Author Topic: Sticking clutch. Or stuck clutch I should say.  (Read 542 times)

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Offline Gurp

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Sticking clutch. Or stuck clutch I should say.
« on: January 28, 2024, 10:34:24 AM »
74 550 motor. Hasn't been ran in 5 years or so.
Just tried to squeeze the clutch and slow the back wheel. No go. Can't shift out of N. I'm assuming the plates are sticking. I rode the bike the motor was in before and everything was fine.
Is this common for these motors when sitting? Should I just replace the plates while I'm in there?
Just seeing what you fellas are thinking about it.

I'm getting enough pull on the cable.
I double checked that.
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Online bryanj

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Re: Sticking clutch. Or stuck clutch I should say.
« Reply #1 on: January 28, 2024, 11:16:35 AM »
Put it in gear on the centre stand, when running pull in clutch and stand on rear brake it should loosen the plates, never changed plates in 40 yrs of working on them
Semi Geriatric ex-Honda mechanic and MOT tester (UK version of annual inspection). Garage full of "projects" mostly 500/4 from pre 73 (no road tax in UK).

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Offline HondaMan

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Re: Sticking clutch. Or stuck clutch I should say.
« Reply #2 on: January 28, 2024, 08:38:03 PM »
The plates are just stuck together from sitting. This happens to many bikes of this era (and later!).

Run the engine to full operating temperature with the bike on the centerstand first. This will thin the oil and also let the engine attempt to relube the plates with some fresh, hot, thinner oil. This often helps to release the stuck plates. Then, dropping it into gear with the rear brake applied often breaks them loose.

BUT...if the oil in the engine was old oil and it sat for 5 years, chances are pretty good that the old oil had moisture (i.e. water vapor) in it, and that will have somewhat rusted the metal plates in the clutch. This gives them a real solid grip on the cork plates. Then you're going to be in for more of a fight, but it can still be broken free with some repetitive...'coaxing'...after about 100 miles that rust will be scraped off the metal plates pretty well.

Change the oil, too, and don't use oil with detergents in it. This will go a LONG way toward preventing it happening again. Detergents in the oil also have a nasty side habit of retaining moisture in the oil, in addition to making the clutch plates slip under power. The 750 suffers more from this than the 550 simply because the 750 has more torque with the same sized clutch plates. The 550 does not 'open' the plates very much with its lifter, so the oil will have a little harder time leaking in between the plates.
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Offline Kelly E

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Re: Sticking clutch. Or stuck clutch I should say.
« Reply #3 on: January 28, 2024, 09:15:28 PM »
I just pull the clutch apart and clean the steels. In my experience the frictions only last around 1000 miles after freeing them up. So I clean the steels and replace the frictions and springs because it's cheap and I don't have to deal with it again. 8)
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Offline BenelliSEI

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Re: Sticking clutch. Or stuck clutch I should say.
« Reply #4 on: January 29, 2024, 06:15:18 PM »
I cleared the last one by rolling down my driveway (after warming the bike up in neutral) and clunking it into 1st gear. Rode up and down the road for ten minutes, accelerating and decelerating. Pulled the clutch in and released several time. After about 5 minutes, it came free and worked great.

Offline Gurp

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Re: Sticking clutch. Or stuck clutch I should say.
« Reply #5 on: January 30, 2024, 11:09:30 PM »
At this point I have a bit before I have try to do anything under its power. No controls hooked up yet and no center stand. pretty sure I sold it to a member on here actually. lol. I may hook up a pedal to the brake and try that way though. I have a small bike jack under the center on my lift table
Mark what would you suggest for oil an change as it's on the agenda. I usually would go with Rotella T5 but would love to here a experts suggestion.
I have new frictions and steels ordered in already figured it couldn't hurt given they are 50 years old.
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Poor boy chop 73 CB500 chop

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Offline Gurp

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Re: Sticking clutch. Or stuck clutch I should say.
« Reply #6 on: January 31, 2024, 11:14:27 PM »
Did the brake method with a lever half on today and it freed it up fine. I'm still going to change the 50 year old plates though. I plan on taking this bike 300+ miles from the house this year so rather be safe than renting Uhaul truck.
slow Progress 74 cb550.

Poor boy chop 73 CB500 chop

Future project 77 Cb750 Amen Savior

Offline BenelliSEI

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Re: Sticking clutch. Or stuck clutch I should say.
« Reply #7 on: February 01, 2024, 06:01:35 AM »
Did the brake method with a lever half on today and it freed it up fine. I'm still going to change the 50 year old plates though. I plan on taking this bike 300+ miles from the house this year so rather be safe than renting Uhaul truck.

Ride it. If it doesn’t slip, leave it alone.

Online bryanj

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Re: Sticking clutch. Or stuck clutch I should say.
« Reply #8 on: February 01, 2024, 10:51:10 AM »
I agree, spent several years slipping clutch on a 500 four, which slipped a bit on takeup due to mechanism but the plates never wore out.
The 500 was known for the slipping on takeoff but never wore out plates
Semi Geriatric ex-Honda mechanic and MOT tester (UK version of annual inspection). Garage full of "projects" mostly 500/4 from pre 73 (no road tax in UK).

Remember "Its always in the last place you look" COURSE IT IS YOU STOP LOOKIN THEN!

Offline grcamna2

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Re: Sticking clutch. Or stuck clutch I should say.
« Reply #9 on: February 01, 2024, 10:54:09 AM »
The clutch may have just been completely dry;oil fully drips-down after many years in our engines and leaves everything up top bone dry.
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Offline rotortiller

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Re: Sticking clutch. Or stuck clutch I should say.
« Reply #10 on: February 02, 2024, 04:07:22 AM »
After many decades the oil soaked clutch liner is not what it used to be. I find that liners change over the very long term and take on a sticky nature often before wear limits are exceeded or clutch slip is evident. Once freed up the old sticking but seemingly normal functioning clutch can start sticking after a few weeks or months of sitting idle, even with fresh oil. New friction plates will normally cure that situation. I have cringed over the years watching guys rev a bike with the sticking clutch lever held in and then jam the gear selector into first. You can take the clutch apart and clean everything as best you can hoping to cure the problem but is it really worth while to take that risk considering age and accessibility, especially when new frictions are easily acquired?

Offline Don R

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Re: Sticking clutch. Or stuck clutch I should say.
« Reply #11 on: February 02, 2024, 11:47:33 AM »
 I've tied the clutch lever back for a day or two, it worked for me.
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Offline Gurp

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Re: Sticking clutch. Or stuck clutch I should say.
« Reply #12 on: February 02, 2024, 01:43:19 PM »
After many decades the oil soaked clutch liner is not what it used to be. I find that liners change over the very long term and take on a sticky nature often before wear limits are exceeded or clutch slip is evident. Once freed up the old sticking but seemingly normal functioning clutch can start sticking after a few weeks or months of sitting idle, even with fresh oil. New friction plates will normally cure that situation. I have cringed over the years watching guys rev a bike with the sticking clutch lever held in and then jam the gear selector into first. You can take the clutch apart and clean everything as best you can hoping to cure the problem but is it really worth while to take that risk considering age and accessibility, especially when new frictions are easily acquired?

This is where I am on the matter. I can afford it and it's a 50 year old wear and tear part.

Don I should have thought of that lol
slow Progress 74 cb550.

Poor boy chop 73 CB500 chop

Future project 77 Cb750 Amen Savior