Technical Discussion Topics related to Technical Issues

clutch slipping

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-15-2013, 02:00 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Back Marker
Thread Starter
 
Chrisguilday's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 127
Chrisguilday is on a distinguished road
clutch slipping

My clutch some times slips under hard acceleration. if I rev it high in any gear and shift and get back on the gas once I've shifted the revs hang and then come down after a 1/2 a second to a second. Some times it doesn't do this.

I am running rotella T6 15w40 oil. My clutch fluid also hasn't been changed in what looks like to be forever. It looks black. I plan on doing this as soon as possible but I'm not entirely sure how to bleed it.

Also I find it hard to launch my bike. If I try it usually ends up just acting like I dumped the clutch even when I clearly didn't. I can't seem to give it a decent amount of gas without the clutch just dumping itself.

Could it just be my clutch fluid?
Chrisguilday is offline  
Old 05-15-2013, 02:12 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
MotoGP
 
7moore7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 3,869
7moore7 is on a distinguished road
Start with the clutch fluid for sure. It's the easy fix and has a high probability rate for causing your issues. Seems like you already know this .
7moore7 is offline  
Old 05-15-2013, 02:16 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
SuperBike
 
Wicky's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Essex, UK
Posts: 1,707
Wicky is on a distinguished road
You might try changing the oil to a m/c semi-synthetic...
Wicky is offline  
Old 05-15-2013, 02:21 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
MotoGP
 
7moore7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 3,869
7moore7 is on a distinguished road
In a nutshell, here's how I personally do this:

1) Acquire Dot 4 or compatable brake fluid. New bottles are better b/c they haven't been exposed to humidity in the air (water is bad for the stuff)
2) Hose to fit on bleeder and wrench... I think it's 8mm
3) Open fluid reservoir. If it's extremely sludgy (esp at the bottom) you may want to skip bleeding and do a full rebuild on the M/C. If the fluid is just gross, you may get away with continuing the flush.
4) Fill reservoir all the way to the top. Put hose and wrench on bleeder valve.
5)Squeeze clutch lever and then slowly open bleeder valve. The clutch lever will become light and fluid will come out of the bleeder. Close valve before the fluid has time to "return"
6) Release clutch lever fully and then repeat step 5 several times until the fluid is clear.
7) After flushing, pump the clutch lever several times and watch for bubbles coming out of the reservoir. Sometimes bubbles get stuck in the system and are known to cause the issues that you're experiencing. Sometimes I'll go from step 5 to 7 a couple of times to make sure everything's flushed and no bubbles are left. It sounds tedious but it really takes less than 10 minutes for this part.
8) Fill up to the fill line and wipe of all of the DOT fluid as it is not particularly good for paint.

I think that covers it. Hopefully it just needs a good flush (and not a rebuild). If that doesn't work then switch to motorcycle oil.
7moore7 is offline  
Old 05-15-2013, 02:21 PM
  #5  
Administrator
MotoGP
 
E.Marquez's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Kempner, TX
Posts: 4,402
E.Marquez is on a distinguished road
Originally Posted by Wicky
You might try changing the oil to a m/c semi-synthetic...
Rotella T6 meets the certification requirements for JASO-MA
In Other Words.. it IS A MOTORCYCLE OIL
E.Marquez is offline  
Old 05-15-2013, 07:26 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
Back Marker
 
Caffeine's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Ottawa Ontario
Posts: 142
Caffeine is on a distinguished road
I had a similar problem and it turned out that the clutch was always under pressure.. I filed down the push pin on the leavers, the clutch engages about 1/2 way out now not in the final 1/8" and it dosn't slip anymore..
Caffeine is offline  
Old 10-30-2018, 01:35 AM
  #7  
Junior Member
Squid
 
executioner's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 17
executioner is on a distinguished road
Originally Posted by Caffeine
I had a similar problem and it turned out that the clutch was always under pressure.. I filed down the push pin on the leavers, the clutch engages about 1/2 way out now not in the final 1/8" and it dosn't slip anymore..
It's kind of weird...along with the slipping, I have to pull the clutch RIGHT in to disengage it. I let it out a few mm and it engages. Boom straight away. No play.

Originally Posted by Wicky
You might try changing the oil to a m/c semi-synthetic...
I was thinking that too but seems my oil should be ok...it is deemed a motorcycle oil and others use fully synthetic.

I am starting to think, I need to rebuild my master and slave cylinders....especially considering my clutch engages almost instantly when releasing.

Might need to re-check the torques on my spring bolts....
executioner is offline  
Old 10-30-2018, 05:01 AM
  #8  
Moderator
MotoGP
 
Wolverine's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Gettysburg, Pa
Posts: 5,072
Wolverine is on a distinguished road
Originally Posted by executioner
It's kind of weird...along with the slipping, I have to pull the clutch RIGHT in to disengage it. I let it out a few mm and it engages. Boom straight away. No play.



I was thinking that too but seems my oil should be ok...it is deemed a motorcycle oil and others use fully synthetic.

I am starting to think, I need to rebuild my master and slave cylinders....especially considering my clutch engages almost instantly when releasing.
Might need to re-check the torques on my spring bolts....
Do some research and tell me what kind of anti-sheer additives that diesel truck oil has in it for motorcycle use, please and thank you. It was/is not made for use in an engine where it is exposed to transmission gears.

I think your your next step should be to buy rebuild parts for your master cyl and slave. They will not cost you much at all and I guarantee the system needs it.
Wolverine is offline  
Old 10-30-2018, 10:55 PM
  #9  
Junior Member
Squid
 
executioner's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 17
executioner is on a distinguished road
The oil is a "motorbike oil" so should be all good in that department.

Rebuild kits for master and slave are on their way...should arrive in a couple days hopefully.
executioner is offline  
Old 11-05-2018, 03:15 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
Superstock
 
YMRacing's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Champaign, IL
Posts: 277
YMRacing is on a distinguished road
Originally Posted by Wolverine

Do some research and tell me what kind of anti-sheer additives that diesel truck oil has in it for motorcycle use, please and thank you. It was/is not made for use in an engine where it is exposed to transmission gears.

I think your your next step should be to buy rebuild parts for your master cyl and slave. They will not cost you much at all and I guarantee the system needs it.
While I can't give you any research regarding anti-shear, etc. I will tell you that I have used Rotella-T in all of my street bikes, and all of my race bikes for many years. No related failures. Ducati rep even "kinda" referred to it as the USA Shell Agip for us Ducati racers...dry and wet clutches a several years back.

Of course I know that every time an oil thread is introduced on the internet a kitten is killed. Sorry...
YMRacing is offline  
Old 11-06-2018, 05:57 AM
  #11  
Senior Member
MotoGP
 
smokinjoe73's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: NYC
Posts: 5,033
smokinjoe73 is on a distinguished road
If you are filing down your lever then really you should bleed it properly. The lever is just the actuator, not the problem. Air is the problem.

I put a banjo bleeder nipple at the top banjo bolt where the air actually rises to. Makes the process much easier. I did have to rebuild the slave cylinder due to awful gunk and sludge. These bikes almost always need that.

Its a self perpetuating problem. Air in the system causes sponginess and it fights against the clutch springs which causes slippage (even when you don't notice it) and premature clutch wear which causes more slippage etc.

Its a pain but you have to rebuild the slave usally and spend quality time bleeding the system.

You can yank the clutch to inspect it w/o draining the oil if you tip the bike. If you still have friction material on the plates you probably still have some miles left if you bleed it. But yeah change the fluid at least. Cheap insurance and will always help anyway.
smokinjoe73 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
mike21091
Technical Discussion
22
07-21-2013 09:52 PM
sunshinehawk74
General Discussion
2
07-07-2013 02:22 AM
herbvtr1000f
Technical Discussion
11
06-03-2012 10:47 PM
shwinny
Technical Discussion
14
05-03-2011 09:40 AM
MSGKilla
Technical Discussion
9
06-18-2007 03:25 PM



Quick Reply: clutch slipping



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 06:00 PM.


Top

© 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands



When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.