Rear wheel won't turn after clutch bleed

[jvb_ca]

Can you really lose the clutch ball bearing when you remove the actuation rod?  I know of several people that have started the engine when the slave was off and shot the pushrod across the garage.  I don't recall any of them saying they lost the ball when this happened.  Just last week, I have the slave off and pulled the push rod out to clean the chain gunk off of it.  I didn't lose the bearing.  Does this really happen?

DavidR.

I have inadvertently started my FJ with the slave off and all it did was spew nice clean/fresh oil all over my leg. I have taken the pushrod out many times and have never even seen the little ball thing. Maybe I'm just lucky..

To free up sticky clutch plates, give it a good shove while in gear before you start it.

Cheers...Jake

[Travis398]

I did it too. Trying to find an oil leak, I took off the sprocket cover and slave. Started it up, the rod went flying and it pissed oil all over my leg.
I assume it was just marking its territory. 

I had a few moments of panic, thinking the ball was gone for good. I was outside at night and I knew I would never find it if it did come out.
But when I put the rod back in it worked fine, so I thought I was lucky it somehow stayed in.

[RichBaker]

Can you really lose the clutch ball bearing when you remove the actuation rod?  I know of several people that have started the engine when the slave was off and shot the pushrod across the garage.  I don't recall any of them saying they lost the ball when this happened.  Just last week, I have the slave off and pulled the push rod out to clean the chain gunk off of it.  I didn't lose the bearing.  Does this really happen?

DavidR.

It fell out on me when I replaced a broken shifter return spring..... Had to take the clutch completely apart to get to the spring. When I reassembled everything, the clutch lever was solid, I couldn't pull it in at all..... I figured out that the slave piston was bottomed against the case, because the ball had fallen out (probably pushed out by the spring in the slave cyl)........  I found it in the sump, was able to use a magnet to recover it.   Note the bold..... when the ball is missing, the clutch lever won't move!

[SlowOldGuy]

I can believe it can fall out if you disassemble the clutch.  My comment/observation was that I don't believe it will fall out if you simply remove the slave pushrod.

In your case, when you removed the disassembled the clutch, the spring in the slave cylinder pushed the ball out of the clutch side (is that correct?)

DavidR.

[RichBaker]

You are correct, David....  The main reason I made my post was to make note of the result of the ball going missing.  I'd say it is a key to the fact that Eskimo Dave did NOT lose his.... If you can pull in the lever, the ball is NOT missing!

[EskimoDave]

Okay ... sorry for not replying sooner but I was busy graduating from University  , moving  and trying to find a job  LOL! Today I finally had a chance to try everything suggested here by everyone ... I began by using a retractable magnet to remove the ball bearing I stupidly put in last week and then set out to re-bleed the system like Randy recommended. I did it once, the fluid was dirty when it came up the system so I did it again. This time after filling the reservoir I pumped the lever for a good ... well it felt like an hour ... it was firm but little bubbles kept coming so I kept going! Finally I got fed up and tried the back wheel with the clutch pulled in and the bike in gear ... again, the tire was hard to move but it did move a bit so I was encouraged!

I kept going with pumping the lever ... and once again got frustrated! This time I put the cover on the reservoir and tried to break plates apart if that was the cause! But nothing happened really ... I did what was suggested and the tire was still stuck! Anyway ... long story short, I was almost ready to give up and call it a day but figured what the hell, lets trying bleeding it one more time!

So away we went ... bled it and began to pump the lever again, this time the bubbles still came but they stopped pretty soon after I began to pump! I figured last try, put the cover on the reservoir and took the bike off the centre stand, started it up, expected nothing and put the bike in gear and let the clutch out and low and behold she took off on me!

I think it was Randy's suggestion, I got air in the system each time and needed to bleed it and re-bleed it to get it out! All I know is she is running again! I went for a 150 km ride after and haven't been this happy in ages, even walking across the stage last week and getting my degree didn't really compare, I just love to ride and love this bike!

Thank you everyone for your help! It was well appreciated!     

PS ... next is changing the fork seals so expect more questions and head scratching LOL!