Topic: Clutch and kickstart adjustment.

[Jore]

I've been battling with this one for a bit, if I adjust the clutch by the Honda manual specs, I can shift flawlessly, but the kickstart doesn't work, if the clutch isn't well adjusted the kicker works without effort, but the bike creeps with the clutch in and I can't shift from first to other gears or neutral.

[Jore]

UPDATE: After a tea break, I went back to the clutch, turned the cam screw counterclockwise to back it out, then clockwise till I felt resistance, backed it out 1/4 a turn, played with the cable adjusters, they are almost maxed out, got the bike to not creep with the lever in and can change the gears, but they bang each time, loosened the adjustments again and this time I set the cam screw between 1/2 and a 1/4 turn, the adjustments are still almost maxed out but slightly less, same deal will shift but banging, redid it to 1/2 a turn, and the bike creeps again, but in all those times the kicker worked perfectly, I'm assuming that the clutch cable I'm using is a bit too long, I'll try and shorten it tomorrow, it's pretty dark now so I didn't take it out for a test ride.

[Bodi]

The only difference to the clutch - engaged - between driving the rear wheel and being kickstarted is the direction of the torque... either engine-transmission or transmission-engine. I don't understand how that would make much difference to the clutch plates... but the engine adjustment should be "by the book" and the lever adjusted for a reasonable free movement before resistance is felt, about 1/2" is normal for me (but I may adjust for more if that's hard on the hand and full disengagement is still achieved before the lever hits the grip).

[Jore]

UPDATE 2: I took about 20 mm off the clutch cable, the cam bolt is backed off half a turn and a bit less than 1/8 more, the clutch case adjuster is about 15 mm out and the lever one about 10, you can kick start the bike while sitting on it, no need to stand or have all your weight on it, the bike doesn't creep in first and you can shift without the banging, took it out around the block and getting back in to the garage the kicker wouldn't engage, so I'm guessing I have to readjust the clutch while the bike is hot.

[1976cb750f836]

Time to file and stone the clutch basket!

[Jore]

Would it be a good time to do the hondaman clutch basket mod? Also when I originally got the bike it had an extra metallic disc in the clutch pack and no dished washer, but that last one is on it's way.

[01Thomas]

Please remember not to pull the clutch on a 400F when using the kickstarter. The kickstarter on a 400F needs the clutch to be engaged or else it will not transmit the motion to the rest of the engine.

[Jore]

I only kick it with the bike in neutral and don't touch the clutch lever