Total Motorcycle Forums • View topic - How to check clutch on used bike?
Total Motorcycle Forums - The friendlist forums on the internet!

Main Site

Forums


Photo Gallery

Back to Main Site Main Site . * Login   * Register .    * Search .  . New Total Motorcycle Photo Gallery Photo Gallery

All times are UTC - 7 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 11 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
Unread postPosted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 6:13 pm 
Site Supporter - Silver
Site Supporter - Silver
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 07, 2006 9:16 pm
Posts: 903
Location: Rockford, Illinois U.S.
Sex: Male
Years Riding: 8
My Motorcycle: '98 Honda Goldwing GL1500se
I'm going to look at a used bike and want to be sure the clutch is not almost dead.

In a car with a manual trans, you find a (big) tree and make solid contact with the trunck. Then at idle, slowly let the clutch out. It should kill the engine and show you have a solid clutch. But if it allows the engine to rotate at all the clutch is almost dead.

Now on a bike, how can I test the clutch to be sure its not on deaths door step?

Thank

_________________
Goldwing 1500se '98
VN500 LTD '07 Sold


Top
 Profile  
 
Unread postPosted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 10:37 pm 
Site Supporter - Gold
Site Supporter - Gold

Joined: Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:46 pm
Posts: 5168
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Real Name: Ryan
Sex: Male
Years Riding: 4
My Motorcycle: 2005 Kawasaki Z750S
You could do the same thing, except rev it a little. Hold it around 2000 and let the clutch out slowly while sitting on the bike so the tire doesn't try to spin.
Or go out and rev it to redline, drop the clutch, and if it wheelies you're good! haha

_________________
Have owned - 2001 Suzuki Volusia
Current bike - 2005 Kawasaki Z750S
MMI Graduation date January 9th, 2009. Factory Certifications in Suzuki and Yamaha


Top
 Profile  
 
Unread postPosted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 6:00 am 
Site Supporter - Silver
Site Supporter - Silver
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 07, 2006 9:16 pm
Posts: 903
Location: Rockford, Illinois U.S.
Sex: Male
Years Riding: 8
My Motorcycle: '98 Honda Goldwing GL1500se
Holding it at 2k seems bit high, no? I may buy the ibke and don't want to damage a otherwise good bike.

_________________
Goldwing 1500se '98
VN500 LTD '07 Sold


Top
 Profile  
 
Unread postPosted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 7:51 am 
Legendary 500
Legendary 500
User avatar

Joined: Sun Oct 10, 2004 5:44 pm
Posts: 538
Location: NE Ohio
Sex: Male
Years Riding: 28
My Motorcycle: 02 GS500
flw wrote:
Holding it at 2k seems bit high, no? I may buy the ibke and don't want to damage a otherwise good bike.


Hold the rear brake tight to prevent wheel spin, rev engine, let clutch out slowly to stall engine. About 2000 rpm sounds good to me, I do it that way. Letting clutch out slowly will help induce clutch slippage if clutch is marginal, good clutch will kill engine.


Top
 Profile  
 
Unread postPosted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 9:29 am 
Site Supporter - Gold
Site Supporter - Gold

Joined: Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:46 pm
Posts: 5168
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Real Name: Ryan
Sex: Male
Years Riding: 4
My Motorcycle: 2005 Kawasaki Z750S
gsJack wrote:
flw wrote:
Holding it at 2k seems bit high, no? I may buy the ibke and don't want to damage a otherwise good bike.


Hold the rear brake tight to prevent wheel spin, rev engine, let clutch out slowly to stall engine. About 2000 rpm sounds good to me, I do it that way. Letting clutch out slowly will help induce clutch slippage if clutch is marginal, good clutch will kill engine.


Yup, we usually hit 3K in the shops while testing clutches.

_________________
Have owned - 2001 Suzuki Volusia
Current bike - 2005 Kawasaki Z750S
MMI Graduation date January 9th, 2009. Factory Certifications in Suzuki and Yamaha


Top
 Profile  
 
Unread postPosted: Wed Jul 13, 2011 6:34 am 
Legendary 3000
Legendary 3000
User avatar

Joined: Wed May 21, 2008 4:13 pm
Posts: 3012
Location: CT, USA
Sex: Male
Years Riding: 0
My Motorcycle: Year/Make/Model
flw wrote:
I'm going to look at a used bike and want to be sure the clutch is not almost dead.

In a car with a manual trans, you find a (big) tree and make solid contact with the trunck. Then at idle, slowly let the clutch out. It should kill the engine and show you have a solid clutch. But if it allows the engine to rotate at all the clutch is almost dead.

Now on a bike, how can I test the clutch to be sure its not on deaths door step?

Thank


I'm feeling a strong case of déjà vu here...
Wasn't there an almost identical thread here recently? :humm:

EDIT: Suspicion confirmed :laughing:

_________________
2008 Ducati Hypermotard 1100
2006 Kawasaki KLX250S
2004 Honda CBR600RR
2002 BMW R1150R
1996 Ducati 900SS


Top
 Profile  
 
Unread postPosted: Wed Jul 13, 2011 6:48 am 
Legendary 500
Legendary 500
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2008 4:34 am
Posts: 648
Location: Japan and CT
Sex: Female
Years Riding: 0
My Motorcycle: 2008 Honda Motard XR400
haha, and almost all the same people replied too!

Well, flw yer not the only one, lol, I always need to be told at least twice before I get-it-mechanics and even then.. :confused2:

_________________
Honda Motard XR400
Traded: Honda SL230 and Yamaha XJR400


Top
 Profile  
 
Unread postPosted: Wed Jul 13, 2011 7:17 am 
Site Supporter - Silver
Site Supporter - Silver
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 07, 2006 9:16 pm
Posts: 903
Location: Rockford, Illinois U.S.
Sex: Male
Years Riding: 8
My Motorcycle: '98 Honda Goldwing GL1500se
Holding the idle to about 2k plus worked well as a simple clutch test.

I'm not sure about the subject of clutch testing on a motorcycle has come up before? Or maybe I'm just forgetful.

Thanks to those that responded.

_________________
Goldwing 1500se '98
VN500 LTD '07 Sold


Top
 Profile  
 
Unread postPosted: Thu Jul 14, 2011 12:43 pm 
Moderator
Moderator
User avatar

Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2005 3:20 pm
Posts: 3833
Location: Reston Virginia
Sex: Male
Years Riding: 22
My Motorcycle: Vstrom 650, S1000RR, XS850, ZX6R
flw wrote:
Holding the idle to about 2k plus worked well as a simple clutch test.

I'm not sure about the subject of clutch testing on a motorcycle has come up before? Or maybe I'm just forgetful.

Thanks to those that responded.


Someone should have clicked the link :laughing:

_________________
Image

My Blog


Top
 Profile  
 
Unread postPosted: Thu Jul 14, 2011 7:12 pm 
Legendary 3000
Legendary 3000
User avatar

Joined: Wed May 21, 2008 4:13 pm
Posts: 3012
Location: CT, USA
Sex: Male
Years Riding: 0
My Motorcycle: Year/Make/Model
storysunfolding wrote:
flw wrote:
Holding the idle to about 2k plus worked well as a simple clutch test.

I'm not sure about the subject of clutch testing on a motorcycle has come up before? Or maybe I'm just forgetful.

Thanks to those that responded.


Someone should have clicked the link :laughing:


:shifty:

_________________
2008 Ducati Hypermotard 1100
2006 Kawasaki KLX250S
2004 Honda CBR600RR
2002 BMW R1150R
1996 Ducati 900SS


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 11 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 35 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB © 2013 phpBB Group