hair trigger clutch

being a novice to Norton,I have problems in first gear,letting the clutch out slightly and stalling.Any ideas.

rob carter said:

being a novice to Norton,I have problems in first gear,letting the clutch out slightly and stalling.Any ideas.

Click to expand...

Start with disassembly, cleaning, inspection. It should be smooth as butter.

Sometimes people raise the gearing you may find a previous owner has put a large gearbox sprocket on there cheers

The bronze clutch plates in my bike are a bit like that. You get used to it. You can try putting in a bit more oil. I use ATF type F.

Nigel

tricatcent said:

The bronze clutch plates in my bike are a bit like that. You get used to it. You can try putting in a bit more oil. I use ATF type F.

Nigel

Click to expand...

+1

.... recently, I've repacked my clutch and replaced 2 steel plates with thinner plates to lower my stack height because my RPM's and my bikes speed didn't seem to match up. I wasn't sure if the gauges were innaccurate OR if the clutch was slipping at high speeds. After I removed .020" from my clutch stack height, my clutch has a lot more bite to it, so it comes on abruptly, with almost no slippage. (and the lever is a stiffer pull too) I've definately stalled the bike a few times after I changed the stack height, because I was used to the way it previously engaged.

Needless to say, the amount of instantaneous grab has a lot to do with clutch stack height. I replaced 2 steel plates in the clutch pack last time I was in the primary case. The next time I am in the primary, I'll probably swap 1 of those thinner plates back out for 1 of the original plates and add .010" back to the stack height. This will lighten the lever pull, but also let the clutch engage more gently. You don't want your clutch to slip, but neither do you want it to grab abruptly. Adjusting the clutch stack height critical to how your lever feels and how your clutch plates engage.

I would make sure the clutch cable is operating as smoothly as you can get it. If it drags and hangs up, it can make for an awkward clutch.
Check the routing of the cable to ensure there is no pinching and minimal curves. Lube the cable. Make sure there are no frayed wire ends catching on the outer cover. Check the barrel that rotates in the lever, and lube the barrel. The barrel should rotate in the lever as you pull the clutch lever in.
Make sure the clutch is adjusted properly, both at the clutch end, and at the bar end.
Grease on the pushrod might be helpful.
I would do all the above before I pulled the clutch apart.

Stephen Hill

being new to the feel of a Commando it is quite possible you are not giving it enough throttle to overcome the resistance of the clutch drag lessening

try giving the motor more gas while you let it out