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Slightly slipping clutch?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Odinist
  • Start date Start date
O

Odinist

Guest
Motorcycle clutches are weird. :confused:

Haha, anyway, I'm not sure what my symptoms would describe (new plates, new springs, etc.), so let me tell you guys what's going on. My clutch is, for the most part, fine. If I'm leisurely going through the gears, each gear grabs like you'd expect it to. But, if I really get on it, it'll slip up past about 7K, and it'll slip a bit when the next gear is engaged, then catch, and pull hard up until around 7K, repeat.

From what I've read through searching, this is most likely just my springs?
 
If you use the search function you will find that most of the time a margionally slipping clutch can be traced to old springs. Of course, you should measure the plates while the clutch is apart so you don't have to guess as to the cause.
 
Springs are the likely culpret but a set of plates is only a little over $100, perhaps less so as long at you are there............................;)
 
Nessism said:
If you use the search function you will find that most of the time a margionally slipping clutch can be traced to old springs. Of course, you should measure the plates while the clutch is apart so you don't have to guess as to the cause.
Click to expand...

Measure the plates? Like, for the amount of material that's on them?
 
Yep, measure the thickness of the plates. All service manuals have the specs for minimum thickness.

I have not seen any that were too thin, but I have not been inside that many clutches, either.
I have, however, replaced several sets of springs, and that fixed the problem every time.

.
 
Steve said:
I have not seen any that were too thin
Click to expand...

Heres one thats too thin......or should I say too gone ! This was a Barnett clutch fiber that disappeared. Probably from using old weak springs and energy conserving valvoline car oil.

100_4537.jpg
 
AH YEP...THEY'RE SHOT!

GREAT pics, Dave. Why did you run the Valvoline with the additives, anyway? :p ;)
 
I think your bike probably has the style of clutch where the cable comes across the rear of the engine and moves a lever right over the clutch, right? If not and it's like mine where the cable acts on a rod on the left side make sure your adjustment there is correct. I had an itty bitty bit of preload or lack of clearance and was getting a little slip when I twisted hard enough in low gears. Probably a sign of weak springs or worn parts...

/\/\ac
 
I'd just drop in springs and see where that gets ya.

No need to disassemble the clutch -- just replace the springs one at a time.
 
bwringer said:
I'd just drop in springs and see where that gets ya.

No need to disassemble the clutch -- just replace the springs one at a time.
Click to expand...


Awesome, sounds nice and easy. Drain the oil, pull the clutch cover, take out a bolt, bring out the spring, put in new spring, tighten bolt back in?

I've ordered the springs from BikeBandit today, so if they ship quick this may be my weekend project.
 
Just a quick report back... the springs fixed the problem! :D

And let me say, holy crap, when you can wring these things all the way up to redline, they are SCARY! Hahaha. Freakin' love this new 750... :)
 
Here is a link for replacement springs for $14 + shipping for '80 GS750L and probably a $6 clutch cover gasket....

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.co...ance-Spring-Set-1980-Suzuki-GS750L-Parts.aspx

My Venture only slipped at 5k or higher when accelerating hard and a $15 set of springs fixed the problem. All 6 old springs were almost 1/4" below acceptable length as listed in the shop manual, from years of compression.
I removed all my clutch plates and soaked them in Kerosene as per the manual, dried them off, inspected and measured(worn but still acceptable meat on them), scuffed them up with very fine sand paper, soaked them in 10W-40 engine oil, re-installed with 6 new clutch springs and have had no more issues for the last 2k miles and counting.
NOTE: the clutch lever pull will be noticably stronger, so some folks only replace half of the springs. Some folks peen the metal clutch plates too.

The point is that unless your clutch plates looked messed up, new springs are usually the only fix needed(and a lot cheaper)...and if you replace the plates but don't check for faulty springs, you'll probably have the same issues shortly anyway.
 
lurch12_2000 said:
Here is a link for replacement springs for $14 + shipping for '80 GS750L and probably a $6 clutch cover gasket....

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.co...ance-Spring-Set-1980-Suzuki-GS750L-Parts.aspx
Click to expand...

I got my springs from BikeBandit, for less than $14, and that included shipping.

lurch12_2000 said:
The point is that unless your clutch plates looked messed up, new springs are usually the only fix needed(and a lot cheaper)...and if you replace the plates but don't check for faulty springs, you'll probably have the same issues shortly anyway.
Click to expand...

Yup, which is why I just replaced my springs the other night. Fixed the problem right up.
 
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