The first thing to check would be the clutch lifter, and its adjustment. Take off the chrome cover, and the lever inside should be resting back (to your left) with a recoiled spring. Unhook the cable from it, and see if you can move the lever back and forth by hand. If you can move it more than about 1/2", then something is either out of adjustment, or possibly broken inside.
To check the adjustment, loosen the 12mm lock nut on the shaft and turn the screwdriver slot in until you feel it stop. Then back up 1/4 turn and cinch down the lock nut. This should let the arm move about 1/8" to 1/4" free travel. Then hook up the cable again, and see if the lever feels more like you are pulling the clutch open when you operate it.
If someone has adjusted this screw too far in, you may have to back it out several turns before you can feel any "slack" in the screw, first. If this has occurred, the clutch will be perpetually open, or released, as if you were holding the lever in all the time. That could account for the symptoms you're seeing.
If this is not the issue, then the clutch inside may have other problems. But, start here...
