Symptoms of Clutch Failure

[wheat]

Hello

Slowly over the last year of so, I am noticing clutch "issues". When pulling away from a dead stop, I have to go extra slow with the clutch or the bike bucks a bit. This seems to be getting worse. I also notice similar behavior if i get off the throttle and back on it again in a higher gear.

I have played around with the cable adjustment but that doesn't help.

I have V&H pipes so I was thinking about the putting in the heavy duty clutch springs but I am starting to think I have a bigger problem then that.

There is 42,000kms (about 26,000miles) on the bike.

The clutch doesn't seem to slip at all when it is fully engaged. I only have problems while operating the clutch lever.

Anyone have this problem before?

Thanks

[ttyR2]

On the surface of it, it sounds more like the engine is bogging while you let the clutch out. Has the bike been jetted for the aftermarket exhaust you have on it?

[SHADOW 1100T]

If your engine idle RPM's are where there supposta be it sounds to me like you may have some warped disks, when they are warped it causes the clutch to try to engage when the warped part hits the friction plates, unfortunately there's only one way to tell and that's to get to the clutch and have a look at them, you can put them on a glass plate to check the spec's given in the manual, it's not all that hard to get to them.

[wheat]

The V&H pipes have been were on the bike when I bought it 3 years ago. This problem has only developed in the past 12 months so I would guess the jets were done.

I took the bike to a local shop here (not the dealer). The owner took it for a test ride and told me he is pretty sure the clutch is fine, but the sprockets and chain are worn out. I haven't replaced the sprockets or chain yet so that sounds reasonable to me.

I was going to put a smaller rear sprocket on anyway because I am running out of power on the highway. Has anyone played with the size of the front sprocket?

[Sk8er408]

Originally Posted by wheat

Hello

Slowly over the last year of so, I am noticing clutch "issues". When pulling away from a dead stop, I have to go extra slow with the clutch or the bike bucks a bit. This seems to be getting worse. I also notice similar behavior if i get off the throttle and back on it again in a higher gear.

I have played around with the cable adjustment but that doesn't help.

I have V&H pipes so I was thinking about the putting in the heavy duty clutch springs but I am starting to think I have a bigger problem then that.

There is 42,000kms (about 26,000miles) on the bike.

The clutch doesn't seem to slip at all when it is fully engaged. I only have problems while operating the clutch lever.

Anyone have this problem before?

Thanks

I have the same problem. I first noticed it while passing on the highway. I slowed behind a car and then jumped on it once they moved out of the way and the RPM’s went up but I went nowhere. Then again I noticed it while taking off from a dead stop.

I changed the oil in it the day before it started to happen and so since it is a wet clutch I figured it was related. My bike only had 6,000 miles on it when I change it. I checked the oil and it was on the high side so I drained it until it was between the high and low marks. It got better…. But I do believe it was do to that and that I switched to synthetic when I changed the oil (Mobil). I know these are guesses but I have no other explanation. I’ll have to see if it still does it as I have been riding it nice and mellow as I was afraid that I was going to have to change the clutch soon. But everyone said the clutch should be fine for at least 20,000 miles.

[e5dab]

I'm not specifically familiar with the clutch on that model.
Is it mechanical or hydraulic?
The clutch on mine is hydraulic.
A couple of months ago I flushed mine out and noticed a considerable difference in it's performance.
Take off was much smoother as well as shifting in general.
I've never ridden a bike that had a clutch going bad, but I have driven cars that had clutches going bad.
What I noticed with them is that when I would attempt to accelerate it would slip and of course when taking off and shifting it would sluggishly engage.

If it's hydraulic I'd try flushing it and make sure the resevoir is free of debris as well.
When I flushed mine I noticed a brown substance in the bottom of the resevoir.
I ended up having to take paper towels to absorb the fluid and then a flathead screwdriver to scoop the stuff out.
After that, filled and flushed extensively and it was good.

Good luck with that.

[Gnuiser]

When I switched from the factory oil to a synthetic blend I noticed the wet clutch operation was smoother taking off from a stop. I also adjusted the clutch when I first bought the bike because it didn't start engaging till the lever was way over 3/4 of the way released. I now have it adjusted to start feeling the engagement at 1/4-1/3 of the way out on the lever. For whatever reason I like it better now for my small hands.