Topic: cb750 clutch - caveat

[babyfood1217]

I've done my reading, so unless I missed something please know I'm been trying very hard to do my homework...

I temporarily did away with my hydro setup, and thank to VWdan, got a new clutch lever to play with (thanks dan, just got it today, money in the mail tomorrow )  However, even after tearing the clutch down to the baskets and plates, and reinstalling everything the exact same way I took it all apart (and triple checking with this forum along the way), and putting the cable and lever on and adjusting EVERYTHING per forum and haynes, my clutch is not disengaging when I pull in the lever.  I put the engine in various gears, and pull it and nothing...

CAVEAT!!!

Could this be in part because of the state of my build??  *** read the next few sentences ***

I have a rolling chassis with the engine in the frame.  Exhaust is hooked up, no carbs, plugs are STILL in so I am getting SOME sort of compression (haven't checked, but I'm sure) and the oil is pretty much all out of there (aside from residual, it's been drained for months)

The same issue was coming up with my hydro, so something leads me to believe it's one of the other factors.  Should I be pulling my plugs (don't think so, since I never had clutch issues when the bike was complete and running, but it had oil in then...)

Stumped in Wisconsin and wishing I had beer...

-chris

[babyfood1217]

in addition, the plates were all in good shape, baskets were in good shape, everything checked out ok.  I just can't believe that without all the engine oil in place that the clutch wouldn't be working.  I lubed everything back up with a generous coat of engine oil as I reassembled it too. 

damn...

[kghost]

Oil or not it should disengage.

Theres no pressure feed to the plates.....the oil feeds thru the trans shaft from the left side....

So basically splash lube.....

You have something assembled wrong if it won't disengage.

[babyfood1217]

well dangit...  why did I do that?!

I'm gonna have to read one of the threads that came up recently about the clutch from hell.  Perhaps I did the same thing (I checked mine against the pics in this thread) and just couldn't see it at the time. 

[babyfood1217]

Solved!!!  Well, clutch works regardless...

I remember putting some new clutch plates (friction and steel) a while back, but I didn't think about how I replaced them when I put my HD springs in.  The stack I popped BACK in at the time was the pack that came with the bike, and had 9 friction/8 steel.  The new set I pulled out at that time was a 7 friction/6 steel.  The only thing I can contribute to my clutch now engaging properly is the fact that I remembered this swap, and put the new 7/6 stack in.  Once again, installed splines properly and reattached all bits correctly, routed my cable and adjusted it and the clutch ballramp mechanism per manual, and lo and behold, the thing worked. 

I was sure to check a number of things during the entire process:

-removal/replacement of ALL parts and their respective locations.
-liberal oiling of all plates during reassembly.
-easy movement of basket with cover and pressure plate off
-difficult movement of basket with pressure plate on and tightened down over springs
-any movement of the rear wheel (ie: basket) with the pressure plate installed DID INDEED turn the motor over, as it should.
-proper installation of cable and adjustment mechanism was the final straw.

COOL!

Thanks SOHC for aleviating a headache!!!

-Chris