Sticky Clutch?

[DRider]

While riding today, there were quite a few times when I was going from first to second gear, and it would lock in at neutral. This has happened today quite a good few more times than usual, in the past it's never really happened at all.

Also, while changing gears the bike would often not really go down in revs, regardless of the fact my hand would be off the throttle, and would make the same high-pitched revving sound while changing over, and would just sound "chokey". I really don't know how to explain how it sound, but all this has got me confused; was this just an unlucky day, or is my bike *already* falling apart?

If it helps at all, it was a pretty damn cold day? lol

 

[gpzDave]

Also, while changing gears the bike would often not really go down in revs, regardless of the fact my hand would be off the throttle, and would make the same high-pitched revving sound while changing over

You're going to need to go into more detail about the 'high-pitched revving sound', was this the engine revving by itself or another sound you've never heard before?

 

[DRider]

It was like if the bike was sitting in neautral and you turned the throttle fully. It was the engine revving by itself basically.

 

[AZZ3R]

it's not your clutch it's the lever,

if you chainging from 1st to 2nd and it's locking in Netural then it would be your lever you clutch will be working fine with regards to engaging and disengaging the plates.

I would suggest you make a video, put your cam on a stand or side and fire it up, put it in first gear and then try and change to 2nd and then back to netrual.

make sure the camera is on the gear side of the bike though, post it back in this tread when you do. will clear up a little more, also narrate while doing it just to double clear it up.

 

[DRider]

I'll need to try and get something that can take video first then I guess. I'll give it a good run over the next couple of days to try and work out if it was just a one-time deal, if I wasn't kicking it up hard enough, if it was bad throttle/clutch control, and basically just try to de-bunk if it was me who was the main cause, before I start looking at the mechanical side.

If problems persist, le video shall be uploaded. Thanks!

 

[gpzDave]

I bet it's just the choke.

I think that you might have left the choke on by accident, it's an easy thing to do and that would give the symptoms you described. Try using it with the choke fully off and I reckon it will be fixed.

 

[DRider]

No, sadly it's not. lol I used the choke to warm it up before I set off, the VL Intruder is really bad at handling with the cold, but it was fully down the rest of the time. I've put my idle down a bit to see if it might have had anything to do with that, as whenever it came to a stand-still it was still pretty high rev. I'll make a checklist of possible suspects and start to tick them off.

 

[gpzDave]

Is the choke lever on the handlebars or by the engine on your bike?

 

[DRider]

On the handlebars, on the right side of my clutch beside my left mirror. It's a pretty tough thing to move, and I checked it when I stopped, so I don't think I accidently switched it while riding. Always a possibility I guess.

 

[gpzDave]

It's a pretty tough thing to move

I reckon you may need to replace the cable, is this the first time you have used the choke in a while?

 

[DRider]

Nah, I have to use it every day I use it before I go riding, the engine on the Intruder is crap at handling cold, so it needs a little while with the choke to get going. The choke isn't the hardest thing in the world, but it just wouldn't move if you brushed your hand along it, it needs a bit of force.. if that makes any sense? lol

 

[AZZ3R]

If the gear is sticking from 1st - 2nd or sticking in any other gear and is hard to change.

Release the clutch and re-try it, use abit more force.

DO NOT TOUCH/ ADJUST YOUR IDLE SWTICH.

Tomorrow morning, start the bike using the choke, when the bike is warm and off the choke turn the idle swtich so the bike ticks over at 1.5 or 2k revs.

Make sure the bike is warm enough to do so, or go ride for 10min and then come back and do it.

Your idel should be at around 1.5 or 2k no more or less otherwise your either starving the bike of fuel or oil.

the next day use the choke to start the bike, and it should tick over on choke at around 3.5/4k of revs when you take the choke off it should tick back over at 1.5/2k

don't adjust it your only asking for more problems.

 

[DRider]

The problem is, my bike doesn't have a rev meter, so I have to do it by sound. My CBT instructor thought it was idleing too high when I did the CBT, so he put it down quite a bit as well, and said I may need to toggle it a bit. When it's sitting still it certinely sounds like it's doing more around the 2.5/3k rev level, which is why I adjusted it down a little bit. I'll see how it handles tomorrow though.

 

[gpzDave]

the next day use the choke to start the bike, and it should tick over on choke at around 3.5/4k of revs when you take the choke off it should tick back over at 1.5/2k

That is good advice, it's a shame you don't have a rev counter on your bike. But you could always film it and post it up here for us to ponder

 

[DRider]

Hehe, I'll go on the lookout for a helmet cam anyway, though right now I'm pretty broke. As I said, I'll play around a bit and see what happens, and hope it clears up. The cable connected to the clutch lever looks pretty rusty, so it might have something to do with that. Thank you very much for the help guys, I really appreciate the support! I'll buy you guys a beer some day.. w-when I turn 18, that is..

 

[gpzDave]

Hehe, I'll go on the lookout for a helmet cam anyway, though right now I'm pretty broke. As I said, I'll play around a bit and see what happens, and hope it clears up. The cable connected to the clutch lever looks pretty rusty, so it might have something to do with that. Thank you very much for the help guys, I really appreciate the support! I'll buy you guys a beer some day.. w-when I turn 18, that is..

One good test is to have the bike in 3rd gear at 20mph, then give it full throttle, if the engine just revs instead of accelerating the bike then your clutch may need adjusted. Just something to try.

 

[AZZ3R]

I'll buy you guys a beer some day.. w-when I turn 18, that is..

One good test is to have the bike in 3rd gear at 20mph, then give it full throttle, if the engine just revs instead of accelerating the bike then your clutch may need adjusted. Just something to try.

I will hold you to that.

And yea Dave has the right plan for the clutch test, check if it feels flush through-out the rev range. as you can't see it, roll the throttle all the way untill you can't anymore and check if it's a flush build up of revs, if it jerks then it may be your throttle cable or clutch is slightly dragging. I had the same problem easy to sort just by the feel and sound of the bike.

 

[CurlyBlakey]

You changed your oil recently? i know i've had problems like that that have been solved by changing the oil, is it like this?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3uKqNIdiGU[/youtube]

 

[DRider]

No, it doesn't take me about 5-10 attempts. It'll just not click up sometimes, I'll give it (what feels like) a full click, and it just sticks. At a couple of points, it went from first, to second, driving along, then back down to neutral without my foot being anywhere near the lever. Also, my bike's only been running for three weeks, I hope it doesn't already need an oil change!

 

[lauriejennifer]

My old Ninja 250 (2009) did that a lot. I was religious about oil changes and making sure the clutch lever and shift lever were proper, too. *shrug*

With the KLX, I developed a similar problem. I kept "missing shifts" and occasionally it would drop back down either to neutral (if in 2nd gear) or to the previous gear. I, at first, was worried that I was the problem. I assumed it was user error and I was just developing some sort of bad habit or sloppy technique out of nowhere.

Turned out to be the shift lever. The bolt holding it on to the shifting mechanism was loose, so the shift lever had too much "play." It shouldn't have any play. It should move as one unit. Tighten the screw, apply Locktite, and you're golden!

Oil change is also a good idea. If it's not slipping under load, but only while shifting, chances are good it's not the plates or springs. It's probably either a too tight or too loose clutch cable/lever, or (far more likely, in my opinion) a too loose shift lever. Check your shift lever.



For reference and example, here is a screen capture of the gear shift mechanism on my KLX. The bolt that was loose is what is "132" in this picture, allowing the shift lever too much (i.e., too much=ANY) independent play:

Hope that helps! If not, oh well. LOL Best of luck!