what is clutch slippage?

[smokienutz]

Please explain to me exactly what clutch slippage is.

thanks

[crazypaint]

when u give the bike gas the rpm's go up but the bike dosent go any faster. u will give it gas like i said and the rpm's go up. u notice the bike isnt going faster then as u relize that the bike slowly catches up to the rpm's

[smokienutz]

would it act like the clutch is out? can u shift thru gears w/out using the clutch cable?

[Steve]

when u give the bike gas the rpm's go up but the bike dosent go any faster. u will give it gas like i said and the rpm's go up. u notice the bike isnt going faster then as u relize that the bike slowly catches up to the rpm's

would it act like the clutch is out? can u shift thru gears w/out using the clutch cable?

Must be an epidemic here, everybody's "Y" and "O" are broken or missing on the keyboards.


Smokienutz, when you say "the clutch is out", do you mean "the clutch is not working" or "the clutch lever is out"?

"Clutch slippage" is just what it sounds like, and crazypaint described it quite well (in spite of all the missing letters). Usually in the upper RPM range or with large throttle openings, the clutch will slip, the engine will speed up, the rest of the bike won't.

One of the most common causes is worn springs, but the fiber disks could be worn or there could be grooves in the inside of the clutch basket. Just open up the clutch cover, measure the springs (they will likely be too short), measure the thickness of the fiber disks (they will likely be OK, unless you have been doing a LOT of racing), inspect the inside of the clutch basket. You will need a new gasket (about $10). New springs are $20-25. New fibers are $75+. I have never priced a basket but I know it won't be cheap.

My money is on just needing springs and a gasket.

.

[smokienutz]

when u give the bike gas the rpm's go up but the bike dosent go any faster. u will give it gas like i said and the rpm's go up. u notice the bike isnt going faster then as u relize that the bike slowly catches up to the rpm's

will it only do this @ high rpm's? because mine is doing doing this in first at start up.

[chef1366]

The crank is spinning the clutch hub and the fibers and steels aren't grabbing and just spinning on each other so it's not turning the inner clutch hub as the same speed. The inner clutch is connected to the tranny.

[smokienutz]

The crank is spinning the clutch hub and the fibers and steels aren't grabbing and just spinning on each other so it's not turning the inner clutch hub as the same speed. The inner clutch is connected to the tranny.

so.. to fix this? i need a new clutch?

[chef1366]

so.. to fix this? i need a new clutch?

Could be clutch adjustment and/or
Springs sagging and/or
Worn clutch fibers and steels and/or
wrong oil

[smokienutz]

Could be clutch adjustment and/or
Springs sagging and/or
Worn clutch fibers and steels and/or
wrong oil

i know the PO before put castrol hi milage oil in it. after i got it home i drained it.. now it has castrol (white jug) in it,10w40.

[Steve]

so.. to fix this? i need a new clutch?

Just look three posts earlier in the thread.

One of the most common causes is worn springs, but the fiber disks could be worn or there could be grooves in the inside of the clutch basket. Just open up the clutch cover, measure the springs (they will likely be too short), measure the thickness of the fiber disks (they will likely be OK, unless you have been doing a LOT of racing), inspect the inside of the clutch basket. You will need a new gasket (about $10). New springs are $20-25. New fibers are $75+. I have never priced a basket but I know it won't be cheap.

My money is on just needing springs and a gasket.

.

[Calvin Blackmore]

prior to opening anything
read the manual and follow the adjustment procedure

it may blow your mind as to just how far off an adjustment can be and how it affects clutch performance

[Kcwiro]

clutch cable adjustment is a snap... if your clutch handle moves more than the thickness of a quarter you need to give it a touch adjustment. Working on fixing my own clutch slippage issue. Springs were way under service spec...and plates were flat.... try the cable first if not takign the clutch cover off is a piece of cake...I should know I did it last weekend

[smokienutz]

well i fixed the cluth issue. the PO had the wrong parts on it. i got a new spring and oiled the screw assembly. lol 2 hrs later got her shifting rite. when i bought the bike she had 5 gears, now she has 6 . o and added the nut that is on the set screw. i also fixed alot of oil spray. i replaced the phillips screws w/ stainless steal allenheads and seems to be working good. just have a few leaks and a few bolts and she be road ready. i am hoping to get the shifter gasket done soon. she is spilling alot of oil. head gasket needs replaced but i am not that confident yet for that one.

[850 Combat]

For what its worth, if you ever experience clutch slippage in anything, car, bike, whatever, back out of the throttle and allow the clutch to hook up. My old girl friend had her clutch cable adjusted too tight on her Subaru. When it slipped, she gave more throttle in order to get the acceleration she wanted. This resulted in overheating the clutch and caused it to glaze. I corrected the cable adjustment, but it still wasn't right after that.

Incredibly, one of her friends used the car and her response to the slipping was the same. Gas it.

It is best not to allow the slippage to continue. Clutches tend to slip in higher gears, because torque on them is higher than in the lower gears. Ir you have slippage on hills for instance, you might get over the hill without slippage with a downshift.

[smokienutz]

well i broke down and i am paying a mechanic to fix this one. not a bad price imo. 800 bucks to replace the upper gaskets and adjust timing and valves.