Another clutch slip thread

**The Lone Rider** · 18th April 2009, 15:07

I have given this thread a look

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=96168

Has given me some ideas, although my symptoms are different.

Was riding between Faerlie and Geraldine and started to notice that if I accelerated hard the motor would clunk (almost sort of as if stalling or skipping?) and then would catch and accelerate. Often would clunk several times while increasing in revs. Happened with all gears.

By the time I got back to Geraldine the thing was clunking every time I accelerated.

Partner's dad had a look at it.

He did some adjustments. He first explained he was going to adjust my cable so that the plates push harder and therefore the point on the clutch lever where it engages is closer into the grip.

Took it for a ride. CLUNK CLUNK.

So then he adjusted it again - he explained he was now putting tension off the plates. The clutch feels to engage just before full extension of the lever now. Then took it for a ride.

No more clunk.. but when you accelerate hard.. the engine I assume simply slips, then I guess catches back.

If this makes any sense...

reeeeeeeee RRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEVEVVVVVVVVVVVEEEeeee reeeeee

Seems to only occur if I accelerate fast, in all gears.

Any ideas? Expecting to have to spend some money, but hoping it's only needing a clutch adjustment!

Thanks!

**Sully60** · 18th April 2009, 15:10

If the clunking you descibe is quite loud, harsh and mechanical I would hazard to guess it relates more to the gearbox than the clutch

But as you haven't stated what your bike is or wether it's chain or shaft driven I really don't know.

**The Lone Rider** · 18th April 2009, 15:15

Originally Posted by Sully60

If the clunking you descibe is quite loud, harsh and mechanical I would hazard to guess it relates more to the gearbox than the clutch

But as you haven't stated what your bike is or wether it's chain or shaft driven I really don't know.

Yes, rather loud and mechanical. But doesn't clunk if the tension is pulled off the clutch plates a bit.

VF750C, chain drive.

Other thing partners dad did was tighten my chain, although now if I reverse the bike (even in neutral) it periodically makes a click/clunk. Have had this before I believe - just need to readjust the rear wheel alignment from memory.

**Sully60** · 18th April 2009, 15:21

Does the bike jump out of gear?

**The Lone Rider** · 18th April 2009, 15:54

Originally Posted by Sully60

Does the bike jump out of gear?

Define jump out of gear?

Currently what it does is when I accelerate hard, the engine is smooth... then it revs hard (as if accelerating in neutral) then winds down rather quickly as if it "caught" again.

If I don't give the throttle a nice hard twist, it doesn't do it. Makes for rather slow take offs at green lights and when trying to pass.

So only with high revs and hard acceleration it is doing it.

**xwhatsit** · 18th April 2009, 16:07

My bike does that too, but it's limited to first. Consensus was either misaligned gearbox bearings (might be right, because the clutch engages unevenly when moving slowly to a stop, *grab* *grab* *grab*), or a worn shift drum.

It's quite nasty in first because it happens just as the power starts to pick up, revs shoot to redline, then it engages again; often lift the front wheel because of it.

It's really quite painful, as soon as my new piston gets here from Germany I can start work on the replacement engine.

**The Lone Rider** · 18th April 2009, 16:15

Originally Posted by xwhatsit

My bike does that too, but it's limited to first. Consensus was either misaligned gearbox bearings (might be right, because the clutch engages unevenly when moving slowly to a stop, *grab* *grab* *grab*), or a worn shift drum.

It's quite nasty in first because it happens just as the power starts to pick up, revs shoot to redline, then it engages again; often lift the front wheel because of it.

It's really quite painful, as soon as my new piston gets here from Germany I can start work on the replacement engine.

When mine "slips" it doesn't feel engaged with the engine. The engine will be clocking over, then RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrr and then clocking over again fine. I don't get a burst of acceleration, so I don't think had the bike been lighter it would lift the front wheel.

**Sully60** · 18th April 2009, 18:00

By jumping out of gear I mean when you're accelerating as described it's like it shifts itself into a neutral, and then may shift back into the same or a different gear by itself again. As Xerses has alluded it sounds like a shift fork/drum issue failing that worn dogs on the gears, both not uncommon on a bike of that age. The fiddling with the clutch would as you partners dad correctly said change the load though the gear shafts and change way the issue manifests.
In short, get professional help.

**The Lone Rider** · 18th April 2009, 18:56

OK thanks. Probably take to shop, get it fixed, then sell the thing and be done with it. For a 1994 bike, which I reckon ain't that old.. it's been a right prick. Getting around the half way mark of what it cost me to buy, in repairs.

**TimeOut** · 18th April 2009, 20:45

Could be a well worn sprocket and slipping, although it does sound a bit more serious

Just a thought

**98tls** · 18th April 2009, 21:39

Originally Posted by The Lone Rider

When mine "slips" it doesn't feel engaged with the engine. The engine will be clocking over, then RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrr and then clocking over again fine. I don't get a burst of acceleration, so I don't think had the bike been lighter it would lift the front wheel.

Has anyone had a look at the plates?

**The Lone Rider** · 18th April 2009, 21:42

Originally Posted by 98tls

Has anyone had a look at the plates?

Not yet. I wouldn't know what to look for, and I haven't gotten it to a shop yet. Got a few things coming up I need the bike for then it can go to a shop for winter (and then sell it in summer I guess).

Fucking recession.

**98tls** · 18th April 2009, 21:46

May pay to have a look then,would say there fucked,there very very easy to replace.

**normajeane** · 18th April 2009, 22:52

Originally Posted by 98tls

Has anyone had a look at the plates?

Ahhh, i have a wee prob sometimes when I change gear, usually up, and I somehow get between the gears and it isn't neutral?? Is there a reason such as you are suggesting?? Or is it an old bike and NOT MY FAULT!

**98tls** · 18th April 2009, 22:55

Originally Posted by normajeane

Ahhh, i have a wee prob sometimes when I change gear, usually up, and I somehow get between the gears and it isn't neutral?? Is there a reason such as you are suggesting?? Or is it an old bike and NOT MY FAULT!

Strange as it sounds ive heard of clutches playing up after exhaust bits fall off in the middle of nowhere,its a seperation yearning thing.