Clutch Grabbing when engaging in 1st gear

[chapi0351]

Just today my clutch started to partially engage then grab when I am starting out in first gear. It seems to be fine going up through the gears and in every other gear with no grabbing or slipping. I have had a Barnett spring in it for over a year and the fluid was changed over a month ago and is not leaking and reservoir still full.

If I let it out real slow and am real easy on the gas it doesn't seam to grab. I did notice that ever since the Barnett spring, my clutch is always stiff and it starts catching at 1/4 to 1/2 inch when letting it out. Today it is still stiff but doesn't seem to start catching until about 3/4 to 1 in.

Any suggestions?

[cactusjack]

Try adjusting the numbered knob on the clutch lever. If it's set to 4 or 5, try it at 1 or 2. It will give you just a little bit more clutch travel.

After I put the Barnett spring in mine, at a light let's say, with the clutch pulled in, I could feel the bike trying to move forward. Adjusting the knob fixed it for me.

[redjay]

+1. I was thinking maybe the numbered dial got moved while cleaning or ?

[chapi0351]

Thanks, But I already have it at 5. Had to do that to get it to disengage when I put my Barnett spring in. Since my original post I drove it home from work and it wants to grab an learch even if I start out in 2nd and try to let it slip and it is grabbing or learching every time I have to stop

[macmac]

I suspect the slave cly is leaking by. Look for brake fluid at the slave.

[chapi0351]

IS that what I bled when I flushed the fluid out last month?

[ringadingh]

Id change the brake fluid and bleed it again, you may have got some moisture into the system or some air and its not giving you full travel of the clutch lever. Or you may have a leak as mentioned and be low on fluid.

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by chapi0351

Thanks, But I already have it at 5. Had to do that to get it to disengage when I put my Barnett spring in. Since my original post I drove it home from work and it wants to grab an learch even if I start out in 2nd and try to let it slip and it is grabbing or learching every time I have to stop

5 is the minimal amount of clutch travel, 1 is the maximum. If your clutch isn't disengaging all the way, you want it on 1. If that doesn't help, then you may have a leak in the slave cylinder behind the left side cover, as Mac suggested.

[macmac]

Originally Posted by chapi0351

IS that what I bled when I flushed the fluid out last month?

I sure hope so, but how can you ask about what fluid you put back in there? There is no such thing as clutch fluid.

[chapi0351]

I'm not thinking. I have it set on 1 and I just removed side cover and changed fluid\bled (DOT4) again and will give that a try, Let you know in a while. THere doesn't seem to be any fluid leaking.

[macmac]

If you can't find bad fluid, a leak anywhere, which would not throw the rod far enough, all else i can think of is the star spring may have backed off somehow.

There is no option to adjust the push rod longer, or shorten it for that matter. In the case of not getting push IN enough you could get a hang up, but in general my fear with this set up is under terms of wear measured in years and very high miles. That would mean the push rod becomes too long in effect. The end result would be a slipping clutch not do to a weak spring, but because the push rod is too long and the slave is all the way back on the bore.

So far I have never heard any such complaint.

A test might be to quick as you can double clutch and see if that helps at all. If it does there has to be contamination, or a leak.

Another test might be about the same, double clutch as fast and you can and hold it in gear, and count down some seconds and see if the clutch begins to engage in time, meaning there is a leak fer sure.

If the system won't hold pressure forever there is a leak. It might be a drop, and a little later another drop, but the system is failed if that happens.

You could look under all the dust boots for bf too. The master could leak, but are in a less harsh enviroment, so would tend to leak last.

[chapi0351]

thanks Mac and everyone. I flushed and bled and that didn't help. I tried all the things you said and there doesn't seem to be a leak and double clutch doesn't help. I can hold it in for 3 or 4 minutes and it doesn't start to engage. Going to get something to eat and then play again tomorrow morning.

[macmac]

Just sits there all nice huh? In gear clutch IN. Then what happens again?? What seems grabby?

[chapi0351]

as you let the clutch out, nothing happens and then it suddenly engages and lurches forward. if you have given it enought gas, you go down the road, if not you stall. In other you can't slip the cluch at all. It is either fully engaged or fully disengaged

[ringadingh]

Maybe the seals in the resevoir are shot and allowing fluid to leak by rather than push it through the line. I don't know if there is a rebuild kit available.