Clutch clunk

[TexinMaine]

It has always had a clunk when shifting but I changed the oil to 20-50 and it is not as noticable but now there is a second clunk when I release the clutch. It is like, clutch, shift, clunk, release clutch, clunk. It is the second clunk that concerns me. Also, is it possible to have too much clutch. Sometimes if I come to a stop in 3rd or higher gear, it doesnt downshift unless I let out a little clutch, however if I downshift as I am slowing it works fine. Any info is appreciated.

Tex

[petejw]

hey tex,
not sure why youd be stopping in any gear other
than 1st, when your stopping/slowing down is always a good idea to
change down gears according to your speed, in saying that
these old transmissions are rough at the best of times, to shift
down a cpl of gears at 1 time while the engine is running would need the clutch to be released at least a little. If the engine wasnt running youd need to rock the bike back and forth to change more than 1 gear at a time.

u didnt use synthetic oil when you changed it?

[b.walker5]

hey tex,
not sure why youd be stopping in any gear other
than 1st,

WHAT...?? Do you ,seriously, change down to 1st every time you stop..???

I only use 1st for taking off, never for stopping. Admittedly 3rd is a bit high, but I never downshift lower than 2nd before stopping.

[CatatonicBug]

WHAT...?? Do you ,seriously, change down to 1st every time you stop..???

Yes! EVERY time. As I am slowing, by the time I am down to 10mph, I am in 1st gear. The clutch is pulled in as I am slowing, but you should always be in 1st gear BEFORE coming to a complete stop. That's part of the MSF course that they BEAT into you.

[b.walker5]

Hell, I dont even do that in the car.... Probably a throw back thing from non synchro gear box days. And i got my bike licence long before there was any such thing as a MSF course down here...

I cant see the point in changing to 1st just to stop, especially if your on the clutch, 2nd will slow you to almost to a stop anyway. What are the reasons they give you in your MSF?

[TexinMaine]

I would assume the downshifting thing is a safty issue. If you happen to get in a sticky situation you would have the responsiveness to get out of it. Any thoughts on the clunking when I let off the clutch? It kind of sounds like a gear has some slack and spinning to engage, if that makes any sense. You'll have to forgive my lack of mechanical knowledge, it has never been my strong suit.

Tex

[b.walker5]

These things are pretty agricultural in the gearbox and a little "clunking" is common, however something to consider is that it may not be your gearbox. Put her up on the centre stand, if you still have one, and rock the rear wheel back and forth, in 1st or 2nd gear, and listen for any unusual knocks and noises. In the drive train, after the gearbox, you have the middle (right angle) drive, a universal joint, a crown wheel and pinion diff, and splines onto the rear wheel. Any XS play in any one of these could translate into a "clunk" when letting the clutch out.

[TexinMaine]

Thanks for all the info gents. I'll give that a try in the morning b.w., so just rock it a bit and see if I can pin down the source of the clunk. Hey, I just noticed I am now "XSive". Sweet.


Tex

[CatatonicBug]

I cant see the point in changing to 1st just to stop, especially if your on the clutch, 2nd will slow you to almost to a stop anyway. What are the reasons they give you in your MSF?

Something tells me you are thinking about this differently than I am. At higher speeds, when not actualy stopping, using the engine to slow is one thing, but the engine is not a brake, and should not be used to stop.

When coming to a stop (e.g., exiting a freeway), you let off the throttle, and instantly grab the clutch (coasting), then apply some brake to slow down. As the speed decreases, you downshift to the appropriate gear for the speed you are going (you don't want to have to let off the clutch in 1st gear at 50mph). When you're down to about 20mph, you should be down to 2nd gear, then at about 10mph, one last bump to 1st, then you come to the stop. This whole time, the clutch AND both brakes are being applied.

The idea is that it's easier on the engine to downshift while you are still moving. Once you are stopped, it's much more difficult to downshift into 1st. Of course, you always want to be in 1st before you start moving again, right?? On top of that, you never know when you might have to make a split-second accelleration from a stop (or ANY speed) to get out of the way of a dump truck! Definitely much easier to make that move if you are in 1st by the time you stop moving.

[Crazcnuk]

Huh? Always use the engine as a brake. Why not? I would rather use the non-wear brake over the wear pads as much as possible.

It's let off throttle, slow, pull clutch, downshift, release clutch, repeat until desired speed obtained, or stopped in 1st gear.

I also only use the rear brake for emergency stopping, or braking on dirty corners (when needed) and holding on hills.

I only use the brakes to fine tune my speed, when slowing or fast stops.

Clutch only comes in (to stay) when speed drops below idle in 1st gear.

[CatatonicBug]

It's let off throttle, slow, pull clutch, downshift, release clutch, repeat until desired speed obtained, or stopped in 1st gear.

You must have really long exit ramps there. When I have to go from 80mph to a complete stop in 300-400 feet, there isn't time to mess with engine braking. Even around town though, from 30mph to a stop at an intersection, I always just grab the clutch and slow with the brake, slowly dropping to 1st gear just before coming to a complete stop.

[Crazcnuk]

Not really. You just have to downshift quicker.

I go through brake pads fast enough as it is.

Maybe I just anticipate better and don't wait until I am 300 ft from a stop before beginning my decelleration.

The thing is, unless your exceeding the posted speed limits, you can drop a gear or two long before you actually have to start your braking run.

[petejw]

seems like a whole new topic

i always pretty much use the gear that corresponds
best for the speed im doing and that usually means using
1st gear.

I always use engine braking to slow me down, as craz
said, theres no parts to wear in doing so.

try braking really hard at a fair speed with the clutch pulled
in then do it again using the engine to slow u down, if you
do it properly (changing down at a higher rpm) it will
make a big difference to your stopping distance.

[CatatonicBug]

(changing down at a higher rpm)

That's what I try to avoid. I can't stand the sound of 6-7k rpm at 40mph. Makes me feel like I'm going to blow something up. I know I'm not, but it just doesn't feel right to increase the rpm when slowing down.

You're right though. The original issue was whether or not to downshift to 1st gear BEFORE coming to a complete stop.

[petejw]

try it at around 5000rpm,
go for a ride and play around at different revs
and see how you go, but in saying that
its more applicable for 'spririted' riding
than just cruising to the shops.

btw i never cruise in 1st gear at 6 -7000rpm.