Hi guys, I've been the proud owner of a 3ln1 for about 18 months and have been lurking on the forum for a while. I have been able to fix most problems I have had with the help of existing posts but I think I have a new one. I changed the oil the other day with Motul 5100. Checked the levels and rode it to work the next day with no problems. The second day after the oil change, I got about 1km from home, cruising at about 60km/h when it felt like it just slipped out of gear. I pulled over and found that it was still in gear but seemed like the clutch was just not gripping. While stationary, I could let the clutch out in any gear and go no where but would hear a slight friction noise. When the engine was off it would still roll while in gear. I started the long push home (all up hill) and thought I would give it one more go. Started up, clicked into gear, clutch out and way I went. Rode straight home and took the car to work. Does anyone have any idea what the cause may be? I thought maybe just oil on clutch plates but why now with nice new oil in it? I am hesitant to ride it as I don't want to lose gears miles up the highway. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Cheers Andrew
It is extremely unusual to start slipping while you had not been using the clutch, and then come good again. <!-- s:-? --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_Eyecrazy.gif" alt=":-?" title="Eye Crazy" /><!-- s:-? --> It is not likely that the oil pushed the plates apart. Check the clutch cable adjustment, make sure you have some slack in the clutch cable when the lever is totally released. If that does not fix the problem, last resort, pull the clutch cover off and in the centre if the pressure plate is a screw and a locknut. Loosen the locknut and back the screw out about 1 turn. Retighten the locknut. Check the cable slack again.
Thanks Dave. There is a bit of slack in the clutch cable so I will try adjusting the screw in the pressure plate. Does the clutch cover have a gasket? I think I read somewhere that you can take the clutch cover off without draining the oil, is this right? BTW I rode into work today with no problems. It may have been just a one off but I want to make sure everything is good as I am still nervous about it happening again when I am further from home. Cheers
The clutch cover does have a gasket. With the bike on the sidestand you will drool a little onto the ground but not much. Dave - from the 400 manual, back the adjusting screw out 1/4 turn from 'light contact'.
Thanks for the info on the adjuster, Don. I did not look but I knew it did not want much clearance. I don't recall mine leaking when I removed the clutch cover as it is on the opposite side to the side stand. Might be different story when upright on a bike stand.
With the bike full upright, you will drain your oil all over yourself and the bench when you pull the clutch cover... <!-- s:-? --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_Eyecrazy.gif" alt=":-?" title="Eye Crazy" /><!-- s:-? -->
As it turns out it wasn't a problem with my clutch at all. What had happened was that my front sprocket had come off and was sitting in the cover. When I had the bike leaned over the other way it must have slipped back on so I could ride home but the nut was still off. All fixed with some locktight. <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_redface.gif" alt="" title="Embarassed" /><!-- s -->
You do realise there's a splined lockwasher that's supposed to hold the sprocket nut on? With the nut torqued, and one wing of the washer bent over to interfere with a flat of the nut, it should be impossible for the nut to back off.
Yeah, I know that there is SUPPOSED to be one, but the washer had been replaced at some point. All good now but I am not looking forward to changing the front sprocket next time it needs to be replaced.
If you used blue Loctite, you should be fine - you should need an air gun or breaker bar anyway. If you used red Loctite, you'll need to get in there with a brazing torch to break up the thread locker. Clean out the gunk first - few-thousand-degree flames + accumulated grease = Fire Department.
