Help! No clutch action.

[conquest87tsi]

I recently bought a '79 standard that is need of a little work. When loading it up I noticed that the clutch didn't work. I.e. doesn't disengage when the lever is pulled. The part that concerns me is that the PO says he replaced the clutch.

I started investigating today and found the cable linkage and everything up to the clutch seems correct. I was wondering if anyone has ideas before I disassemble the clutch.

Thanks

[bikerphil]

The plates are probably just stuck from sitting so long. If you rock the bike back and forth in 5th gear it may free them up. Another way (be careful) is to start the bike in neutral, while sitting on it in an open area as if you are to ride away, drop the shifter into first and take off, that will usually free it.

[mack]

Frozen clutch plates

Yep, sounds like frozen plates. As phil said, turn on the key and rock it and change gears till you find a green neutral light. Let if warm up and pull the clutch leaver in and hold it for a while, couple minutes anyway. Sometimes it will just take a while for the oil to work its way in there. If you try first gear and it stalls again, then get it back in neutral and have someone give you a push while it's running (these are heavy dudes) and then shift into gear again. It won't stall this time and you can give it some throttle, pull in on the clutch lever and slam on the rear brake. That will separate the plates. Slip clutch it for a mile to allow the oil to get into all the friction plates, after that and it should be freed up by then. You'll know when you try to turn around if it has or not. Repeat as required.

[conquest87tsi]

Thanks fellas, Ill have to give it a try once I have everything back togther. Well by then there will be half a foot of snow on the ground.

Guess this doesn't surprise me as there was only like half a quart of oil in it when I picked it up. So the clutch was completley dry for a year or more.

[DGXSER]

If your feeling up to it, an alternative is to pull the clutch and lightly sand both plates and the friction disc. Something to do while your waiting for the snow to clear. It will also give you a chance to make sure all the C-clips are in place, and the countershaft bolt is in good and tight, and that the PO folded up the but retainer clips on the clutch nut.

[Yard Dogg]

If your feeling up to it, an alternative is to pull the clutch and lightly sand both plates and the friction disc. Something to do while your waiting for the snow to clear. It will also give you a chance to make sure all the C-clips are in place, and the countershaft bolt is in good and tight, and that the PO folded up the but retainer clips on the clutch nut.

Right, and while your at it that, you can grind your gear doggs and slots. Make sure the tranny is good to go.