Clutch Problems (still)

[ryanschoebel]

Thread jack away. So long as I find my answer, I don't really care what's talked about

[Pat Conlon]

In my parts bin, I have a working low mileage '92 m/c I can send you...how about that?

[ryanschoebel]

In my parts bin, I have a working low mileage '92 m/c I can send you...how about that?

I want to say yes, but I'm hesitant to do it, find out it's something else, and have you be out the part. If I can narrow it down to the m/c, I'll gladly take you up on it.

[Pat Conlon]

Sorry, I have a front brake m/c...not clutch m/c. I do know where the clutch m/c went (Paul Lawson) so if you need it....I'll give him a shout.

[ryanschoebel]

Sorry, I have a front brake m/c...not clutch m/c. I do know where the clutch m/c went (Paul Lawson) so if you need it....I'll give him a shout.

Hey Pat, not a problem. I did what Monkey said, and warmed it up,and it's not having the problem anymore. It does jerk a bit when I shift into first (on the center stand)  but then the wheel stops after a second. I'm gonna take it for a quick ride,and see what happens. I suspect that jerk may simply be a loose bolt at the slave.

[Pat Conlon]

Well, ok then...

Ride Well and Report back...

[FJmonkey]

That jerk is the pimple faced kid at the parts counter that said you ordered the wrong part, it was not his mistake you ordered a Vespa part. 

The FJ transmission tends to have a harsher transition than others when going from neutral to first. Get yourself to a rally and ride with other FJs. Imagine, all stopped at a light and sitting in neutral when it looks like the light is about to turn green. Thunk, Thunk, Thunk etc... Most of us know this as a fundamental truth and like many of the other noises our FJs make, we consider it part of the song it sings to us. The clunk/jerk will be less pronounced when all is warmed up. You really don't need to be in gear till the choke is off anyway.

Make sure you have your idle set to a proper 1100/1200 RPM, a faster idle will make the clunk harsher than it needs to be.

Oil viscosity plays a part. It also affects the starter clutch when things are cold. I know Phoenix is high desert and can drop to freezing some nights. So while I am on this train of thought here is another issue you might experience. You hit the start button and the starter either fails to engage (just spins fast) or starts to spin the engine then slips and spins freely. WTF? So you start it again with similar results, till if finally catches and fires up. This caught me off guard during a rally farther North than my normal temperatures. Randy was in attendance and set me straight on what was causing my starting issues. So file this away for later.

Looking forward to hear how your test ride went.

[ryanschoebel]

The test ride went great. The clutch felt more responsive than ever, and shifted wonderfully. A few times, my idle didn't come down like I expected it to when I pulled in the clutch, but I'll chock that down to the bike not having been ridden in a month.  I'll put some sea foam in, and fill it up.

Thanks for the help all. Now I just need to fix that stripped bolt on the slave, and all will be well.

[FJmonkey]

Great news, you can ride again. 

[ryanschoebel]

Great news, you can ride again. 

No one is happier than me haha. I guess all it took was a month of failing, and I'm still not sure what peice fixed it. But a little advice from the guru's, and a little courage, and it works great! Big thanks to you Monkey,for all the help and advice, as well as Pat and Randy for all the help they gave me. Another big thanks to Randy in particular, for helping me choose what parts I needed, and helping me with all of my rediculous questions, about anything and everything involved.

Much appreciated,

Ryan

[red]

No one is happier than me haha.  Much appreciated,
Ryan

Ryan,

Many times, that big "clunk" into first gear happens because the oil is still cold and thick.  The clutch plates can be stuck together then.  Try this: Start the bike normally, and give it a moment running, to warm up everything.  Pull the clutch lever, hold it in, and rev the engine gently.  Let the engine idle, then rev it again once or twice.  Still holding in the clutch lever in, select first gear.  I am betting the "clunk" will be very minor then, maybe just a "click." 

Revving the engine with the clutch disengaged causes (allows) the cold clutch plates to separate, and then the gears should just click together.  That trick is 'way better than using the gears to separate the clutch plates by force.  Any bike with a multi-plate clutch can have the cold-clunk-into-gear problem, and the fix may be just this simple for most of them.
.

[ryanschoebel]

No one is happier than me haha.  Much appreciated,
Ryan

Ryan,

Many times, that big "clunk" into first gear happens because the oil is still cold and thick.  The clutch plates can be stuck together then.  Try this: Start the bike normally, and give it a moment running, to warm up everything.  Pull the clutch lever, hold it in, and rev the engine gently.  Let the engine idle, then rev it again once or twice.  Still holding in the clutch lever in, select first gear.  I am betting the "clunk" will be very minor then, maybe just a "click." 
.

Red,

I wasn't too concerned about it, considering I had it on the center stand at the time. I figured that was the case, and it's always clucked just a bit. It didn't feel or sound any different on my test ride today. Great bit of advice though, I will definitely keep it in mind! Thanks!

[racerrad8]

Also, to ensure you are getting full disengagement, you need to look at the brass bushing in the clutch lever. They wear on both on the outside surface area and where the plunger goes into the brass bushing.

Here is a post about this very issue: http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=15382.0

Randy - RPM

[Urban_Legend]

Hi All

At the risk of Hijacking this thread, just some advice please about the "Clunk". I reacently noted some excessive clutch slippage when doing "spirted" overtaking and dropping from 5th back to 4th. I have orded a new set of clutch fibres to be installed (waiting on a new gasket). But i have noticed since the slippage that I am now getting a serious clunk changing through all gears, and even a bit of "grinding" occaisionally. Is this directly related to my clutch wear? The leaver still feels good, and no leakage.

Ta
Mark

Sorry for the hijack.

[ryanschoebel]

Sorry for the hijack.

Hijack away, I have found my answers.

Ryan