Clutch Drag?

Discussion in 'UK Motorcycles' started by Steve P, Jul 26, 2004.

  1. Steve P

    Steve P Guest

    What's that then?

    The bike is in for a service today and they are the second place to tell
    me that the clutch is dragging. Now I knew there was something up with
    it. I mentioned to Ben a while back, with the clutch in and the bike in
    gear blipping the throttle you can feel the bike rocking forward
    sometimes. Is that it?

    The only other experience I've had with clutches 'going' is when my old
    Mk II Escort clutch was slipping. Going up a hill acceleratin meant a
    rise in engine revs but no increase in forward momentum :). Having the
    clutch replaced on that was a darned sight cheaper mind you.

    Anyway apparently with new oil in the dragging is now dreadful so they
    are going to replace it. It was all budgeted for anyway so whatever,
    better to get it sorted in one sitting. It was right at the end of the
    adjustment anyway.

    Hopefully I'll still be able to afford me track day next week, if I get
    it back in time.
     
    Steve P, Jul 26, 2004
    #1
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  2. Steve P

    Ace Guest

    This doesn't sound right. At the 'end' of its adjustment, you'd be
    getting clutch slip, as the plates no longer come close enough into
    contact or the springs aren't tight enough to hold them there. Drag
    would tend to mean that they're not being pulled apart enough,
    sometimes due to poor adjustment or sometimes down to warped plates or
    too viscous an oil. Or maybe just a stretched cable.

    Ask them what they think is wrong with it before letting them replace
    it.
     
    Ace, Jul 26, 2004
    #2
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  3. Steve P

    Champ Guest

    What are they going to replace? The clutch plates? The clutch basket?
    Your credit rating?

    When a clutch wears out, in usually slips. If it's dragging, it's a
    question of adjustment - I wouldn't expect anything to be replaced to
    cure a dragging clutch.
     
    Champ, Jul 26, 2004
    #3
  4. Steve P

    Steve P Guest

    Just spoke to them and he said basically that. It's dragging but that he
    can't adjust it out enough. Maybe I should get my dad to have a look, he
    knows these things.

    The fact the bloke said to me, it's done well to last 36k [1] on one
    clutch, makes me think they might be trying to pull one on me.

    [1] 25k+ of those in the ham fisted hands of Mr Sales :)
     
    Steve P, Jul 26, 2004
    #4
  5. Steve P

    Steve P Guest

    The works. £202.32 quoted. I'm going to get it back and get someone else
    to have a look. Mind you Streetbike said the same thing last year.
    He claims he can't adjust it any more and as I said to Ace that it had
    done well at 36k miles. Does that sound like cabble then?
     
    Steve P, Jul 26, 2004
    #5
  6. Steve P

    Ace Guest

    He's talking bollocks, IMO. Tell him to tie a knot in the fucking
    cable if that's all it is.
    Which _might_ have caused excessive wear on the plates, but is in no
    way consistent with the symptoms you're describing.
     
    Ace, Jul 26, 2004
    #6
  7. Steve P

    Champ Guest

    I'm really trying to think of a scenario where wear on the clutch,
    requiring replacement) would cause it to drag, and I'm struggling.

    Better wait for the evening shift of mechanics (Paging Pip, Lozzo,
    Grimley, Simes, Petel, etc etc etc).
     
    Champ, Jul 26, 2004
    #7
  8. Steve P

    Eddie Guest

    The only thing I can think of that might wear (and I think this is what
    has happened to Clare's bike) is the clutch-wotsit-arm-mechanism[0]
    thing, so even if you adjust the cable correctly it doesn't give enough
    movement at the business end.

    Is that possible?


    [0] Technical term
     
    Eddie, Jul 26, 2004
    #8
  9. Steve P

    Champ Guest

    Hmm. I guess the cable could have stretched so far that it's out of
    adjustment. I'd more likely suspect crap/corrosion around the
    activating mechanism.
    Ah, hadn't considered this one. Never come across it on a bike.
    Me too.
     
    Champ, Jul 26, 2004
    #9
  10. Steve P

    Champ Guest

    Yes. As per my other post, I think the actuating mechanism would get
    my attention first.
     
    Champ, Jul 26, 2004
    #10
  11. Steve P

    Champ Guest

    Well, if it's dragging, the biting point is by definition in the wrong
    place, isn't it?
    Ew, no. I'm not getting my hands dirty.

    And, for reference, it's sentiments like these which continue to cause
    problems with your BHaLC application.
     
    Champ, Jul 26, 2004
    #11
  12. Steve P

    Pip Guest

    Weak spring, perhaps.

    On a high-mileage/abused bike, I might look for wear in the release
    system - lever pivots and cable socket, clutch arm pivots and cable
    attachment etc.

    As far as the clutch itself goes ... it would have to be sticking to
    drag, right? That would indicate wear to the basket, probably. As
    Simes says, the plates may be warped and if so, will require
    replacement.

    I'd get it home, get a new cable on it and get me dad round if I was
    SteveP. Not necessarily in that order.



    This dawned on me the other week: I have been spannering for nearly
    30 years, and for the vast majority of that time have relied on
    various people to get me out of the shit if a job gets out of control.
    There has always been an older, more experienced hand around to call
    upon.

    There has always been an old boy who can sort *anything* - a mate, a
    mate's Dad; a mechanic with a particular tool or talent; someone who
    *will* be able to sort it. Someone who will take the component I've
    been struggling with for hours, look at it, turn it the other way up,
    give it a twist with a screwdriver and sort it ...now there isn't.
    All of a sudden - I am that old boy. ****.
     
    Pip, Jul 26, 2004
    #12
  13. Steve P

    Ben Guest

    15. I bought it with 11 on it.
     
    Ben, Jul 26, 2004
    #13
  14. Steve P

    Eddie Guest

    Ah, well, yes. Round-tuits, and all that.

    To be honest, it doesn't really worry me when I'm riding it, but I don't
    need to stop as often as Clare, and if I do need to stop I usually slip
    it into neutral just before I stop.

    Besides which, it needs a new battery before it goes anywhere, and I
    need a new lid before I go anywhere on it.
     
    Eddie, Jul 26, 2004
    #14
  15. Steve P

    Ben Guest

    The latter of those is very likely.
     
    Ben, Jul 26, 2004
    #15
  16. Steve P

    Champ Guest

    <light dawns>

    Ah ha! If the baskets was severly notched, that could be causing some
    of the plates to stick, couldn't it.

    heh.
     
    Champ, Jul 26, 2004
    #16
  17. heh.

    As long as you can still type...
     
    William Grainger, Jul 26, 2004
    #17
  18. Steve P

    Steve P Guest

    Cheers Pip. I'll do that probably. I say probably because of late,
    possibly due to advancing years, dad has been less inclined to do any
    home spannering particularly on bikes. I guess when you get to 60+
    having your days filled with spannering machines in grimy factories,
    kind of dims the enthusiasm for DIY.

    I'll see what he says though.
     
    Steve P, Jul 26, 2004
    #18
  19. Steve P

    Steve P Guest

    Strangely, it wasn't the mileage I thought you'd object to.
     
    Steve P, Jul 26, 2004
    #19
  20. Steve P

    PDannyD Guest

    Aye. That's what it is right enough.

    Worn out clutches usually start to slip when they wear out but can sometimes
    fail internally so they never release properly. If the drag can't be
    eliminated with the adjusters then it's best to dismantle it and see why.
     
    PDannyD, Jul 26, 2004
    #20
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