Topic: Maybe I'm paranoid, but I have a clutch question...

[Dave-and-his-550]

This is on a '76 CB550F

I have been working on my bike, and am about ready to get it started up. I had one curious question. I had the bike in first gear before, and tried rolling it forward with the clutch lever pulled in. (Can someone confirm for me--This means disengaged correct?) anyway, and the bike wouldn't roll forward. So I thought, maybe the clutch needs to be adjusted more, because the bike should roll when I have the clutch disengaged and in first gear, right?

I guess I just do not understand some of the basic mechanics of the clutch system, or maybe it is being quirky? I appreciate the advice, I know I sound like a total noob still  

[77cafe750]

yes it shoud roll if you pull in the clutch but i do know my 750 clutches stick when it has been sitting awhile

[nancy]

Have no idea of specifics of the 550 - but, yes, when you pull in the lever, the clutch pulls/pushes or whatever to separate the clutch plates = disengage. The plates are oil bathed and the oil MUST be clean and new for this process to work effectively. The plates do stick if the oil is crap, if the bike has been stored a while or if the clutch assembly is turning to toast and needs rebuilding.
Mark

[Dave-and-his-550]

Ya, it definitely has been sitting for awhile. Probably over a year. And I do have about half the amount of oil in there then I need. I plan to fill it up proper before I started it of course. The oil that is in there is fresh 10W40.

[Frostyboy]

I've lived with a frozen cold clutch for the 20 yrs I've had my 550. The guy I bought it off used to just give a rev & slam it into gear. It bothered me that I was buying a bike with an about to be broken gearbox. It lived however.
 
What I do prior to trying to start the engine is simply pull in the clutch lever while in neutral, then jumping on the kick starter. 3 kicks is usually enough for the kick start to go free. Then I fire it up, select 1st & off it goes, silky smooth until the next cold start.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=68450.msg756997#msg756997