Clutch Soak????

[phobostx]

Ok....SO I just finished soaking my clutch and after putting it back together and firing it up my clutch lever wont go in more than 1/2 way and when I engage the clutch there is a "chattering sound" coming from the clutch cover. I've removed it once already and pulled and re-installed everything. Pink markers are lined up in the basket and the plates are all back in the original order. The clutch wont even engage now. If I put it in first gear and let the clutch out the bike keeps running but the clutch doesn't engage

Is it possible the clutch just needs to be bleed?

Any thoughts............. :dntknw:

 

[Fred W]

Ok....SO I just finished soaking my clutch and after putting it back together and firing it up my clutch lever wont go in more than 1/2 way and when I engage the clutch there is a "chattering sound" coming from the clutch cover. I've removed it once already and pulled and re-installed everything. Pink markers are lined up in the basket and the plates are all back in the original order. The clutch wont even engage now. If I put it in first gear and let the clutch out the bike keeps running but the clutch doesn't engage
Is it possible the clutch just needs to be bleed?

Any thoughts............. :dntknw:

No, it cannot be a bleed problem. If hat was the case you wouldn't be able to dis-engage the clutch. i.e. It would remain engaged when you pulled in the lever.

I'd say that you should revisit the assembly, compare to the exploded diagrams in the parts manuals.

Something is not where it should be. Pay close attention to the order and direction of the various plates. They are not all the same.

 

[FJRBluesman]

Ok....SO I just finished soaking my clutch and after putting it back together and firing it up my clutch lever wont go in more than 1/2 way and when I engage the clutch there is a "chattering sound" coming from the clutch cover. I've removed it once already and pulled and re-installed everything. Pink markers are lined up in the basket and the plates are all back in the original order. The clutch wont even engage now. If I put it in first gear and let the clutch out the bike keeps running but the clutch doesn't engage
Is it possible the clutch just needs to be bleed?

Any thoughts............. :dntknw:

No, it cannot be a bleed problem. If hat was the case you wouldn't be able to dis-engage the clutch. i.e. It would remain engaged when you pulled in the lever.

I'd say that you should revisit the assembly, compare to the exploded diagrams in the parts manuals.

Something is not where it should be. Pay close attention to the order and direction of the various plates. They are not all the same.

Fred's got it.

 

[billfjr]

Hi,

It is possible you installed the wrong friction plate, measure the ID of the friction plates, the approx 5" rings have to fit inside the diameter of the first friction plate installed.

The clutch spring (belleville) could be installed incorrectly.

Look at picture 2 and 3 closely.

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?showtopic=114431

Good Luck,

Bill

 

[ttooee]

Ok....SO I just finished soaking my clutch and after putting it back together and firing it up my clutch lever wont go in more than 1/2 way and when I engage the clutch there is a "chattering sound" coming from the clutch cover. I've removed it once already and pulled and re-installed everything. Pink markers are lined up in the basket and the plates are all back in the original order. The clutch wont even engage now. If I put it in first gear and let the clutch out the bike keeps running but the clutch doesn't engage
Is it possible the clutch just needs to be bleed?

Any thoughts............. :dntknw:

Hey phobostx,

Don't take this the wrong way OK. But why did you go and soak the clutch plates? I am trying to get people to understand that there is nothing wrong with the stock clutch, so that they won't be in the same position that you are now.

It sounded like you might installed something backward or reversed. Good Luck.

 

[phobostx]

Just got home so I'll try tackling it again. Everything looks right I just can't figure out whats wrong with it. FWIW, The 6 inner plates were bone dry though..................

 

[dsmack]

Hey phobostx,Don't take this the wrong way OK. But why did you go and soak the clutch plates? I am trying to get people to understand that there is nothing wrong with the stock clutch, so that they won't be in the same position that you are now.

It sounded like you might installed something backward or reversed. Good Luck.

Help me out here, ttooee. You appear to be new here, with 8 posts shown, and I'm wondering what your credentials are that you know "there is nothing wrong with the stock clutch", when there have been many documented instances of dry or sticky clutch plates on our bikes over the years... most of which have been solved by the equally well documented method of fixing the problem...

The simple error of the OP, where he probably made a mistake re-installing the plates doesn't seem to invalidate the process.

Not trying to sound like a "Forum Nazi", but please explain. I'm always ready to learn!

Don

 

[atxrider]

Hey phobostx,Don't take this the wrong way OK. But why did you go and soak the clutch plates? I am trying to get people to understand that there is nothing wrong with the stock clutch, so that they won't be in the same position that you are now.

It sounded like you might installed something backward or reversed. Good Luck.

Hahahaha. Nothing like predictability. I was wondering how long it would take you to post in this thread. Please keep us updated on your personal vendetta against clutch soakers...seriously...I love it.

 

[ttooee]

Hey phobostx,Don't take this the wrong way OK. But why did you go and soak the clutch plates? I am trying to get people to understand that there is nothing wrong with the stock clutch, so that they won't be in the same position that you are now.

It sounded like you might installed something backward or reversed. Good Luck.

Help me out here, ttooee. You appear to be new here, with 8 posts shown, and I'm wondering what your credentials are that you know "there is nothing wrong with the stock clutch", when there have been many documented instances of dry or sticky clutch plates on our bikes over the years... most of which have been solved by the equally well documented method of fixing the problem...

The simple error of the OP, where he probably made a mistake re-installing the plates doesn't seem to invalidate the process.

Don

Dsmack,

I am not here to boast my credentials. But, I replaced clutches on 4 of my own cars and trucks. I have not replace dclutch for any motorcycles, just because I never had to. I have designed transfer press that stamped out cars fenders, hoods and any parts that they can stamp-out. These presses are coupled to a 600 hp electric motor to drive the slides, that go up and down to stamp out the parts, using the similiar frition materials as these clutch plates. Of course, the clutchs on these presses are much bigger and of different designs, but we are only talking about the friction between the plates and it mating surfaces here. The mechanical principles for motorcycle clutch have not changed for the last 20 or 40 years and does not varies between manufactures eithers. I don't think any of the manufactures soak the clutch plates.

Common name for clutch plates that is allowed to have oil on it is a "wet clutch", but these plates operates perfectly dry or wet. Wet clutches do not mean that the plates have to be soaked in oil first for them to work properly. If soaking the plates is the solution, would you think Yamaha and others manufactures would done it already? It would be so much cheaper, eliminate all these complaints and make life easier for everyone. If I think that I have to soak these plates, at my own expense, to get a good operating clutch on a brand new FJR, I will never buy a Yamaha motorcycle. Isn't this incentive enough for them to make this simple change?

You seem to be familiar with this topic <_< . So why do people want to take their new clutch plates out and soak it? Does Yamaha recomends soaking the plates? Is it the noise during shifting? Is it slipping in and out of gears? What makes a normal person buys $13k motorcycle and performs a major operation on it right away?

Not trying to sound like a "Forum Nazi", but please explain. I'm always ready to learn!

does this meant that you are a "Forum Nazi"?

 

[ttooee]

Hahahaha. Nothing like predictability. I was wondering how long it would take you to post in this thread. Please keep us updated on your personal vendetta against clutch soakers...seriously...I love it.

I am from old school and believe don't fix it unless it is broken. How can a brand new motorcycle be broken?

How about another laugh? :yahoo: Did you soak your plates? Come on don't be shy. Tell the truth.

 

[dsmack]

It's obvious from your initial post and your response here that you have not taken time to read the volumes of documented instances of faulty clutch actuation in our FJRs. Had you done that, you would understand that the problem of dry plates/incomplete release of the clutch causing "clunking" upon selection of 1st gear, etc. happens in only a relative few of the thousands of bikes sold and delivered.

It seems to happen more often in bikes that have sat in inventory unsold for an extended period of time. It also seems that the fairly simple procedure of removing said clutch plates and soaking the friction material often solves the problem.

You ask the question, "How can a brand new motorcycle be broken"? That's an excellent question! I presume that it may have something to do with quality control, perhaps coupled with the simple fact that the design of the clutch basket and housing may utilize oil passage holes that are marginally sized to allow the required volume of oil in to the clutch friction area to keep the plates adequately lubricated... but I'm not an engineer, so I'm just guessing.

I'm not sure if the question "Did you soak your plates"? is directed to me or another poster, but the simple answer is "NO" I haven't, as my bike is one of the lucky ones without the problem.

As to whether or not I'm a "Forum Nazi" is in the mind of the reader... only you can decide!

Don

 

[painman]

This may sound like a dumb question, but what kind of oil are you using? Curious minds want to know as I have communicated with some local Yamaha service mechanics and some oil related issues are popping up with wet clutch problems vs the types of oil used. PM. <><

 

[C&C]

I'm still waiting for an update, from the original poster, to see if he has sorted out his problem. Now that would be interesting reading.

 

[RadioHowie]

YOU VILL ZOAK YOUR CLUTCHEN PLATZEN!!!

 

[atxrider]

I am from old school and believe don't fix it unless it is broken. How can a brand new motorcycle be broken? How about another laugh? :yahoo: Did you soak your plates? Come on don't be shy. Tell the truth.

Not yet, but I will create a new thread when I do and you can copy and paste your responses there. :buba:

 

[SilverHound]

I am from old school and believe don't fix it unless it is broken. How can a brand new motorcycle be broken? How about another laugh? :yahoo: Did you soak your plates? Come on don't be shy. Tell the truth.

Are you serious? How many new motorycles have you purchased?

New motorycles come broken or "with issues" all the time.

With regard to the FJR I also have a 2008 and before I soaked the clutch the clutch would not disengage when cold and with the bike shut off. That's simply not normal. After the clutch soak...all works as it is supposed to. I did install a Gremlin Bell around the same time as the clutch soak though so maybe it's just a coincidence???

When I bought my VTX new I had to do a ground fix because the factory installed ground was not installed properly...this was a known propblem that affected every VTX.

Also there were problems with the rear wheel bearings on many as Honda had a shipment of faulty bearings.

Have you ever heard of a recall? I just had the ignition switch replaced on the FJR but according to your logic I probably just should have ignored that since my bike was new it couldn't possible be broken...right? It only took Yamaha a couple of years to finally admit there was a problem.

There are problems that manufacturer's will admit to and others that they will not. Just because they don't fess up doesn't make the problem any less real. I have owned enough bikes to know how a clutch should and shouldn't feel or operate and the FJR clutch did not operate normally. I could have taken it back to the dealer, possibly argued with them about it, hoped that whatever chucklehead tech they assigned it to didn't screw up my bike worse or actually did try and do something to fix it and waited while they worked on it or made multiple trips back and forth to drop it off and pick it up...or...I could have decided to follow the advise and logic of the members of this and other FJR forums, soak the clutch myself and see if that worked. I chose the latter, it was easy, and it worked and I know the work was done properly.

 

[SockMonkey]

This may sound like a dumb question, but what kind of oil are you using? Curious minds want to know as I have communicated with some local Yamaha service mechanics and some oil related issues are popping up with wet clutch problems vs the types of oil used. PM. <><

Thanks for bringing this up, painman. With no intention of turning this into another NEPRT oil thread, I've had 2 similar discussions as well; 1 with a Yamaha factory rep, and the other with a Yamaha-certified mechanic. In their opinions, using the right oil does indeed play a significant role in proper clutch performance (and life). I might add that neither recommended soaking the clutch plates (though they didn't recommend against it either). The Yamaha mechanic went so far as to recommend a specific oil which he claims rectifies 9 out of 10 clutch complaints: Castrol Power RS GPS 4T (10W-40). I've been using it for almost 2 years now on my '07 and am quite happy with the results.

So, the moral of the story is before you go tearing your bike apart to soak the clutch plates, try something simple like switching to a good oil for 800 - 1000 miles.

 

[phobostx]

Ok....after step by step examination it was determined that the pressure plate wasn't seated fully......now it's back together and there is a significant difference in how the transmission shifts.

For those of you who are happy with your shifting the way it is I wouldn't touch it. Mine definitely didn't feel "right" (very clunky downshifting)and there is a significant improvement now over the way it shifted at delivery.

FWIW.....I always run Amsoil in my bikes and without turning this into a "my oil is better than yours" thread you'd be hard pressed to argue that Amsoil isn't a quality oil.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

FWIW.....I always run Amsoil in my bikes and without turning this into a "my oil is better than yours" thread you'd be hard pressed to argue that Amsoil isn't a quality oil.

Well, it's pricey enough -- at $10.35/quart. Of course, they say you can leave it in twice as long as Yamalube -- so, I suppose that mitigates/offsets any perceived price premium?

I wonder if MamaYama designed/spec'd the clutch friction material with that oil in mind (included in the specs)...? :huh: