Time for a New Clutch?

[ledbetter]

I have a 96 GS500, with 12K miles on it.  I think the clutch is worn out.  The other night, which was cool - 50F, the engine would rev up, but no acceleration.  After 15 minutes or so, the problem seemed to go away.  The cable has been adjusted, and oil level is good.  I put 3K miles on it, and I know the bike was used for breaking in two new riders, so I am sure it has seen some excessive wear.

Just wondering how many miles before the clutch needs to be replaced for most bikes?
What kind of driving conditions - all highway, city, mixed, or beat the crap out of it?

How much time to replace the clutch?  I have the manual and all the tools, and a little experience.
What did it cost?  Where is the best place to get it?

Thanks

[Affschnozel]

Did you adjust the clutch at the release mechanism?

[bobthebiker]

Its not insanely hard to replace a clutch,  OEM is the way to go if you ask me.   I happen to have a spare laying around for when I start stunting.

[Oklahoma_Mike]

12k is LOW for a clutch replacement. I would check everything else possible. The earliest I have ever heard of replacement was around 20k and that was on a bike that went through 4 newbies(poor thing), but on the other hand you can knock a clutch out in a few thousand being a total dumbass. Come to think of it I have heard of people having a spring break and causing the same problem. Bottom line is I would takle it over the winter. Tear it apart to find out exactly what you need then buy it.

[GeeP]

How much clutch lever freeplay do you have between the lever and the mount where the cable attaches?  Suzuki suggests 1/8"

If you have no freeplay at all, that's your problem.  So check your clutch cable adjustment before you go buying pressure and friction plates.   

[sledge]

What oil is in it and are you sure its suitable for use with wet-clutches?

[beRto]

I have heard of people using engine additives that have gummed up the wet clutch (e.g. slick 50 etc.)... any chance that happened here?

[ledbetter]

The gap is 1/8".
The oil is standard 10W40
I have adjusted the cable at the both engine and the lever ends.
No engine oil additives.     

I am trying to get a feel for when other people have to change thier clutches?

[Affschnozel]

On my bike the adjustment screw of the release mechanism is in all the way ,so the clutch is gone for sure  ( ~70,000 km most by PO's )

Best is to open the clutch up and see what needs replacing

[GeeP]

Hmm...  Before you go tearing into the clutch, there's one more thing you can check.  Have you adjusted the clutch acutating rod?

If not, open up the little oval cover for the clutch cam adjuster on the left side of the engine, on the sprocket guard.  Loosen the locknut and turn the adjuster out.  Turn the adjuster in until you just start to feel resistance, then back it off 1/4 turn.  Readjust the clutch lever freeplay as required.

It is possible that the clutch pushrod adjustment has gone out of whack.  This adjustment is independent of the clutch lever freeplay adjustment.

My bike has 30,000 miles on it, mostly by me.  It is on the original clutch.  I don't ride it "hard", but I'm not a fair weather ride either.

You can look up prices at bikebandit.com or ronayers.com  See the 'fische section, select the model and year, click the part numbers and you're good to go.   

[Kerry]

I've got 39,000 miles so far on the original clutch in my '99.  bigburma has over 40,000 miles so far on the original clutch in his '00.

What about you, gsJack?

[Affschnozel]

I have adjusted the cable at the both engine and the lever ends.

GeeP ,he did adjust the actuating rod I believe

Am I right that a worn clutch would require constant adjustment of the pushrod mechanism until there's no more left to adjust ?

[gsJack]

I've got 39,000 miles so far on the original clutch in my '99.  bigburma has over 40,000 miles so far on the original clutch in his '00.

What about you, gsJack?

Back in 03 when my 97 GS made it's last trip south to the Smoky Mtns it had 70k miles on it and was starting to occasionally emit an ominous metallic scraping noise when engaging the clutch on steep hills carring my 240# butt.  Didn't notice that again after I got home and I parked it with just over 80k miles on the clock when I picked up the  02 GS.  When the engine gave out on JP's old GS750 this spring I gave him the old 97 GS and he just put a low milage used engine in it with over 88k miles on the 97  GS's clock so that's the final count on it's original clutch, engine, tranny assy.

My 02 GS that I bought with about 4.5k miles on it now has just over 55k miles so that's a total of over 130k miles I've put on GS's on the OE clutches.  JP is about the same size as me so those clutches have done a good job carrying us without failure, here's a pic of us down in the Smoky Mtns back in 04:

[Affschnozel]

Bump

Am I right that a worn clutch would require constant adjustment of the pushrod mechanism until there's no more left to adjust ?

Anyone ?