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HELP! Clutch or Spline Issue I think.

  • Thread starter Thread starter jchaplick21
  • Start date Start date
J

jchaplick21

Guest
Hello all,

I am new to the forum and new to bikes and new to GS bikes. So just plain new in general.

I need help. I just bought an 81 Suzuki GS650GL that needs some work. Its in great shape, and it runs and has low miles. The issue I have is that while it shifts positively into each gear and runs, the engine is free revving. It feels sort of like a clutch issue but Ive also read about the rear splines being stripped as well. If you run it in gear with the back wheel lifted the back wheel spins, and if you squeeze the driveshaft boot you can feel the drive shaft spinning. But if the bike is on the ground it wont move when in gear. The bike was driven last year quite often and the issue started suddenly.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what this could be?
 
jchaplick21 said:
If you run it in gear with the back wheel lifted the back wheel spins, and if you squeeze the driveshaft boot you can feel the drive shaft spinning. But if the bike is on the ground it wont move when in gear.
Click to expand...
What happens when you try to run it with the wheel on the ground?

Obviously you will need a helper, but see if the driveshaft is turning. If it is, bet on the splines being bad.

.
 
"If you run it in gear with the back wheel lifted the back wheel spins, and if you squeeze the driveshaft boot you can feel the drive shaft spinning. "

What happens to boot " feel" if you apply the rear brake - and are there any odd unpleasant noises?
 
Seems simplest to remove the rear wheel and look...
 
Very simple, and it sure sounds like the splines, but I didn't think the 650s had spline issues? Maybe someone tried too many burnouts or wheelies or something.
 
Yep, the 650s definitely could suffer from the same "soft spline" issues. If it's a later '81, it definitely could have had the soft "gold" spline.

The spline is the exact same part, and it wears out more from miles than from abuse. The metal just wasn't hardened properly for this usage.
 
tkent02 said:
It's the same?? I thought everything in there was smaller.
Click to expand...

The final drive (the "pumpkin") is different, but the driven spline coupler in the wheel is the same part.
 
Steve said:
What happens when you try to run it with the wheel on the ground?

Obviously you will need a helper, but see if the driveshaft is turning. If it is, bet on the splines being bad.

.
Click to expand...

The bike will roll while in gear if I push it along the ground. Also the drive shaft does turn when it's running.

I haven't really noticed any unpleasant noises.

I suppose I should just take the rear wheel off and check haha
 
Ok, so now I've tried a bunch of things and I'm back to thinking it's the clutch. There is no disconnect between the rear wheel and the drive shaft.

with the bike on the center stand, I can put the bike in gear without even using the clutch. And it makes the back wheel spin. If I pull the clutch it takes a couple seconds for it to disengage, not just the wheel to stop free spinning, but actually disengage. (This is easier to tell when it's on the ground) when you give it throttle you can even stop the back wheel and the drive shaft from spinning with your hands, it feels like it's trying to grab but it can't.

Does this sound like the clutch to you guys?

Please let let me know
 
You are saying that the clutch does not grab hard enough to drive the bike? :-k

The first thing I would check is adjustment, to make sure the cable (and any other linkage) is not keeping pressure on.

.
 
Steve said:
You are saying that the clutch does not grab hard enough to drive the bike? :-k

The first thing I would check is adjustment, to make sure the cable (and any other linkage) is not keeping pressure on.

.
Click to expand...

the clutch arm moves, and returns. What else is there to check?

Im pretty much a beginner at this, so explain things the best you can. I appreciate it greatly.
 
The clutch arm may move, but is all tension taken off the cable? When you are not pulling on the clutch lever, there should be some slack on the cable. The lever should be free to jiggle a little. I think the manual calls for about 2mm of clearance between the lever and the housing, up near the pivot point. If there is no play there, it's possible that everything is simply too tight, which prevents the springs from pushing on the disks properly.

Where on this big blue marble do you call "home"? Someone might be close enough to stop by and help.

Feel free to take a few moments to update your profile to show your location and your bike, so we don't have to ask. :oops:

.
 
It may not be. I'm going to try right now.granted I can't turn the bike on but it's worth a shot.

I am in seaside nj.
 
Not to be too pointed about this, but can you please take the daggum rear wheel off already and look?

What you describe (a weak connection between the bike and rear wheel, with weird noises) is exactly what happens when the driven spline in the rear wheel goes blooey. And this part goes blooey on EVERY 81+ GS shaftie at some point (some early '81 models had the earlier black spline). Every last one -- Suzuki had a run of weak spline couplers in the '80s.

And the more you dink around with it, the more you're chewing up the matching splines in the final drive.

When you hear hoofbeats, don't automatically assume zebras. There are lots of things things this could be, of course, but you have to remove the rear wheel and look for the highest-percentage option before you start taking the engine apart.

If you poke around, there are plenty of pics and info showing the part and what to look for.

(Lots of info and pics here)
http://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...l-Removal-Final-Drive-Unit-Hub-Spine-Greasing

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?173608-How-robust-is-the-GS850-shaft-drive
 
good advice here.....

bwringer said:
Not to be too pointed about this, but can you please take the daggum rear wheel off already and look?

What you describe (a weak connection between the bike and rear wheel, with weird noises) is exactly what happens when the driven spline in the rear wheel goes blooey. And this part goes blooey on EVERY 81+ GS shaftie at some point (some early '81 models had the earlier black spline). Every last one -- Suzuki had a run of weak spline couplers in the '80s.

And the more you dink around with it, the more you're chewing up the matching splines in the final drive.

When you hear hoofbeats, don't automatically assume zebras. There are lots of things things this could be, of course, but you have to remove the rear wheel and look for the highest-percentage option before you start taking the engine apart.

If you poke around, there are plenty of pics and info showing the part and what to look for.

(Lots of info and pics here)
http://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...l-Removal-Final-Drive-Unit-Hub-Spine-Greasing

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?173608-How-robust-is-the-GS850-shaft-drive
Click to expand...
 
It isnt slipping at the rear wheel though. The drive shaft and the rear wheel are definitely connected and its slipping forward of the driveshaft.

This being said I have a replacement spline on the way anyway, I do plan on removing the rear wheel and checking.
 
Just to make this clear. If you have the rear tire off the ground (on center stand) and have the engine running with it in gear you can stop the rear wheel from turning with your hand AND it stops the driveshaft from turning as well? Or does it stop the wheel but the driveshaft is still turning?
 
JTGS850GL said:
Just to make this clear. If you have the rear tire off the ground (on center stand) and have the engine running with it in gear you can stop the rear wheel from turning with your hand AND it stops the driveshaft from turning as well? Or does it stop the wheel but the driveshaft is still turning?
Click to expand...

Correct the driveshaft stops as well.

Also found out the clutch is original.
 
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