Still fixing my bike, carry on trying or get someone to do it?

[Postie]

I have been dismantling, or trying to dismantle my bike for a couple of weeks now. The VFR stopped selecting any gear and the workshop manual points towards either a damaged selector drum or damaged selector forks. It looked simple to remove so I started to do it myself. I ran into trouble when the manual said that the clutch needs to come out and this is how its done 'to remove the clutch with the engine mounted, select 6th gear and apply the rear brake, or with the engine dismounted, select 6th gear and hold the drive sprocket with a universal sprocket holder '(of course).
Simple yes? that's what I thought, till I realised the reason for me taking the thing apart in the first case..... I can't select any $$^%$&#&^%#& gear at all, hence the clutch spins its merry arse off every time I try to take it out as I can't stop the central shaft spinning.
I am trying to decide if I should just find a way to get the clutch out (so far both side covers and the sump has been removed, the sump by the way, had lots of metal filings in the oil...yay) or try to convince a work shop that they actually want to finish the job for me and end up paying more then the bike is worth in labour. The main reason I didn't take it to a workshop in the first place is because I don't like people I don't know, touching my bike, plus it looked easier then it actually is and I quite enjoy messing round with the mechanical parts of my bike.

Any ideas KB Land?

p.s. I would love to have my bike ready for the trackday on the 5th, I think I am leaving things rather late.

[Motu]

1/2 drive air impact gun - if you haven't got the gear stop now before you butcher something.

[dickytoo]

yep, very easy to break one of the pillars and you're up for a new clutch basket.

btw, the clutch nut is usually a use once and throw away item. if you try and save money (like i did), you could end up with a broken basket if you don't tighten it up enough and use strong locktite.

if i was back in the mighty auck, i could do it for you but i'm in sydney at the moment. best money ever spent, an impact gun and a compressor to drive it.

[Ixion]

Couple of old clutch plates bolted together, and lock the primary drive or the engine.

Or an oil filter wrench on the clutch hub and a rattle gun.

Or oil filter wrench and JUDICIOUS use of cold chisel and BLOODY BIG HAMMER (and replace the nut which is wise anyway)

Incidentally you can make a "universal sprocket holder " dead easy, couple of foot of old chain and a strong bit of wood .

[dickytoo]

with regards to locking the primary gear, i saw an article in one of the classic bike mags about putting a 1 cent piece (or simething like it) between the gear on the crankshaft and the clutch basket. I tried it on my Z650 many times and it worked fine.


the other thing to do is to weld a handle onto an old clutch friction plate but be aware that the nut can be bloody tight!

The cold chisel thing worked fine as well when i had to remove a clutch nut that had been loctited on the old zx9. even the rattle gun couldn't budge it so i chipped away at the nut until it eventually came off.

good luck but take care, clutch baskets are expensive!

[Postie]

yep, very easy to break one of the pillars and you're up for a new clutch basket.

btw, the clutch nut is usually a use once and throw away item. if you try and save money (like i did), you could end up with a broken basket if you don't tighten it up enough and use strong locktite.

if i was back in the mighty auck, i could do it for you but i'm in sydney at the moment. best money ever spent, an impact gun and a compressor to drive it.

I'm happy to replace the clutch nut as I need to get a gasket kit for the sump and side casings and was looking at putting in a new clutch since I'm there anyway. I didn't know that they were a once use item, so thanks for that.

[fozz rock]

it looked easier then it actually is.

Story of my life

good luck mate

[dickytoo]

I didn't know that they were a once use item, so thanks for that.

the older ones (z650 etc) weren't but from the gpz550 on, they were. you can tell because the top bit of the nut has a round flange that is deformed. the deformity is the part that locks the nut in place and stops it from backing out. you could always put it in the vice and squash it down again if you want to save money.

the thing to be careful with is are the pillars (5 or 6 depending on the bike). they are very weak and easy to break accidently and you cant repair them. whatever you do, don't use them to try and lock the basket in place.

if you have a rattle gun, you don't even have to lock the basket in place. I just use a cloth to hold the basket and stop it spinning and the rattle gun takes care of the rest. you may have to hold the rattle gun on the nut for a few seconds if the nut is especially tight but be patient and it'll come off easier than you expect.

[Postie]

the older ones (z650 etc) weren't but from the gpz550 on, they were. you can tell because the top bit of the nut has a round flange that is deformed. the deformity is the part that locks the nut in place and stops it from backing out.

The VFR has a locking tab which need to be bent out of place, that much is done and it looks like it has been done before I tried it this time. So if thats the case, I may be able to get away with reusing it. I might check that one with Honda.


thanks for the advise so far guys

[TLDV8]

Where are you...... I could pump the compressor up,throw it in the back of the stealth mobile with rattlegun and hose and do a drive by.
*
I havn't read every post but did you check the selector return spring .

[Postie]

Where are you...... I could pump the compressor up,throw it in the back of the stealth mobile with rattlegun and hose and do a drive by.
*
I havn't read every post but did you check the selector return spring .

Im in Sandringham, about 1200 meters west from Eden Park. If your keen to do a drive by, that would be awesome, but you would have to let me know if you drink beer, and if you do, which brand? or wine etc.
I haven't checked the selector return spring, which quite rightly, it could also be, but I can't see that till the clutch is out either.

[Cibby]

i could fix it..

maybe a bull dozer would get the clutch out? or maybe dropping it off a high building.. if it smashed in the right place, the selector forks would come out real easy

If anyone else needs free expert advise on their bikes.. feel free to PM

[TLDV8]

.... but you would have to let me know if you drink beer, and if you do, which brand? or wine etc.

Apparently i was supposed to say When around 1985 ...... The good Doctor said i can "never" drink again it seems,more mod money i guess.

Will send a PM.

[Scouse]

Pay some spanner monkey to fix it but avoid the spanner monkeys at Red Baron

[WINJA]

I have been dismantling, or trying to dismantle my bike for a couple of weeks now. The VFR stopped selecting any gear and the workshop manual points towards either a damaged selector drum or damaged selector forks. It looked simple to remove so I started to do it myself. I ran into trouble when the manual said that the clutch needs to come out and this is how its done 'to remove the clutch with the engine mounted, select 6th gear and apply the rear brake, or with the engine dismounted, select 6th gear and hold the drive sprocket with a universal sprocket holder '(of course).
Simple yes? that's what I thought, till I realised the reason for me taking the thing apart in the first case..... I can't select any $$^%$&#&^%#& gear at all, hence the clutch spins its merry arse off every time I try to take it out as I can't stop the central shaft spinning.
I am trying to decide if I should just find a way to get the clutch out (so far both side covers and the sump has been removed, the sump by the way, had lots of metal filings in the oil...yay) or try to convince a work shop that they actually want to finish the job for me and end up paying more then the bike is worth in labour. The main reason I didn't take it to a workshop in the first place is because I don't like people I don't know, touching my bike, plus it looked easier then it actually is and I quite enjoy messing round with the mechanical parts of my bike.

Any ideas KB Land?

p.s. I would love to have my bike ready for the trackday on the 5th, I think I am leaving things rather late.

JUST GET A BOYFRIEND WHOS A MECHANIC