Lost my Clutch

[pierre]

It was there when I last rode, 4 months ago. It's been a long rainy winter this year in the bay area.

Started up fine yesterday, in neutral, but when I squeezed the clutch level and stepped into first gear the bike lurched forward and killed. With the unmistakable noise of gear crunching.

It appears that the handlebar lever is pulling the clutch release lever in all the way, or as much as I am able to push it in by hand.

The handlebar clutch cable adjustment feels good, with only a slight bit of free space before the cable is drawn in.

Can the entire clutch release mechanism, everything from the release lever to the pushrod, be replaced without pulling the engine?  Is this where I should start troubleshooting?  Any other thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks

[Bob_Roller]

It has been reported, that the clutch plate can 'rust' to the pressure ring and pressure plate in damp and wet conditions and with the bike being 'idle' for a length of time .

I can't quite remember the procedure to 'unstick' the clutch, but I think it has to do with starting the bike with the clutch lever pulled in, and possibly with the rear brake applied, so all of the starter force is trying to move the clutch disc .

Someone else may have a more correct answer for this .

I would start here, before disassembling anything at this point in time .

[GrimReaper]

Oak said:
 1.put the machine on the center stand in neutral
 2.start it and warm it for a few minutes to make it to start.Kill the engine
 3.Put the machine in first gear.Hop aboard
 4.Start the machine while in gear and you aboard.it will moving slowly while starting.Be prepared to move when engine fires up
 5.When started pul the clutch lever as if the clutch desengaged.Right now will be stuck as if were NOT disengaged and you will be rolling slowly.Keep the lever pulledin.
 6.While the clutch lever is pulled in,and in first gear,suddenly crank the throttle hard to give it ome power to move forward in first gear.The clutch may then break loose.If not the trick several times.It usualy works no problem.


   Good luck

[Bob_Roller]

Thanks SinCity !

If you are wondering how to get the transmission into neutral, with the bike on the center stand, rock the rear wheel with your hand, and then move the gear shift lever with the other hand, you should be able to get the transmission back into neutral .

Have the key in the 'ON' position to confirm it's in neutral, not a 'false neutral' .

[Ed Miller]

I bet many Triumph owners know how to free a stuck clutch.   8-)

[pierre]

Thanks Bob and SinCity.

I'll give it try.

[Dizerens5]

Ed how right you are, those of us who celebrated getting out of short pants by starting on our dear old British bikes know all about sticking clutches - but our bikes all had a kickstarter, just pull the clutch and push the pedal down, no problem. Bob Roller's method sounds like an electric start version of the same thing. Or sit on the bike, put it in first, pull the clutch and rock the bike forward and back by hand (or by foot, really!). Should work even with a bad battery? Or not? Tell!

[MrRiden]

I bet many Triumph owners know how to free a stuck clutch.   8-)

Yes we do indeed! I'd try putting the bike in first, pulling in the clutch lever and rocking it back and forth before resorting to Oaks seemingly more drastic measures.

[GrimReaper]

Thanks Bob and SinCity.

I'll give it try.

 Just tell us the results

[bruce_launceston]

This happened to me for the first time about 12 months ago, I had washed the bike and put it away without taking it for a ride.
When I tried to ride it a few days later the cluch had rusted to the flywheel. I couldn't get it to 'unstick'.
Eventually I put it in gear on the centrestand and rolled the wheel back and forward as violently as I could by hand untill it came free.

I couldn't believe it had never happened to me before but I guess I had always riden the bike straight after washing it. Now I make sure I at least run it long enough and put it in and out of gear to dry the flywheel before putting it away.

[Barry]

I bet many Triumph owners know how to free a stuck clutch.  

I always had a ritual with my Triumph Bonneville for the first start every day.

Pull in the clutch and kick it over until the clutch plates freed. Failure to do this would inevitably result in a stall when 1st was engaged especially if someone was watching.

[Ed Miller]

I tried kicking the clutch free one time, and found out that when it cleared, my knee tried to bend the wrong way.  I do kick pretty hard I guess.

Anyway, I live on a hill so I start and warm up the bike in neutral, then get it rolling down the hill.  It's easy to shift into first when rolling, and I hold the clutch in and blip the throttle a bit until the clutch spins free.  I had to do that this morning, as I noticed threads showing on my R65's rear tire the other night, so I'm waiting for a new tire.  34 degrees was too cold to ride my Triumph 35 miles this morning, but I did it anyway.  

Anyway, sorry for the digression.  But if my R65 clutch stuck I would do the same thing with it.  You don't have to be rolling very fast to get it into first without the clutch.

[pierre]

Status report:

I put the bike on it's centerstand and zip tied the clutch lever and began violently jerking the wheel in both directions.  No Joy.

While still on the centerstand and in first gear I tried bumping the starter.  Didn't get the clutch loose but the bike started. While it was running I tried revving up and stepping on the back brake. Quite a few times. No Joy, and now my battery is now dead.

Recharging the battery now and will try the downhill method Ed mentioned next.

Thanks for all the suggestions!