Hesitation in 1st gear

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Apr 16, 2011 | 08:12 PM

hdspringer02

Thread Starter

Cruiser

Joined: Apr 2009

Posts: 115

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Hesitation in 1st gear

I posted this earlier in the engine section, but didn't get any responses. Hoping someone can help......I had a 95 in big bore and ported and polished heads put on 2 months ago. I noticed immediately a little hesitation when starting from a complete stop. When I twist the throttle and ease off the clutch, the RPMs go up, but it takes a second for the bike to move. It didn't do this before I did the big bore kit and heads. I just put the SE clutch spring in and adjusted the clutch. I was hoping that this would take care of the issue, but it's still there. I didn't spend a lot of time on the clutch adjustment, so it's possible that I just don't have it right yet. Anyone have any suggestions. The issue only seems to happen in 1st gear.

Apr 16, 2011 | 08:26 PM

stevelonewolf

Road Captain

Joined: Oct 2009

Posts: 649

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From: DeLand, Florida

How many miles do you have on those clutches? Does this clutch setup have a spring plate towards the middle of the clutch pack? If so, there's a chance it's giving way. If not, check to see if the fibres are burnt or the steels are a pretty blue color. If so? they're toast..

Apr 16, 2011 | 08:48 PM

fcsallan

Road Warrior

Joined: Jun 2010

Posts: 1,337

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From: Sunny South Florida

It's slipping? There is quite a difference between hesitation (normally related to fuel management) and a slipping clutch.

Is there a little slack in the clutch handle? There should be about an 1/8th of an inch or so play before it starts to move the cable. Adjust the clutch again, following the manuals method and try again. How many miles are on this bike? I can't imagine an 02 with a burnt clutch. Unless it is beat on that is.

ETA, I just thought of another thing, have you changed the primary oil lately? Did you put one with additives in there? Wet clutches don't like that.

Apr 16, 2011 | 10:04 PM

hdspringer02

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Cruiser

Joined: Apr 2009

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I've got 27k on the clutch. I did just change the primary oil, but the problem had started before that. The problem started immediately after the big bore kit and heads were put on. I assumed that the clutch was slipping, so I put the SE clutch spring on and adjusted it, but it didn't fix the problem. I will do the adjustment again tomorrow morning and see if it helps.

Apr 16, 2011 | 10:05 PM

DR. V-TWIN

Former Sponsor

Joined: Jan 2009

Posts: 19,364

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From: Los Angeles, CA

Carb or EFI? My money is on the jetting or tune.

Drew

Apr 17, 2011 | 08:15 AM

hdspringer02

Thread Starter

Cruiser

Joined: Apr 2009

Posts: 115

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Carb. It was rejetted right after I had the work done, so maybe that's it. I assumed the issue was with the clutch, never occurred to me that it could be fuel management related. My bike was definitely running lean before. It took forever to warm up. I had to keep the choke out for at least 5 minutes; no matter what the temp was. The carb was rejetted after the big bore and heads and now I can start it up and put the choke back in within 10-30 seconds; depending on the temp. Maybe it's running rich? Could that cause the hesitation?