06 VT750C clutch slipping

[Tcspencer211]

I noticed last night while riding that my clutch would slip if I got on the throttle hard. If I twist slow and smooth on the throttle the clutch doesn't slip. Also today while riding I went to shift to 5th and it didn't go into 5th. It felt like it was between 4th and 5th. Heard some noise form the clutch. I went down to 4th and back up to 5th with no problem, but the slipping. My bike has 63,000 miles. It slips in gears 2-5. Should I replace the clutch or spring and cable? Thanks.

[proto]

I think your looking at 3 possible problems:

-oil has gone bad

-clutch lever needs to be adjusted

-your clutch plates are worn and need to be replaced.


Sounds to me like your most likely going to have to replace the clutch plates - I'd pull them out and examine them at the very least.

[dernp]

I'd say that your plates are worn and it's time for new ones. Avg rebuild price is around $150 for a good rebuild kit.
Another reason your clutch might slip is that you are using the wrong oil.

[old dad]

I was having the same issues on my vlx at 58,000,,I had the clutch and cable replaced. What a world of difference.

[MinnesotaGreg]

I would approach this one of two ways:

1. Do it all, oil change $30, new springs $8, new plates $150, check cable adjuster if cable is has adjustment left or not.

2. Try oil change $30 and new springs $8 only. On some of the bigger vtwins an oil change helps 4th to 5th gear shifts for some unexplainable reason.

The problem with number 2 above is if it doesn't solve the problem you're taking the exhaust back off, foot control, and side cover to get back in there to put in new plates. I guess it comes down to how important is $150 to you if you'd just do it all in the first place.

[GilaMinumBeer]

Originally Posted by Tcspencer211

I noticed last night while riding that my clutch would slip if I got on the throttle hard. If I twist slow and smooth on the throttle the clutch doesn't slip. Also today while riding I went to shift to 5th and it didn't go into 5th. It felt like it was between 4th and 5th. Heard some noise form the clutch. I went down to 4th and back up to 5th with no problem, but the slipping. My bike has 63,000 miles. It slips in gears 2-5. Should I replace the clutch or spring and cable? Thanks.

I recently rejetted my bike. After it was all back toghether, tuned, and neighborhood ride tested it was perfect. During the inaugural ride to work the day after I decided while I was on highway to see how much better the top end response was and how much better it would handle a quick wide open throttle twist.

The engine revved way up and the bike slowly caught up to the engine revs. I was deflated. All the time and money and NOW the clutch goes out. But, these things are supposed to be indestructible and I only had 15K miles on it. That's what the dealerships told me when I complained about the clutch action while it was under warranty.

Turns out, I forgot I tweaked the adjustment of freeplay a bit. After I backed it off a turn or two it runs just like it did the day I bought.

Also, the springs in these clutches are notoriously soft and prone to compressing out of tolerance length. A set Barnett springs ran me $14 from Amazon.

[MinnesotaGreg]

Originally Posted by GilaMinumBeer

Also, the springs in these clutches are notoriously soft

If there is one thing that drives me nuts about Honda is their spring selection, even the front fork springs are way too soft. Must be some 4' Japanese engineer designing this stuff.

[GilaMinumBeer]

Originally Posted by MinnesotaGreg

If there is one thing that drives me nuts about Honda is their spring selection, even the front fork springs are way too soft. Must be some 4' Japanese engineer designing this stuff.

You know, I've always thought that, to myself, too but have never had a reference. The Honda service manual doesn't offer much in regard to checking their tolerance either. Pretty much leaves it to 'push down on the bars and if the forks spring back, they are working'...wtf?

[Tcspencer211]

Thanks for the info. It has been a great help.

Tcspencer211

[rrounds]

When I raced dirt bikes back in the early 70's the first thing we did was shim the clutch springs for more pressure on the clutch plates, even on a new bike.
Here is what I did to my VT1100-T back in '09 and my clutch hooks up better today than my bike did when it was new back in '99
No More Slipping Clutch(the cheap way)

I have over 70k miles on the bike and I don't see my clutch going bad anytime soon. The clutch springs that Honda use are very weak, also if you take out the bolts that hold the springs be sure to go buy some better bolts.

ROD