Topic: Clutch problems 400f

[-CB-Jamie-]

I have a 400f that I've been working on over the last year or so and I'm now at the stage where it's ready to be taken for a spin, I'm having a bit of a problem with the clutch though, it seems to be either stuck or just not working corrrectly. Before I tried driving the bike I put the it on the centre stand, started it and put it into gear. the rear wheel went around as expected but if I pull in the clutch it doesn't stop and if I press the rear brake with the clutch pulled in the bike just cuts out, so basically the clutch just doesn't seem to be working. I'm 99% sure it's adjusted properly going by the workshop manual and also I removed it ages ago to measure the clutch plates and they were all well within tolerance so I'm kinda stumped at this point as I haven't that much experience with these, anybody any ideas???

Cheers, Jamie

[fmctm1sw]

How old are the clutch plates?  Sometimes, they get all gummed up.  Some folks have been known to soak them in gas...

[-CB-Jamie-]

I don't know how old they are as they were in it when I got it, but they looked pretty clean when I pulled them out, would it be worth just replacing the lot? With this?

[fasturd]

It wouldn't hurt to take them apart. Clean everything make sure its re-assembled properly and then follow adjustment procedure again. May have gotten gummed up during rebuild. Or maybe it just wants to be adjusted again.

Good luck.

[-CB-Jamie-]

Ok i'm still getting nowhere with this clutch thing so I decided to tear it down and have another look at it, anyway I've taken a few pics just in case there's something I'm missing. The plan is to clean them and put it all back together and try again, so what should I clean the clutch plates with and should I put a bit of oil on them as I'm putting them back together or if anybody has any tips would be much appreciated? So far I can't see anything obvious that could be wrong.

Jamie

[Doctorlumen]

Hey Jamie,
My 400f clutch is a little tricky to dial in. It sounds to me like your cable/linkage assembly might need a bit more attention. On my bike, the range of motion in the linkage seems to be as little as a sixteenth of an inch to hit the sweet spot, and to my tastes doesn't quite take up all the freeplay in the lever as I'd like. I live with it, but that doesn't mean its a characteristic of all the 400fs. Keep us posted on what you learn!

[strynboen]

hey...on 550 are first plate different, not shure 400 are the same,,,and does only fit there..are the chims behind placed right,,it have to turn free vitaut plates in..the in and aut side of chlutch..not nov the english vords for the parts

[-CB-Jamie-]

Ya Strynboen the first one is different on the 400 too and I had it in the right place.

I finally got sorted anyway, was looking at it closely this morning and realised the clutch plates were actually filthy and were probably gummed up and stickng together so I went at them with some degreaser and a scrubbing brush and got them squeeky clean, put it all back together and hey presto my clutch is working. Was still sticking a little bit but a few runs up and down my street sorted it all out and it's perfect. So happy to finally be able to ride this thing, it's been a long time coming. Anyways thanks for the help.

You can see my cleaning efforts in this picture


Unfortunately one of the bolts that hold the clutch springs and bearing in place sheared off as I was putting it back, luckily I had a spare clutch around and was able to swap it and use new bolts but I'll have to try get that bolt out somehow.

You can see the bolt in the bottom left lug where it sheared off