obelix
Well-known member
I was about 500 miles on my holiday trip when I noticed clutch slipping when accelerating suddenly.
It makes the usual 2000 - 3000 rpm jump up when you turn the gas hard. So far so good.
I turned around and drove all the 500 miles back home again. The phenomen was there every time I accelerated from a gas station so I had to do it easy. Luckily I could chose a route on highways so no stopping except for gas. Arrived at home I tore the clutch open and found ... nothing.
All the clutch plates are fine. Thickness varies between 3,10 and 3,15mm, book says inferior limit is 2,8 so they are ok. Only very small black deposits.
All the friction plates look fine. Clutch plates were nicely wet, no shuddering or erratic operation. No probs when disengaging/engaging the clutch.
No sign of burning or discoloration associated to slipping.
The clutch spring on the outside looks ok and had tension, the bolts were tight.
All the parts seem never to have been apart before.
The weather was dry, the bike only lightly loaded. No rear tire slipping.
I have absolutely no clue what happens. :blink: The last thing I did was to change the clutch line to a longer stainless steel line as I mounted a different grab bar. I did another bleeding now but no bubles there. I changed to DOT 5.1 from 4.0 but the 5.1 is said to be completely mixable with 4.0 (the 5.0 is completely different and can not be mixed). The new line is routed cooler, behind a heat shield so I discard the hot fluid possibility.
The bike has only 12000 miles and the previous owner was also a careful driver, 60 yo and professional heavy truck mechanic. It's a GenI of 2004. I don't ride the clutch either, my Honda is still on the first clutch at 60000 miles.
Anyone any suggestions? I will stilll try to clean the clutch plates and soak them in a different oil. AFAIK the last oil change was done only 800 miles ago by a well known dealer, I got 3 liters of oil as spare and it seems it's the correct type. I hate to give this to a dealer as they are probably also clueless and have me pay for the time they wonder what happens. :angry:
It makes the usual 2000 - 3000 rpm jump up when you turn the gas hard. So far so good.
I turned around and drove all the 500 miles back home again. The phenomen was there every time I accelerated from a gas station so I had to do it easy. Luckily I could chose a route on highways so no stopping except for gas. Arrived at home I tore the clutch open and found ... nothing.
All the clutch plates are fine. Thickness varies between 3,10 and 3,15mm, book says inferior limit is 2,8 so they are ok. Only very small black deposits.
All the friction plates look fine. Clutch plates were nicely wet, no shuddering or erratic operation. No probs when disengaging/engaging the clutch.
No sign of burning or discoloration associated to slipping.
The clutch spring on the outside looks ok and had tension, the bolts were tight.
All the parts seem never to have been apart before.
The weather was dry, the bike only lightly loaded. No rear tire slipping.
I have absolutely no clue what happens. :blink: The last thing I did was to change the clutch line to a longer stainless steel line as I mounted a different grab bar. I did another bleeding now but no bubles there. I changed to DOT 5.1 from 4.0 but the 5.1 is said to be completely mixable with 4.0 (the 5.0 is completely different and can not be mixed). The new line is routed cooler, behind a heat shield so I discard the hot fluid possibility.
The bike has only 12000 miles and the previous owner was also a careful driver, 60 yo and professional heavy truck mechanic. It's a GenI of 2004. I don't ride the clutch either, my Honda is still on the first clutch at 60000 miles.
Anyone any suggestions? I will stilll try to clean the clutch plates and soak them in a different oil. AFAIK the last oil change was done only 800 miles ago by a well known dealer, I got 3 liters of oil as spare and it seems it's the correct type. I hate to give this to a dealer as they are probably also clueless and have me pay for the time they wonder what happens. :angry: