. Read the OP's description... what little is said. Now, ask yourself again if it's a loose center nut... just happened once.

See if you agree.
1. Plates grow out ~ still touch ~ pushes pressure plate out ~ rod floats away from p/p ~ lever play excessive.
2. Lever is pulled in ~ plates still [ever so] touch ~ rod is taken up ~ creep occurs ~ throw is all she wrote with expanded plates ~ rolling to that rear bumper.


Signed,
NOLTT
Click to expand...
Agreed, the biggest reason for the clutch nut reference is the number of times I've heard/seen the clutch worked on by a Harley guy and the torque being only 80ft/lbs vs the 150ft/lbs that the BDM requires. I should have made that clear.
 
G

Gareyh1968

Member
Jersey Big Mike said:
Pull the inspection cover check for fluid level, if ok, I'd drain and pull the cover off and check the clutch hub nut.
Also check the routing of the clutch cable and see if its got any places its getting hung up.
Click to expand...
Just had a clutch put in it last week. Was riding today went about 50 miles and the clutch handle just freely hoes to the grip with no resistance. I can feel the cable moving all the way to the end so it isn’t broken. It did this once before. The nut that holds the cable came loose. It’s just getting old Getting it fixed riding 100 miles breaking down getting it fixed
 
G

Gareyh1968

Member
Just had a clutch put in it last week. Was riding today went about 50 miles and the clutch handle just freely hoes to the grip with no resistance. I can feel the cable moving all the way to the end so it isn’t broken. It did this once before. The nut that holds the cable came loose. It’s just getting old Getting it fixed riding 100 miles breaking down getting it fixed. Plus I just had to handle rebuilt
 
S

Sven

Well-Known Member
The nut that holds the cable came loose.
Click to expand...
Where I said, "Read the OP's description... what little is said..." and now I have to add to the list... A cable nut coming loose and tightening up is not about to return the lever back to normal.

Where you said: "When I exited and got to the stop sign the clutch felt normal."
Kind of see how the quag goes mire? Kind of see how I covered my ass on this one on what little info shoots in?

So now we add more to the short story at the beginning, get it? Oh, someone was in the clutch assembly last week. At this point, hot ambient does not apply. This is more called a 'Come-Back" on the wrenching end. Apply the heat to the customer complaint.

Signed,
Now I'm being a Dick
 
HMAN

HMAN

I just like my Freedom
Gareyh1968 said:
Just had a clutch put in it last week. Was riding today went about 50 miles and the clutch handle just freely hoes to the grip with no resistance. I can feel the cable moving all the way to the end so it isn’t broken. It did this once before. The nut that holds the cable came loose. It’s just getting old Getting it fixed riding 100 miles breaking down getting it fixed. Plus I just had to handle rebuilt
Click to expand...
With these vibration filled monsters, Loctite is your friend.
 
Mikeinjersey

Mikeinjersey

Well-Known Member
Gareyh1968 said:
Just had a clutch put in it last week. Was riding today went about 50 miles and the clutch handle just freely hoes to the grip with no resistance. I can feel the cable moving all the way to the end so it isn’t broken. It did this once before. The nut that holds the cable came loose. It’s just getting old Getting it fixed riding 100 miles breaking down getting it fixed
Click to expand...
Time to get a new mechanic! How about giving it a shot yourself? Start with a simple clutch adj . These adj are for right side drive bikes. From your description it sounds like you may have a bind in the system. If after the adj you still have a problem pull the primary cover and look for smooth operation and restoring of the clutch discs . A sticking or bent push rod, failing throw out bearing, a binding ball & ramp are among several causes for wacky operation of the clutch.

Marky-Marc Clutch rod adj.
 

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woodbutcher

Mr. Old Fart member #145
Staff member
next time you open the clutch adjustment on the right side, and attempt to adjust the pushrod, go ahead and pull the pushrod out and have a look at the pointy end to see if is worn down.. should be shiny. the rod itself is case hardened, if it starts wearing it will go quickly.
 
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