Need Some Clutch Help
Well, not too happy about today's turn of events.
The new parts came in. Took about 45 minutes to get things buttoned up. AND...
Complete bust. Same behavior as before.
Ran over to Mark's (the indy next door) and he sheepishly admitted that they never actually opened up the clutch, which they supposedly did while I was ran over to a local MC parts place to see if they had the rod/bearing stuff in stock.
"Those things are bulletproof" he said, "They never go out."
Pffft.
I don't see what else it could be. Got to be something inside the clutch itself.
So I get to pull it all back apart and see what's up.
Any recommendations on what I should replace as long as I am in there?
And, yes, I'm pissed.
The new parts came in. Took about 45 minutes to get things buttoned up. AND...
Complete bust. Same behavior as before.
Ran over to Mark's (the indy next door) and he sheepishly admitted that they never actually opened up the clutch, which they supposedly did while I was ran over to a local MC parts place to see if they had the rod/bearing stuff in stock.
"Those things are bulletproof" he said, "They never go out."
Pffft.
I don't see what else it could be. Got to be something inside the clutch itself.
So I get to pull it all back apart and see what's up.
Any recommendations on what I should replace as long as I am in there?
And, yes, I'm pissed.
Good job on getting all new rods, once they heat up like that they get warped and bent and won't work worth a chit.
That being said the issue you are describing sounds like a shifter pawl needs to be adjusted. If it up shifts okay but does not down shift I would be checking the shifter pawl adjustment.
It needs to be centered in 3rd gear.
Poor clutch disengagement will give you hard shifting up or down.
That being said the issue you are describing sounds like a shifter pawl needs to be adjusted. If it up shifts okay but does not down shift I would be checking the shifter pawl adjustment.
It needs to be centered in 3rd gear.
Poor clutch disengagement will give you hard shifting up or down.
The clutch really does not feel right. It pulls really, really hard. Not smooth. I can barely get the lever to the grip.
Well, I'm an idiot.
Noodled on this a bit, and decided to go back and readjust the clutch. Turns out when I put things back together earlier I managed to get the ramp and ball screwed up. Got that sorted, and the clutch is fine.
But in another way, I'm right back to where I started. Upshifts are fine. Downshifts are hard.
I think Mark has me pointed in the right direction at last with the reference to adjusting the shifter pawl.
Up easy, down hard has been the way this bike shifts from when I got it. I found that it improved when I ran the clutch cable tighter. I think I was solving one problem while creating another... Eventually stuffing the clutch rod.
So now I'm off to see about this shift pawl adjust. Fingers crossed.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,195
Likes: 3,085
From: NW AR
If it's coming apart again anyway, I'd be inspecting that clutch pack. And I'd be looking for a new indy that did what I told him to and didn't bullshit me about it. Even if he was next door. Screw me once, shame on you.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,117
Likes: 1,730
From: In The Woods, PA
I would also inspect the clutch pack. When my '97 was having similar problems (hard to downshift) it ended up being the spring plate had come apart and the brass pieces were all jammed up in the basket between the plates. I put in a new clutch and no more issues. I had never done it before and had a hell of a time getting it adjusted correctly but it has been good ever since
I would also inspect the clutch pack. When my '97 was having similar problems (hard to downshift) it ended up being the spring plate had come apart and the brass pieces were all jammed up in the basket between the plates. I put in a new clutch and no more issues. I had never done it before and had a hell of a time getting it adjusted correctly but it has been good ever since
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,117
Likes: 1,730
From: In The Woods, PA
I hope all goes well with your family! Have some small angled pics handy to pull the plates out of the basket.
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May 4, 2018 02:30 PM