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Author Topic: Clutch adjustment gone terribly wrong.  (Read 1389 times)

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redschwa

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Clutch adjustment gone terribly wrong.
« on: November 27, 2009, 12:20:33 PM »
Today I tried to adjust my clutch because I was pretty sure it was slipping at high speeds.

I followed the directions in the clymer manual. Now I have a mess! ???

I adjusted the handle nuts all the way in then adjusted the nuts at the bottom so that i had 3/4 in of free play in the handle then i adjusted the "mechanism" just like they said. I loosened the lock nut and screwed in the screw until i felt pressure then out 3/4 turn and re tighten the nut.

Now the clutch won't let go. When I put it into gear and pull the clutch it drags a lot. I can still push the bike but not very well at all.

I tried messing with the adjustment so I could achieve a clutch that was always engaged and then just back it off but I couldn't get it to work.  :'(

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Offline MCRider

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Re: Clutch adjustment gone terribly wrong.
« Reply #1 on: November 27, 2009, 12:30:23 PM »
Quote from: redschwa on November 27, 2009, 12:20:33 PM
Today I tried to adjust my clutch because I was pretty sure it was slipping at high speeds.

I followed the directions in the clymer manual. Now I have a mess! ???

I adjusted the handle nuts all the way in then adjusted the nuts at the bottom so that i had 3/4 in of free play in the handle then i adjusted the "mechanism" just like they said. I loosened the lock nut and screwed in the screw until i felt pressure then out 3/4 turn and re tighten the nut.

Now the clutch won't let go. When I put it into gear and pull the clutch it drags a lot. I can still push the bike but not very well at all.

I tried messing with the adjustment so I could achieve a clutch that was always engaged and then just back it off but I couldn't get it to work.  :'(


WHAT BIKE!!!

Sorry had to vent. Edit your subject line to include year and model.

I'm assuming CB750. Backing out 3/4 sounds too much. Maybe 1/4. Then take slack out at the engine end of the cable, and finally at the lever.

Somewhere here is the answer...
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Ron
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"Sometimes the light's all shining on me, other times I can barely see, lately it appears to me, what a long, strange trip its been."

Offline Hush

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Re: Clutch adjustment gone terribly wrong.
« Reply #2 on: November 27, 2009, 10:42:22 PM »
Seeing as how your avatar is a CB650C I'll guess we are dealing with a 650. ;D
I had the same problem with my old 79 650Z so I did exactly what you did, well sort of, I was doing it all from 35 years of memory but I do the Clymer if I need it.
Slacken the handle right back, slacken the lower adjustment right off, slacken the adjuster nut then turn the screw in until you feel it touch, back the screw off again, do this at least twice.
Now wind in till it touches then just back a "fraction" (that 3/4 has never worked for me) now tighten locking nut, take most of the slack out of the lower adjustment.
Go to the top cable and adjust the lever to your own tastes, I like mine quite stiff so I feel it activating, for my partners smaller hands I adjust it so the clutch does not take up till halfway in.
That might not be as per the book but that's how I have always done it Redshwa. :)
I am experiencing my own clutch problems of slippage at the moment but I have narrowed it dwon to the fact I am using modern 15/50 oil which is too slippery and thin for these old girls so I'm about to change to 10w 40. ;)
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redschwa

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Re: Clutch adjustment gone terribly wrong.
« Reply #3 on: November 28, 2009, 01:38:52 AM »
I've read about many problems with that modern oil and these bikes. Close on your guess of a cb650c but it is infact an 82' cb650sc, the nighthawk. I'll try your method, thanks hush.

And I'll remember to put the bike name in the post. ;)
« Last Edit: November 28, 2009, 01:41:22 AM by redschwa »
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redschwa

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Re: Clutch adjustment gone terribly wrong.
« Reply #4 on: November 28, 2009, 01:18:17 PM »
Well I tried what you said hush and I'm still getting the same problem.

The bike rolls fine when in neutral and I can shift through all the gears. But when it's in gear and i engage the clutch it drags. I can still roll the bike it just drags on the clutch pretty bad. I tried readjusting it three separate times. and I made the cable is tight as any cable ever, nothing.

I don't think my clutch cable is a problem because I have plenty of room for more adjustment.

Could there be a problem in the clutch?
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Offline MCRider

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Re: Clutch adjustment gone terribly wrong.
« Reply #5 on: November 28, 2009, 01:33:27 PM »
Quote from: redschwa on November 28, 2009, 01:18:17 PM
Well I tried what you said hush and I'm still getting the same problem.

The bike rolls fine when in neutral and I can shift through all the gears. But when it's in gear and i engage the clutch it drags. I can still roll the bike it just drags on the clutch pretty bad. I tried readjusting it three separate times. and I made the cable is tight as any cable ever, nothing.

I don't think my clutch cable is a problem because I have plenty of room for more adjustment.

Could there be a problem in the clutch?
Just to get our terms right...

When you pull the lever in you disengage the clutch. Is that what you are talking about?

Lever out is engaged.

Bike in gear, lever pulled in (clutch disengaged) you are feeling resistance? A certain amount is expected, would give resistance when pushing. Not a problem.

May need to just give it a good ride, heat the clutch up a bit, maybe change the oil.

Others?
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1988 NT650 HawkGT;  1978 CB400 Hawk;  1975 CB750F -Free Bird; 1968 CB77 Super Hawk -Ticker;  Phaedrus 1972 CB750K2- Build Thread
"Sometimes the light's all shining on me, other times I can barely see, lately it appears to me, what a long, strange trip its been."

redschwa

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Re: Clutch adjustment gone terribly wrong.
« Reply #6 on: November 28, 2009, 01:46:01 PM »
oh geez my noob is showing ::)

Oil is only 400 miles old.

How much resistance is too much?

I'll take her for a spin and report back. 8)
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Offline Hush

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Re: Clutch adjustment gone terribly wrong.
« Reply #7 on: November 28, 2009, 01:48:50 PM »
Try giving the clutch some slack, as MCRider was alluding to you may have misunderstood the activation of the clutch.
If you were to say totally remove the clutch cable like if it snapped then the clutch would be fully "engaged" if you fitted and adjusted a new cable correctly then once the lever was pulled in the clutch would be "disengaged" (that is pulled away from the motor drive).
Try giving the clutch cable some "slack" and see if that helps, there isn't much apart from incorrect adjustment that you can do to a clutch. :)
Mine slips on heavy acceleration at high speed so think it's more oil related.
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I think the thing I most like about motorcycling is the speed at which my brain must process information at to avoid the numb skulls who are eating pies, playing the ukulele, applying make-up etc in the comfort of their airconditioned armchairs as they make random attempts to kill me!!!!!!!

redschwa

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Re: Clutch adjustment gone terribly wrong.
« Reply #8 on: November 28, 2009, 02:38:46 PM »
Okay the ride resulted in some more bad news.

It is sill slipping at high speeds. In fifth I had 3000RPM and 35MPH, 5000RPM and about 53MPH, and 7000RPM with about 70MPH.

The slight catching when I pull the clutch in didn't seem to be a problem.

So since it is, what I believe to be, properly adjusted and still slipping what do I do now?

I don't think it's oil because I use 10W40 from honda.
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Offline Patrick

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Re: Clutch adjustment gone terribly wrong.
« Reply #9 on: November 28, 2009, 03:10:58 PM »
Three things come to mind. One does not require expenditure.

1. Your adjustment bolt (the one with the lock nut) is still too tight so when you release the clutch lever the bolt does not release all contact with the pressure plate. This would prevent the clutch from fully engaging and make it slip. You could try backing it out another 1/8 to 1/4 turn.

2. Modern oil with a vintage bike. Makes the friction disks too slippery and they don't grab each other correctly causing slippage.

3. Old clutch parts. The clutch springs can lose some of their spring, preventing them from exerting enough pressure against the clutch plates and allowing the clutch to slip. I've had this problem a couple times. It is an easy fix if you are not afraid to pull your clutch side cover. Or, possibly, worn clutch friction disks that are no longer in spec. To be frank, howveer, of all the vintage clutches I have torn apart I am still looking for the first set of friction disks that were worn below spec. I don't think this is your problem.

If it was my bike I would go back to the adjuster bolt and play with that in several different levels of adjustment to see where the bike runs best. That, at least, would be free.

Patrick
« Last Edit: November 28, 2009, 03:13:17 PM by Patrick »
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Offline Spanner 1

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Re: Clutch adjustment gone terribly wrong.
« Reply #10 on: November 28, 2009, 03:45:14 PM »
Yep, adjustment too tight at clutch mechanism and clutch cable too old !....stretched inner cable/compressed outer cable...IMO.
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