Clutch Issues

[Del]

Evening Gents – wee question for you all got an issue with the clutch on me bike 

so here a bit of back ground – My bike lives in a heated Garage,– bike is parked in work all day in the elements, commute is about 10 miles nearly all motorway

Symptoms –  in the morning I start the bike run for a minute and then leave for work bike is fine no issues – after work I start the bike and the clutch feels tight – pull clutch engage 1st  go to move off and is feels like it's not fully engaging even feels like its slipping (Ive checked the clutch buy winding the throttle on while doing 50 mph it pulls away clean) – after a minute or so riding it's alright – Oil is less then 2K mileage on it – Now another possible issues is that on a few occasions the bike has not changed into gear you need to release the clutch and pull in again to get a gearchange I initially thought this was happening as I got new boots that were stiff – thought it worth mentioning

Now I've stripped the lever and cleaned all the moving parts rebuilt with red grease – chain is always at correct or near as dammed tension – the clutch fluid was changes about a year ago it clear

Today I've stripped off the clutch cover and cylinder – there was some crud in there bit nothing to write home about – cleaned all the casings – the pushrod – clutch cylinder – gutted the chain and lubed – hopefully this will sort it out

But any other ideas on what possible issues or how to resolve are welcome

All the best all the time

Del

[gsxbarmy]

I was going to say clutch pushrod, but you've already done that Del.

If symptoms persist, the only thing I can think of is maybe changing the seals in the master cylinder - possibly if the bike is out in the elements all day, then the rubbers are getting cold, thus a bit harder and less flexible - and overnight soften up with the warmth of the garage. I'm assuming you have braided lines so have discounted rubber brake pipes being a possible cause.

[seth]

I'd say with most problems on our clutches it's nearly always down to a sticking slave cylinder piston it doesn't take very much to affect crud to affect the clutch action.
@gsxbarmy had a link for adding a hyabusa slave cylinder extra boot filled with red grease to stop any crud getting into the slave cylinder .
(Many years ago a mate of mine brought a brand new Suzuki clutch and it didn't fix his clutch problems !
We stripped and cleaned the slave cylinder and it was like a new bike again( I got the clutch for fixing his bike tho I've no idea where I put it ))
As @Hooli 's bike shows these actual clutch's last for 100000 miles plus with no problems from the inside the motor parts.
Hopefully stripping and cleaning has sorted the problem.
Good luck buddy

[gsxbarmy]

@gsxbarmy had a link for adding a hyabusa slave cylinder extra boot filled with red grease to stop any crude getting into the slave cylinder .

http://gsx1400owners.org/forum/index.php?topic=259.0

[black14]

Agree - clutch good for lots of kms - and the Busa seal is a must do mod. If the fluid is dirty clean and flush the reservoir well when you're doing it and maybe fit a new slave seal as well - I had to do this to finally get clean fluid again.

[Hooli]

I disagree the busa seal is a must. It's a good idea but it took over 100k miles for mine to have issues without one & I'd never cleaned or stripped the slave cylinder in that time.

[grog]

Hooli, hard to disagree with you, youve done the mileage. Yeah, i fitted seal, No, never had fluid dis coloured before fitting. Choice of chain lube probably has a bit to do with it. So easy to flush clutch fluid, never worried me.

[Blubber]

I disagree the busa seal is a must. It's a good idea but it took over 100k miles for mine to have issues without one & I'd never cleaned or stripped the slave cylinder in that time.

- Can we conclude this then?

for those who use chain grease / spray it has benefits.

for those who use chain oil / scott oilers / osco's or other varieties it does not.

[Hooli]

What caused me to finally strip mine was road crud built up in front of the slave under that metal plate that goes over it. I don't know how much difference the type of lube makes, but I'd guess it's more down to riding on dirty roads.

[Del]

cheers for the responses chaps - a few ideas to take forward

the commute to the graft was okay think deep cleaning the chain and adjusting with a rag in the sprocket has helped gear changes

Was in office for 5 hours today - run home was a lot better no issues with the clutch I can think off but had some gear change problems - think Ill strip the gear change lever and clean and grease the gear change - over all happy chap again

Del

[black14]

I disagree the busa seal is a must. It's a good idea but it took over 100k miles for mine to have issues without one & I'd never cleaned or stripped the slave cylinder in that time.

No worries Hooli - your experience may be different.

for those who use chain grease / spray it has benefits.

for those who use chain oil / scott oilers / osco's or other varieties it does not.

There may be something to this - I use a spray.

hard to disagree with you, youve done the mileage

226k kms up - not sure this is relevant.

[VladTepes]

All this talk of seals; but while you say the fluid was changed a year ago, perhaps it needs bleeding.

[Hooli]

It shouldn't need bleeding unless there is a problem letting air in, which points to the seals.