Clutch slipping at 17k mi

[Ray]

Clutch slipping on acceleration @ say 5-6k rpm. Am I missing anything, an easy adjustment? Haven't yet had to deal with a hydraulic clutch, any ins and outs I ought to know? What's it like taking this clutch apart? Need disks or a good cleaning?

 

Thanks dudes.

[Paul Minnaert]

well if you take the starter engine out you can take a look, to see if there is oil. Normal the clutch should live much longer.

[Ray]

Bike's turning 20k miles today.

[Guest ratchethack]

Clutch slipping on acceleration @ say 5-6k rpm. Am I missing anything, an easy adjustment? Haven't yet had to deal with a hydraulic clutch, any ins and outs I ought to know? What's it like taking this clutch apart? Need disks or a good cleaning?

 

Thanks dudes.

Ray, there's no adjustment on hydraulic clutches. Your clutch is same as mine, a dual-disk. It sounds like it's slipping at the torque peak, which is exactly wot you'd expect if one of the 2 most likely conditions at this low mileage are present (20K mi is very low mileage relative to clutch service life): 1. contamination of the friction surface (of at least one disk) by oil as Paul suggested above (possible source: failed crankshaft seal). 2. friction material is separating from one of the disks. IMHO #2 is highly unlikely, and you'd likely have other things like irregular engagement and potentially horrendous vibration, knocking & clunking.

 

I'm with Paul - take the most non-intrusive and easy approach first. Have the starter off for a look see. Don't neglect to disconnect the battery first, or you could regret it.

 

Good luck.

[BrianG]

Is your bike one that required recall transmission servicing?

 

If so, it may be that, like mine, the wizard tech that re-assembled the thing didn't read the manual on the dual-plate clutch, and botched the plate orientation ( getting the front one back-to-front). After very little mileage the friction surface wears enough that the center-hub of the mis-oriented front disc contacts the flywheel face, effectively eliminating that disc from the clutch pack.

 

 

It's a simple matter of reversing the orientation of that clutch disc.............. hahaha...

[Guest ratchethack]

Hey Brian. It's a good thing to bring up in Ray's case.

 

The one-eyed gnome that did this to your Guzzi should've been put back in his iron maiden in the dungeon keep & fed left-over gruel from the livestock pens for a month for that. But why have the clutch apart for the trans recall work?!?! There's absolutely no need to touch the clutch!!

 

You sure it wasn't a one-eyed Luigi in Mandello wot done it?!

[BrianG]

Hey Brian. It's a good thing to bring up in Ray's case.

 

The one-eyed gnome that did this to your Guzzi should've been put back in his iron maiden in the dungeon keep & fed left-over gruel from the livestock pens for a month for that. But why have the clutch apart for the trans recall work?!?! There's absolutely no need to touch the clutch!!

 

You sure it wasn't a one-eyed Luigi in Mandello wot done it?!

 

I'd guess it was a "While You Are In There" issue.