Clutch stuck on 80 GS1000G

[JTGS850GL]

Working on my project 1980 GS1000G and discovered that the clutch seems to be stock. I can pull the clutch lever and feel the resistance. It's adjusted to give me maximum stroke, but if I try to turn her over in gear, with the clutch lever pulled in all the way, it still lurches forward.

History on the bike is unknown. I do know that it has sat for a long time. A couple years or more. What would be the next step? I'm betting that it means clutch disassembly. What should I be looking for?

 

[rustybronco]

Warped steels, frictions stuck together,...

 

[harley10]

Don't they just stick because they sit for long periods of time !!

 

[rustybronco]

Don't they just stick because they sit for long periods of time !!

Sure they do.

Stan's (flyboy) GK did. You could pick up the whole clutch stack and hold it a 90? angle. Nothing would fall off.

 

[Flyboy]

^^^ What they said, strip, clean, repack.

 

[barnbiketom]

start it up, get someone to push you so you can snick it into gear, and ride it with the clutch pulled in. I bet in less than a minute it will free up with NO ADVERSE AFFECTS..
done this many many times.. and yes they will stick when sittin a few years.

 

[ART]

start it up, get someone to push you so you can snick it into gear, and ride it with the clutch pulled in. I bet in less than a minute it will free up with NO ADVERSE AFFECTS..
done this many many times.. and yes they will stick when sittin a few years.

Yep, they do stick. Dry clutches more than wet, but wet will stick too. And the above method has worked for me ... although on a bike with the clutch easily accessible I might disassemble if I feel I have the time. It is (even) safer for the clutch.

 

[rustybronco]

Also, with an unknown quantity, it might be best to inspect the frictions and steels while it's down.

 

[Guest]

Yes, pulling the clutch basket might be good but you may want to try the easier method first. "start it up, get someone to push you so you can snick it into gear, and ride it with the clutch pulled in. I bet in less than a minute it will free up with NO ADVERSE AFFECTS", only being that you may open a can of worms so to speak. I've always found the bolts in the clutch basket to be rather temperamental, stripping, breaking etc... 'If' it clears up on it's own great, if not you'll know what you have to do next.

 

[Dogma]

start it up, get someone to push you so you can snick it into gear, and ride it with the clutch pulled in. I bet in less than a minute it will free up with NO ADVERSE AFFECTS..
done this many many times.. and yes they will stick when sittin a few years.

The 1000G will start in gear without clutch if it's tuned right. It would probably help to be warmed up already. Pull the clutch in once you're moving. That way you avoid banging things around if you don't get the speeds matched.

Or pull the cover and take the stack out. You don't even have to drain the oil if it's on the side stand.

 

[JTGS850GL]

I think I'll just go ahead and strip down the clutch. I have to pull the cover to polish it up anyway. Thanks for the alternative method though. May come in handy some day.

Really figure I should inspect it since I have no history on this bike. The clutch pull is a little harder then my 850 so it's possible they've installed aftermarket springs in there. Just need to see what's happening.

 

[JTGS850GL]

OK, I took the clutch apart and they were NOT stuck together. I cleaned each one and repacked the clutch. The basket did not have any indentations from the plates. You could see discoloration on the basket where the plates intersect it but nothing you could feel. The inserts inside the springs had no notches cut into them either. The springs looked new and had a red stripe down one side.

After I repacked the clutch and adjusted the lever I still have a good amount of drag. I could lock up the rear wheel with a crow bar and crank the engine over. It would crank a little slow at first and then start to crank normal. If I tried to crank it while sitting on it, it would try to pull me forward with the clutch in. With my GS850 I can turn the rear wheel by hand when in gear and the clutch pulled in so a definite difference between the two.

What's next? What's the best way to check for warped plates? Do the springs sound like stock with the red stripe?

 

[Guest]

When the bike is warm and oil is flowing between the fibers/plates it is a whole different scenario.

 

[JTGS850GL]

When the bike is warm and oil is flowing between the fibers/plates it is a whole different scenario.

I'd agree but for the difference between my 850 and the 1000. If I start my 850 in gear with the clutch pulled in, there's no drama. If I try to crank the 1000 while in gear and the clutch pulled in, it tries to move me forward.

 

[Crankthat]

OK, I took the clutch apart and they were NOT stuck together. I cleaned each one and repacked the clutch. The basket did not have any indentations from the plates. You could see discoloration on the basket where the plates intersect it but nothing you could feel. The inserts inside the springs had no notches cut into them either. The springs looked new and had a red stripe down one side.

After I repacked the clutch and adjusted the lever I still have a good amount of drag. I could lock up the rear wheel with a crow bar and crank the engine over. It would crank a little slow at first and then start to crank normal. If I tried to crank it while sitting on it, it would try to pull me forward with the clutch in. With my GS850 I can turn the rear wheel by hand when in gear and the clutch pulled in so a definite difference between the two.

What's next? What's the best way to check for warped plates? Do the springs sound like stock with the red stripe?

Check plates by laying flat on a piece of glass or mirror.

Would check your clutch cable. Hangs, stretch, routed without any chance of binding.

When adjusting clutch cable make sure you have just a small bit of play before it engaged. (someone able to give measurement as I do by feel?)

Check inside of basket to insure not scared and holding up plates.

Count all plates and make sure numbers are right.

Find parts fich and ensure you have everything.

Make sure bearings are present and free spinning, not warped.

Check measurements for plates and make sure correct plates on unknown bike.

Would make sure the tach is working correctly in bike with unknown history.

Hope you figure it out!

 

[Guest]

Is your hub stripped?

 

[Guest]

If it's been sitting go out and ride it awhile, get the clutch warm and see what happens. Maybe the plates swelled a little during their hiatus.

 

[JTGS850GL]

Is your hub stripped?

Nothing stripped or loose that I can tell. I'll pull the clutch again and check each plate for thickness and warpage spec. Haven't fired her up since purchased since I'm waiting on some gaskets to arrive.

How many clutch plates should I have for a stock 1980 GS1000G clutch?

 

[barnbiketom]

Haven't fired her up since purchased since I'm waiting on some gaskets to arrive.

I think I'd ignore this symptom then.. but running, it may well be OK..you may just have done needless work??
just my 2 cents here.....