help, Clutch suddenly stopped working

[Rob S.]

...Uncle Joe's Pumpkin Pie and Mash Mix...

So you think it's because the OP is a vegetarian?

I'll sure be anxious to hear what the cause is.

 

[Guest]

I'll definitely keep everyone updated on this one.... plates and springs should be in tomorrow and a cable shortly after. It'll likely be the weekend before i can install them so I'll keep you guys posted

 

[Baatfam]

No, I'm sure of that.
On thinking about the 0w20, I wouldn't use it anyway as it's a bit thin for comfort. I'm thinking about the fluid film on the camshaft bearings. A decent synth will protect them anyway, but the cam bearing clearance is designed for a thicker brew, even at max temperature. Depends on the pump - if it's not worn it might well be capable of shoving enough oil up the gallery to feed them regardless.
I'm fairly sure if it's a decent 0w20, there wouldn't be any deleterious effects on the crank or gearbox bearings, but the only way of finding out...

Of course we don't what he put in it yet, do we. He has yet to tell us. Maybe it was olive oil, or something.

Hey OP...What is this "wrong oil" you put in?

 

[Guest]

@baatfam.... i wasnt paying attention and bought a non wet clutch compatible oil. Wasnt the jaso m2 or whatever rating that is needed. For some reason i know oil for these old bikes is like asking Ford or chevy... ive seen guys argue all day. It was a local stores branded conventional 10/40 just wasnt wet clutch rated. I completely overlooked it. Figured I'd be safe and put the correct in.

 

[Baatfam]

@baatfam.... i wasnt paying attention and bought a non wet clutch compatible oil. Wasnt the jaso m2 or whatever rating that is needed. For some reason i know oil for these old bikes is like asking Ford or chevy... ive seen guys argue all day. It was a local stores branded conventional 10/40 just wasnt wet clutch rated. I completely overlooked it. Figured I'd be safe and put the correct in.

OK, perfect. The oil has nothing to do with your problem then. Something else is wrong.

 

[Guest]

Just a very weird coincidence in timing. I'm really hoping putting new plates, springs and a fresh cable in will cure it. Ive owned the bike for 3yrs and really dove into it this year. Got it running better than it ever has this year. And then this happens. Just my luck. If its something in the trans idk if i wanna go that far with this bike. Im seriously hoping its just a clutch issue, but we will see soon enough.

 

[Baatfam]

Just a very weird coincidence in timing. I'm really hoping putting new plates, springs and a fresh cable in will cure it. Ive owned the bike for 3yrs and really dove into it this year. Got it running better than it ever has this year. And then this happens. Just my luck. If its something in the trans idk if i wanna go that far with this bike. Im seriously hoping its just a clutch issue, but we will see soon enough.

Don't "hope the new parts fix it." Find out what's wrong first.
I mean, do you want to tear it apart a second time if the new parts don't fix it?

 

[Guest]

Before i install the new stuff this weekend im going to open it back up and see if anything is out of the ordinary... is there anything else in that area of the bike that i should inspect and look over? When i had it opened everything looked ok. Nothing out of the norm, but i didnt have it in gear and roll it around either.
Nothing feels bound up anywhere. I can roll it around and i cant feel anybinding in nuetral or in gear (bike off) i can feel the shift forks drop into and mesh into each gear. No unsual noises from that. I just dont have any power transfer whatsoever. Which again brings me back to the clutch.... i dont know how a potentially bad basket would make it act like this.... im stumped.

 

[Guest]

And you're right i have a bad habit of buying and hoping for the best sometimes. Not the best practice, but its gotten me this far.

 

[Baatfam]

These guys can walk you through the necessary troubleshooting. They really do know what they are doing.

 

[Guest]

Definitely and thats why im here. Im mechanical enough that i can pretty well figure out most issues ive come across, but hell if i know what happened here. The sudden fail of it throws me off. So i will be for sure doing more troubleshooting this weekend. Definitely caught a weird one this time around

 

[Rob S.]

I'm really hoping putting new plates, springs and a fresh cable in will cure it.

That's three things. Which will have fixed it?

I realize this may be your only bike, and getting it back on the road in the summer is the priority (if you're anything like I am). I'm just trying to learn about clutches.

Please put the year and model in your signature.

 

[Guest]

Yes that is three things. In short, The cable actuates the the springs on a plate and the springs activate the clutch plates which engage and disengages the power transfer to the rear wheel.. To be honest. If one of them fixes it, i really wont care which one did. I'll just be happy lol. I will try to add the info in the signature. Just need to find that

 

[Grimly]

Before i install the new stuff this weekend im going to open it back up and see if anything is out of the ordinary... is there anything else in that area of the bike that i should inspect and look over? When i had it opened everything looked ok. Nothing out of the norm, but i didnt have it in gear and roll it around either.
Nothing feels bound up anywhere. I can roll it around and i cant feel anybinding in nuetral or in gear (bike off) i can feel the shift forks drop into and mesh into each gear. No unsual noises from that. I just dont have any power transfer whatsoever. Which again brings me back to the clutch.... i dont know how a potentially bad basket would make it act like this.... im stumped.

When you remove the clutch cover and take out the plates of the clutch, try putting the bike in gear and turn the rear wheel. The inner basket should
turn freely with the wheel motion through the gearbox, with no grunching noises.

 

[Guest]

Well guys i have no idea what the hell happened but i fixed it. New fiber plates, new springs, and a fresh cable took care of this really weird issue. I appreciate the help and ideas. There was some stuff you had me check that i didnt even know about so thanks for that! Much appreciated

 

[Brendan W]

More often than is reasonable, taking things apart and reassembling fixes them by magic

 

[Rob S.]

More often than is reasonable, taking things apart and reassembling fixes them by magic

I can't tell you how much money I've made repairing computers by unplugging them and then plugging them back in.