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Author Topic: Frozen clutch, tried diff't "pop" methods, next...  (Read 5606 times)

tc80211

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Frozen clutch, tried diff't "pop" methods, next...
« on: March 17, 2015, 06:38:33 PM »
'83 R65
Haven't posted in a while because bike was perfect!! Then I did not ride her for a month and now the clutch is frozen... pulling lever, no wheel roll at all in gear.
i tried snowbums 2 methods for "unfreezing" the clutch and unfortunately did not work...

Where do I go from here? I never took a clutch flywheel assembly apart before... any tips? hints? things to look at for? things not to do?

Offline Tony Smith

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Re: Frozen clutch, tried diff't "pop" methods, next...
« Reply #1 on: March 17, 2015, 11:57:35 PM »
Firstly.

Calm yourself, you are VERY unlikely to need to take anything apart.
 
Below I set out my method for unsticking BMW clutches, trust me I have been doing this for 37 years (commencing 1978 when I caught a R100RS sized dose of incurable Airhead disease).
 
All Airhead clutches are apt to get a bit stuck if the machine has not been ridden for a while, especially if the weather was wet when the machine was last ridden.
 
My (soon to be patented) method is:-

Put bike in neutral and start engine, warm up until engine at normal operating temperature.

Wheel bike to top of a small slope (the driveway up our gutter is about 5 inches fall in 10 inches distance and is more than sufficient for this) alternatively have an assistant stand behind the bike, ready to push.

Paddle foot the bike to the top of the slope with the engine running and as soon as it starts down the slope, bang it into first gear and ride off with the clutch leaver pulled in, change gears gently remembering that there is no disengagement and, if possible, give it a bit of welly. I have never had a clutch take more than a few hundred metres to come free.
 
Alternatively, have companion push you down the street with the engine running, as soon as walking pace is achieved, select 1st gear and accelerate away - proceed as in example above until clutch frees itself.

1978 R100RS| 1981 R100RS (JPS) | 1984 R65 | 1992 KLE500 | 2002 R1150GSA |

Offline montmil

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Re: Frozen clutch, tried diff't "pop" methods, next...
« Reply #2 on: March 18, 2015, 09:47:14 AM »
 [smiley=tekst-toppie.gif]

Yeah. What Tony says.

And when was the last time you did a proper clutch spline clean n' lube?
Monte Miller
Denton, TEXAS
1978 BMW R100S
1981 BMW R65
1983 BMW R65
1995 Triumph Trophy
1986 VW Cabriolet

tc80211

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Re: Frozen clutch, tried diff't "pop" methods, next...
« Reply #3 on: March 18, 2015, 11:35:05 AM »
I have tried a version of that, since in FL not really any hills... I start in neutral, get it warmed up. Then have someone push me, I hold in clutch lever and bang it into first... it goes into first but lever being pulled in has zero affect. After trying this 10 times I gave up.

It only sat for a month and yes the last ride was a wet one. I'm definitely worried at this point.

tc80211

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Re: Frozen clutch, tried diff't "pop" methods, next...
« Reply #4 on: March 18, 2015, 12:03:36 PM »
Quote
[smiley=tekst-toppie.gif]

Yeah. What Tony says.

And when was the last time you did a proper clutch spline clean n' lube?

I did a spine lube when i finished building the bike late 2014.

Offline Barry

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Re: Frozen clutch, tried diff't "pop" methods, next...
« Reply #5 on: March 18, 2015, 04:02:29 PM »
Quote
I hold in clutch lever and bang it into first... it goes into first but lever being pulled in has zero affect. After trying this 10 times I gave up.


Have you tried getting up to 5th gear which will put the most torque on your clutch.
Barry Cheshire, England 79 R45

Offline k_enn

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Re: Frozen clutch, tried diff't "pop" methods, next...
« Reply #6 on: March 18, 2015, 04:33:46 PM »
A method I have used is to have the bike running in neutral, at idle or just a little above idle.  Grab the front brake strongly so the bike won't move, or better yet put front wheel up against an immovable object like a wall.  Pull in the clutch lever.  With the lever in and the engine at idle, shift down into first.  Most likely you will free the clutch.  If not, you will probably just stall the bike.  

k_enn
k_enn
original owner of:
?1982 R65
? 2014 K1300S

tc80211

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Re: Frozen clutch, tried diff't "pop" methods, next...
« Reply #7 on: March 18, 2015, 06:58:24 PM »
Quote
A method I have used is to have the bike running in neutral, at idle or just a little above idle.  Grab the front brake strongly so the bike won't move, or better yet put front wheel up against an immovable object like a wall.  Pull in the clutch lever.  With the lever in and the engine at idle, shift down into first.  Most likely you will free the clutch.  If not, you will probably just stall the bike.  

k_enn

Thanks Ken, That is what I initially have tried multiple times and the bike just stalls.

I'm fairly worried I need to take it all apart.

Offline Luca

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Re: Frozen clutch, tried diff't "pop" methods, next...
« Reply #8 on: March 20, 2015, 04:40:27 PM »
One other thing I could think of would be to fiddle with the adjustments.  Screw in the adjuster on the clutch arm (back of the transmission) as far in as you can, then take up as much cable slack as you can at the lever.

My thought is that maybe the extra relief pressure will help things separate when you re-try some clutch freeing techniques.  Worth a shot before digging in deeper.

p.s  if it works, make sure to re-adjust the clutch before you go out riding!
'82 R65LS
'01 K1200RS

Offline minitoo

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Re: Frozen clutch, tried diff't "pop" methods, next...
« Reply #9 on: March 20, 2015, 08:26:27 PM »
This stuck clutch thing recently happened with my old SAAB 99 after parked for a couple years.  The way I got it going was to first warm the engine up so it was running smoothly then shut it off.  With the car facing down the road I hit the starter with the car in first gear and the starter was able to move the car forward enough for the engine to fire up and down the road I went.  I then got off and on the throttle really hard like I was trying to pop a wheelie or something (yeah, right!).  After about four or five times of this foolishness, a bang and I was free and working fine.  Been working fine since.  Worth a shot and can't hurt anything if you've room in front of you.

Offline SoloLobo

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Re: Frozen clutch, tried diff't "pop" methods, next...
« Reply #10 on: March 21, 2015, 09:46:16 AM »
On really stuck bikes I have done what minitoo says... get the engine warm first and then find a long slope.  Get the bike rolling down hill with the clutch level pulled fully in.

Drop the bike into gear (2nd) and while holding the clutch lever to the bars rev the engine from throttle on up quickly and continuously several times

That's done the job for me... although I did have one bike that had to ride almost all of the way around my (long) block until it freed

tc80211

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Re: Frozen clutch, tried diff't "pop" methods, next...
« Reply #11 on: March 21, 2015, 07:53:48 PM »
thanks guys. will try that method next!!

tc80211

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Re: Frozen clutch, tried diff't "pop" methods, next...
« Reply #12 on: March 25, 2015, 07:10:34 PM »
ok... so i did the methods above... all... the one in which i put the front tire against a wall and hold the clutch lever in and then drop into 1st.... that started smoking something so i stopped right away...

Guess this thread will turn into questions re taking clutch and flywheel off and replacing. yippee.

Offline SoloLobo

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Re: Frozen clutch, tried diff't "pop" methods, next...
« Reply #13 on: March 25, 2015, 09:52:15 PM »
Riding it around while holding the clutch level all the way in and reving the bike up didn't work?

The process is to rev sharply, close the throttle and repeat that process until the clutch breaks free... all the while holding the lever in.

Offline Tony Smith

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Re: Frozen clutch, tried diff't "pop" methods, next...
« Reply #14 on: March 25, 2015, 09:53:14 PM »
Quote
Guess this thread will turn into questions re taking clutch and flywheel off and replacing. yippee.

Very sorry to hear this - it is the first time ever that going for a ride with the clutch lever pulled in has failed to release the clutch - the furthest I have ever had to do that was about a half mile.
 
I have seen an excellent step by step on replacing a clutch on a R100/7 - the principle is the same and I will try to find it for you. Also Chris Harris "Affordable Beemer Service" on Youtube has useful stuff.
1978 R100RS| 1981 R100RS (JPS) | 1984 R65 | 1992 KLE500 | 2002 R1150GSA |