Clutch or possible Trans problem!!!!

[kdzomie]

Ok so I have a GS450t it is a good bike with only about 3200 miles on it. it runs strong starts great. However the clutch had a lot of play in it. it would only engage at the very end of the pull, and my wife was out riding it for about an hour today. When she got back I noticed right away that the clutch was worse. A little later after I looked in the book. It had told me under the clutch trouble shooting that I should place the bike in 2nd gear and slowly let out the clutch to see if it stalls or dies. It did not. I had the clutch all the way out and I could feel the bike kinda want to move but it did not budge. If I gave it gas it wanted to crawl forward like the clutch was in the friction zone. What do you guys think could be the problem.

 

[tkent02]

She burned up the clutch plates by slipping it too much, or more likely slipping it continuously.

 

[kdzomie]

ok so If the clutch plates are burned does that mean that all I need to do is replace them or if not what else should I do. I would like to get the clutch back to like new if I could I didn't like how bad it was in the first place.

 

[tkent02]

If that's what it is, new plates, new steels, new springs. But first take it apart and look. It might not be so bad. Could possibly be really badly out of adjustment.

Stick with stock Suzuki stuff, they are very good. The springs get shorter from being compressed for decades, which lets the clutch slip, which in turn burns it up if allowed to continue.
Had you caught it a while ago, when it first started slipping, new springs would have likely fixed it unless it's a really high mileage bike.

If the plates are in fact all burned up, change the oil and filter before running the engine.

With 3200 miles the plates would normally still be brand new.

Make sure you do all of the clutch adjustments correctly too.

Question for you, is there still some free play in the lever, or is the cable tight even with the lever released all the way??

 

[Nessism]

Most likely the clutch just needs to be adjusted.

 

[kdzomie]

ok so I just checked and the clutch still feels really tight no looseness or slack.

 

[tkent02]

Cool, adjust it properly and see if it works. Maybe you got lucky. There should always be a bit of slack in the cable when the lever isn't pulled in.

Still if it changed that much in a short ride there was a lot of slipping going on, it did some damage.

 

[Maddevill]

You must have some free play at the lever. If you don't then the plates are constantly slipping and that's what burns them out.

 

[Steve]

If I remember correctly (it has been a while), you adjust the clutch on a 450 by starting at the top. Adjust the wheel at the lever to get all the slack possible. Adjust the cable at the engine to ensure you have plenty of slack. Remove the cover at the left footpeg, adjust the helix to give just a little bit of slack. Adjust the cable at the engine to give just a little bit of slack. Finally, go back to the lever to take up any slack that is left.

After this, you should only have to make minor adjustments at the lever.

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[tkent02]

Finally, go back to the lever to take up any slack that is left.

After this, you should only have to make minor adjustments at the lever.

.

No, it needs to have a little bit of slack, not take it all up. The book says 2 - 3mm but more is merrier within reason. I know you meant that Steve, but he might not know what you meant.

 

[Steve]

No, it needs to have a little bit of slack, not take it all up. The book says 2 - 3mm but more is merrier within reason. I know you meant that Steve, but he might not know what you meant.

Thanks, Tom.

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[kdzomie]

hey I want to say thanks guys that worked out great it turns out like you said the clutch cable was just to tight.