Clutch Sticking

Gojuu · Mar 18, 2023

Hi All,

Haven't ridden the bike for a few weeks, went to this morning and believe the clutch plates may be sticking?

Somewhat normal symptoms - starts fine in neutral, lurches forward when dropped into gear and stalls. Fair thud when dropped into gear, but no unusual noise. Have checked the clutch fluid, there's plenty of feel in the lever, so I'm assuming its the plates sticking?

Tried rocking in gear - hasn't broken free - but I'll admit to probably being fairly mechanically sympathetic and not wanting to really thump it.

Suggestions?

Gojuu · Mar 18, 2023

So, I’m going to answer my own question here. Rocking it in second rather than first did the trick without being too violent.

Leads me to the next question. What’s it a symptom of? Am I overdue for oil?

TonyA · Mar 18, 2023

Try an oil change first , but you should probably take the plates out and clean then up too.

TonyA · Mar 18, 2023

TonyA said:
Try an oil change first , but you should probably take the plates out and clean then up too.

While you’re at it , have a look behind the clutch slave cover. Make sure countershaft nut is not loosening.

Shelby-Right · Mar 18, 2023

Probably gearbox oil in the primary, have you got a clutch rod seal ? , I have found ATF in primary really good, no more sticking .woops tornado just beat me to it !

Gojuu · Mar 18, 2023

Errr........@tornado & @Shelby-Right in a 961? I'm guessing the clutch rod seal etc is for the earlier stuff?

KiwiShane · Mar 18, 2023

Gojuu said:
Errr........@tornado & @Shelby-Right in a 961? I'm guessing the clutch rod seal etc is for the earlier stuff?

Was about to comment but you beat me to it...

Fast Eddie · Mar 19, 2023

Have you been using good, wet clutch compatible, oil in the primary and gearbox ?

Gojuu · Mar 19, 2023

Believe so. Fuchs Silkolene 10W40.

Bike seems happy enough now it's unstuck.

Fast Eddie · Mar 19, 2023

Look for JASO MA and / or JASO MA2 in the specs. This means it’s a motorcycle engine oil designed to be compatible with wet clutches.

Stephen_Spencer · Mar 19, 2023

Call me a lazy bugger, but if its running ok now I’d be changing the gearbox oil (easy task as we know), take it for a good long ride giving the gearbox a thorough workout - and call it good. Motor on!

That said, if I were here in a former life I think I was most likely an ostrich!

Fast Eddie · Mar 19, 2023

Stephen_Spencer said:
Call me a lazy bugger, but if its running ok now I’d be changing the gearbox oil (easy task as we know), take it for a good long ride giving the gearbox a thorough workout - and call it good. Motor on!

That said, if I were here in a former life I think I was most likely an ostrich!

View attachment 104842

Me too. But I’d also drain and refill the primary…

Gojuu · Mar 19, 2023

Fast Eddie said:
Look for JASO MA and / or JASO MA2 in the specs. This means it’s a motorcycle engine oil designed to be compatible with wet clutches.

Yep, it is.

comet · Mar 20, 2023

Gojuu said:
Hi All,

Haven't ridden the bike for a few weeks, went to this morning and believe the clutch plates may be sticking?

Somewhat normal symptoms - starts fine in neutral, lurches forward when dropped into gear and stalls. Fair thud when dropped into gear, but no unusual noise. Have checked the clutch fluid, there's plenty of feel in the lever, so I'm assuming its the plates sticking?

Tried rocking in gear - hasn't broken free - but I'll admit to probably being fairly mechanically sympathetic and not wanting to really thump it.

Suggestions?

My Daytona 1200 used to do this if it stood for a while, and I really had to "thump it" to free it off. So I strapped the clutch lever back when it was parked up. The more technical folk on the forum might offer a reason for not doing this but it worked for me.

Boss302 · Mar 20, 2023

Gojuu said:
Hi All,

Haven't ridden the bike for a few weeks, went to this morning and believe the clutch plates may be sticking?

Somewhat normal symptoms - starts fine in neutral, lurches forward when dropped into gear and stalls. Fair thud when dropped into gear, but no unusual noise. Have checked the clutch fluid, there's plenty of feel in the lever, so I'm assuming its the plates sticking?

Tried rocking in gear - hasn't broken free - but I'll admit to probably being fairly mechanically sympathetic and not wanting to really thump it.

Suggestions?

It usually happens to bikes that have sat for a long time when they had sig moisture in the transmission - the friction pads on the fiber plates are stuck in small amounts of rust (and/or sticky goo) on the steel plates. Same thing happened to me with my 961. I had to change the primary oil and clean and light sand the plates. If riding it solves the immediate problem I'd still change the oil.

Clutch Sticking

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