Notchy Clutch?

[Eisenfarn]

Hi, the clutch on my K5 has started to feel a bit "notchy", is it time to start looking for a clutch kit?, thanks.

[Mick_J]

If it's feeling notchy I would strip it down first because that sounds like the basket needs attention to me.  If it mild you might be able to dress it up but if not its a replacement job.

[seth]

I would be checking the slave cylinder before going into the clutch itself as clutch and baskets don't normally give any problems but slave cylinders are known to corrode and stick.
Also see in the tips section @gsxbarmy's
tip for reducing slave cylinder corrosion by fitting a hyabusa slave cylinder rubber seal.

[gsxbarmy]

It might be the clutch pushrod is mucky - common problem, as it can get a bit clogged up with grease etc being flung from the chain.

If you take the gearbox sprocket cover off, and then take off the assembly holding the clutch slave cylinder, you'll be able to see the clutch push road and give it a good clean. I'd also put new clutch fluid in as well to obviate that possibility, and finally take off the clutch lever and give that a good grease up (be careful you don't lose the small brass insert when you take the lever out).

You might also want to consider this http://gsx1400owners.org/forum/index.php?topic=259.0 as an option once all cleaned up to help reduce corossion (as mentioned by @seth above)

[KiwiCol]

The condition of the slave can sometimes be assessed by the colour of the fluid.  Is yours quite discoloured?  If yes, that's a sign muck is getting into the system via the slave.
Before doing anything too drastic, I'd be doing a full bleed on the clutch system, new fluid, clean the push rod & bung on the busa seal & see how it is then. Cost is very minimal to do that as a starter.

2p worth from down under.

[Mister Fishfinger]

Good advice in the above posts. My clutch was notchy and heavy when I first bought my 14. Slave cylinder was weeping fluid as well. I stripped it all out, fitted the extra seal (as per the excellent how-to on this site), bled the system with new fluid and it was 300% better.

[Eisenfarn]

Great guys, thanks. I'll check out the fluid / slave at the onset.

[Hooli]

While you're in there take the metal cover off the slave, you'll see this once you remove the slave assembly. I bet it's crudded up behind that too. Mine got so manky the clutch slipped when cold as the crap was so solid it didn't let the pushrod move back fully when the lever was released.

[Andre]

Switching to gear oil for chain lube greatly reduced the crap. Thank you @grog