Topic: Clutch, engine speeds

[DaveInTexas]

The clutch first.  Mine was the one that had to recently be pulled apart as the wheel was locked to the engine... years of non-use and the plates were bonded together.  All pulled apart and running pretty well now but:
When I put it into first, it really clunks and slightly moves the bike making me think the lifter plate is not releasing enough.
BUT in high gear (3, 4) the clutch will slip if I rev it too much, indicating maybe the lifter plate has some preload on it. (or the plates are just old/flakey and simply slipping).

Topic B:
What engine speeds are best.  I saw some published values somewhere but wanted to hear from every day users.   As an old, old biike I am thinking for best longevity that I should avoid extremes of revs or dogging up hills at low rpm.  When I am slowing down, 3000rpm seems like it is starting to bog so I downshift.  Accelerating, 5Krpm seems like it is screaming so I usually shift up at that time.  Redline on the tach is 8K but what is a practical red line on a delicate 36yr old machine??

[Noel]

1) I think you need to replace your frictions and springs.

2) My redline is 9500 RPM. I like to baby my bikes so I shift at 9000. Unless, you know, I'm trying to go fast.

"Delicate"?

[Bob Wessner]

When I am slowing down, 3000rpm seems like it is starting to bog so I downshift.

Aside from your clutch questions, you may have something else to look into. You should be able to idle down much lower than 3,000 rpm before it bogs, or lugs, on you.

[BobbyR]

As far as the clunking into first, that is normal on the CB750 anyway.

[scondon]

1) I think you need to replace your frictions and springs.

2) My redline is 9500 RPM. I like to baby my bikes so I shift at 9000. Unless, you know, I'm trying to go fast.

"Delicate"?

   Yes, time to replace the friction disks.

  I have the same redline as Noel so I run between 4000-8000rpm for regular riding. Engine "screams" but that is just fine. I would think that you could run yours to 7000 and not worry about anything. I prefer the higher rpms as there is better engine braking when I let off the throttle.

  At 3000rpm and below, and in 3,4,5 gear, the bike is below the "power band" and you may find the engine "sluggish" when accelerating. If the bike is in need of maintenance, tune up, etc.. then this effect can be more noticable. Gearing choices can have an effect as well.

[Kevin D]

5Krpm

5krpm is a a good shift point for well mannered, round town driving. When I'm cruising down a nice country road at 4krpm I feel like

the bike could go on......................forever.


Above 5krpm your seemingly sedate CB transforms into a screaming, snarling beast.

Sometimes I do ascending shifts to demonstrate this to myself: 1-2 @ 4500,  2-3 @ 5500, 3-4 @ 6500, etc.. I always give up before

4-5 even though the bike has lots more to give. Hondas love to rev. Its a struggle for me to hold it back.

[DaveInTexas]

Thanks.
Sorry I reposted about the clutch before I found these replies, they were well down the list.
Even a search for clutch didn't find the thread so I thought I was losing (more of) my mind!
But thanks a lot.

[toycollector10]

The  CB750 "old timer" I was speaking to last week said the the harder he thrashed his bike the better it seemed to run. Having said that, I never take my 36 year old bike above 7000 rpm, I just don't like the idea of stuffing my rings and who knows what else. If I go high on the rpm's I like to be in a low torque situation and just let it gently have it's head. These are no longer a high performance bike by todays standards so preservation is pretty high on my list.  TC