sticky clutch

[ajleone]

Well, it looks like it is finally spring here in the north east. A got a couple of bikes out and fired them up. All is good except one narrowcase bike's clutch will not disengage. I warmed it up, figuring that the oil may have gotten a little thick over the winter.

ANyone got any ideas ? I was hoping not to have to drain the oil and remove the side cover.
Tony

[DewCatTea-Bob]

" ANyone got any ideas ? "

____ Give the 'Duke'/("bike" for mere bikers), a good/hard push (preferably down-hill, with motor warmed-up), with engine off & in neutral,, and then while up to best speed, QUICKLY drop the shift-lever into 1st-gear while the clutch-lever is held pulled-inward,
and then hope the clutch-plates break-loose.
__ If that more gentle method doesn't work for you, then for the next-step attempt,, while the engine is kept running at low-revs, very-quickly drop the shift-lever from neutral into 2nd-gear, while brakes are engaged & clutch is held in full-disengaged position.
And if the low-revs don't break-loose the clutch-plates, then keep trying the same process with ever increasing revs (until the spinning engine finally provides enough torque to break-loose the stuck-clutch). - (Less than 4k-RPM most always does it ! _ But I wouldn't ever try much over 5k.)
If you still don't achieve success, then let the motor completely cool-down, and try all those same processes all over again (in same order).
If the clutch still remains stuck, you may then have to dismantle everything and pry the plates apart manually.
____ I once had a 250SCR with it's plates really frozen-up together quite stubbornly, and so took that Duke for near a 3-mile ride in 1st-gear, constantly getting-on & off the throttle, the whole while with the clutch-lever held-in... When I returned back home thinking I was going to have to pull everything apart, I came to a stop in neutral (with motor quite well warmed-up by then), and with the engine running a bit above normal idle (as I had shut-off the fuel a quarter-mile sooner), I dropped the shift-lever into 2nd-gear which killed the engine (as intended) but also at the same time (finally!) broke-loose the clutch ! - (Which I wasn't really sure of until I next tried to kick-over the engine with clutch-lever pulled-in, and then found the kick-lever to slip-slide downward, as normal.)


DUKE-Cheers,
-Bob

[wcorey]

Very typical issue with any bike that has been sitting a while.
Another alternative is to put the front wheel up against something solid, like the garage or a car bumper, straddle and start the bike but stay standing, have someone pick up the rear while you put it in gear, rev it up a bit with the clutch lever in and drop the rear. If the wheel is still spinning rev up a bit more and sit down on it. Can also help to let the motor heat up a little first.
Bob's method of course has the advantage of being able to do it without assistance.

Bill

[DewCatTea-Bob]

" Another alternative is "

____ A less aggressive alteration of Bill's suggested method (which may still suffice to break-loose the plates), would be to have the Duke upon it's center-stand, and heavily apply the rear-brake (instead of dropping the wheel back to the ground).
And using a higher gear would be easier on the brake while putting more strain on the stuck-clutch, (with the clutch kept disengaged of course).


Hopeful-Cheers,
DCT-Bob

[Bevel bob]

My old merc used to stick the clutch every year and needed real heavy abuse to free it off,however one year in desperation I jacked it up and easily freed it off by hand rocking the wheel backwards!!, this also worked other times , makes no sense at all.On my 250 I'll bump start and just ride a bit with the clutch pulled in, soon frees with no abuse at all.

[ajleone]

Folks,
Thanks for the tips. The weather is finally breaking here in the north east, and it is lighter in the evening, so I am hoping to try this week. I will keep you posted and maybe include a pic or video.
Tony

[DewCatTea-Bob]

" Thanks for the tips. "

____ Be sure to let us know to what degree you had to go to get your clutch freed-up, Tony !


Hopeful-Cheers,
-Bob