Clutch not engaging

[nandog30]

Hi,
I'm new to the forum and this site has been great help, so thank you first of all. My problem is I bought a non running bike and I was able to get it running, but when I pull the clutch lever in and engage the gear the bike dies. I bleed the the clutch and checked the master and slave cylinder and it all looks good. Any ideas?

[FJmonkey]

That is not much info to go on. Will the bike roll when in gear but the clutch lever pulled in? FJs have a side stand switch that will kill the engine if it is not in neutral. This switch can be bypassed for testing, don't leave it bypassed and risk dropping it. The more information you provide, the more help we can offer.

[nandog30]

The bike will roll when in gear with the clutch lever pulled in. The side stand switch was removed by the previous owner.

[nandog30]

Sorry for the lack of info, it's a 1990 FJ 1200 with 16k miles.

[movenon]

Sounds like your clutches might be stuck together? Has it been sitting for a long time ? IF that is what it is you can put your bike on the side stand (the oil will pool to the left side) and remove the clutch cover on the right side, easily to remove, inspect and soak the clutches in oil then reassemble. You should have a new clutch cover gasket on hand before you pull the cover. And please do not over TQ the cover bolts.

Here is a link so you will know what you are looking at http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=1808.0 . The information is for a "slipping" clutch but it shows you what the system looks like.

If the bike is new to you then it wouldn't be a bad idea to inspect it anyhow. RPM stocks the gasket http://www.rpmracingca.com/products.asp?cat=39. Send him an e mail. I think it was under 10.00, but I see for 20 some dollars you can get a gasket set.

There are other ways to try to unstick clutches but you might do more damage than good. The cover comes off easy and it is real simple to just pull the disks.

Just something to think about anyhow. And as fjmonkey stated there are some interlocks. But if your bike starts and when you put it in gear it larches forward or try's too, then it is probably in the clutch system it self ?

Oh, and "welcome" , let us know what you find out.  We are all learning. 
George

[nandog30]

Thanks George!!, I'll give a try.

[FJmonkey]

If the bike rolls while in gear and the clutch lever engaged then your friction plates are not stuck. Is the bike on the center stand?

[nandog30]

No, the bike doesn't have center stand.

[FJmonkey]

When the engine dies, does the bike lurch forward? Or does it die like you hit the off switch?

[nandog30]

It lurches forward.

[FJmonkey]

Try this, sit on bike, bike in 1st gear, clutch lever pulled in, attempt to start. Will the starter turn the engine over?

[nandog30]

Tried it, the starter won't turn the bike over.

[FJmonkey]

Tried it, the starter won't turn the bike over.

Then we are back to stuck clutch plates. I am just not sure how the bike can roll when in gear as stated earlier...

[FJmonkey]

Sometimes the plates can be knocked loose by rolling the bike forward and backward till it stops you. Back and forth a few times is all I need to un-stick them. Has it sat for long?

[nandog30]

I'll give that a try, the po said it sat for a season but you never know. I did open the clutch cover and inspected the plates, they seemed to move freely when I took a couple of them out.