birkdale10
Well-known member
I have read all I could about other people's problems with clutches, but I haven't seen exactly my problem, so I will start a new discussion, with enough info (I hope) and a couple of questions.
2005 FJR, 55k miles, bought in Oct 2004. I ride almost daily to work. (see my 'introductory' post for bragging). In the last few months, the shifting has gotten clunkier. Now, it is also getting hard to shift, and neutral finding is a hit-or-miss thing. Very frustrating at a light - gentle nudge times about 7 usually gets it to finally find neutral.
I have large hands and the lever adjustment is all the way out. Clutch engagement seems to start about a millimeter away from the grip. At a light it almost seems to be trying to move forward with the lever in.
I changed the clutch fluid two weeks ago. I think that was the second time I had changed it, and please don't beat me up about it. I realize I should do it more often, and that may be my problem, or related to it. I used my mitivac to change it, and it was easy. But the instructions I used for that job suggested that I NOT completely empty the reservoir. However I read here that maybe I SHOULD completely suck it dry and then carefully refill it and bleed it.
That's the first possible question? Should I just do that? Best way to do a complete flush? Pictures online?
I also read about buying a gasket and taking off the sidecover and cleaning, brushing, whatever the clutch plates. Any pictures of anyone that has done this job online? How much fairing needs to be removed for this job?
Is it likely that the clutch plates are actually worn out? I know that people have 3, 4, 5 times as much mileage as I have. With original clutch plates?
2005 FJR, 55k miles, bought in Oct 2004. I ride almost daily to work. (see my 'introductory' post for bragging). In the last few months, the shifting has gotten clunkier. Now, it is also getting hard to shift, and neutral finding is a hit-or-miss thing. Very frustrating at a light - gentle nudge times about 7 usually gets it to finally find neutral.
I have large hands and the lever adjustment is all the way out. Clutch engagement seems to start about a millimeter away from the grip. At a light it almost seems to be trying to move forward with the lever in.
I changed the clutch fluid two weeks ago. I think that was the second time I had changed it, and please don't beat me up about it. I realize I should do it more often, and that may be my problem, or related to it. I used my mitivac to change it, and it was easy. But the instructions I used for that job suggested that I NOT completely empty the reservoir. However I read here that maybe I SHOULD completely suck it dry and then carefully refill it and bleed it.
That's the first possible question? Should I just do that? Best way to do a complete flush? Pictures online?
I also read about buying a gasket and taking off the sidecover and cleaning, brushing, whatever the clutch plates. Any pictures of anyone that has done this job online? How much fairing needs to be removed for this job?
Is it likely that the clutch plates are actually worn out? I know that people have 3, 4, 5 times as much mileage as I have. With original clutch plates?