Clutch travel - how much do you have ?

[ohgood]

I adjusted the clutch today. It slipped a little last weekend, or my tire did in the rain (it was pretty slippery out). So anyway, after adjustment it feels better, but I'm only getting maybe 10-15 degrees of friction. That might be around 1/4" of friction zone if you were to hold a ruler at the gap on the clutch lever pivot gap.

After the adjustment, things seem smoother now. It was getting to feel more like an on / off switch than a linear deal. It hasn't changed much over the years, and this is only the second time I've adjusted it the 'proper' way. I tried a fine adjustment at the barrel (up by the lever) as I'm used to a 1/4" or so slack before  the friction zone starts.

Soooooo, am I at the end of my clutch's life, or is a small amount of friction zone normal ?

How much friction zone do you have (best guess gap at the lever)  ?

thanks for the comparisons to go by. I only have 22,000 miles on it, and I'm not a slipper

[galahs]

I would imagine it would be more likely due to clutch cable stretch than clutch wear.

[Kerry]

It sounds like you're looking for actual freeplay measurements.  I'd oblige, but my bike is under a cover outside and it's dark and cold and snowing.  ("Awwwww, poor baby.... "  )

For my "next best" effort, check out [THIS OLD THREAD].  It only has a few posts, but it includes the different methods and measurements specified in the owner's (and Haynes) and Clymer manuals.

[ohgood]

Thanks for the OLD THREAD that listed freeplay from both manuals ! That should help more than a few people to know -their- manual has a recommended freeplay. 

I'm not really concerned about the freeplay though. It seems to be spot on, and easily adjusted with the barrel adjuster (clutch lever end) and/or the cable adjuster (engine end). After adjusting it per the haynes, the freeplay was fine.

What I'm really hoping to find is how much friction zone, the measurement when it just starts to 'catch' and move the bike -too- when it's fully released, into the 'freeplay'.

Adjusting the location of the friction zone isn't diffucult, not the freeplay. I'd just like to see if my relatively short friction zone is comparable to other bikes, or if my clutch is near it's end of service.

Guestimates are fine, hard numbers with where and how you measured are a little better. 

Thanks everyone ! 

[Affschnozel]

My clutch is at the end of it's life , here's my symptoms:

the pushrod is in all the way no further adjustments possible , no free play at all between actuator and clutch hub,

the cable though is tight to disengage the plates a bit ,bike starts to move when lever released ~ 0.7mm

Yes, I like to suck the life out of things 

New clutch is on it's way come summer 

[galahs]

how many miles on that clutch Affschnozel?

[frankieG]

i have the raptor lever/perch so mine kicks in right away with only one finger

[Affschnozel]

how many miles on that clutch Affschnozel?

The GS went through 3 PO's and about 77,000km , I did rebuild the whole engine but the clutch was still OK

Oh yeah ,miles.....48,000 

[ohgood]

i have the raptor lever/perch so mine kicks in right away with only one finger

hmm, so you're saying you have friction almost from grip to freeplay ? Man, that would be nice for parking lot feathering. if this is the case, could you provide a link to the lever's retailer(s) ?

thanks, everyone 

[frankieG]

it is not cheap i think it was about 100 clams i got it off flea bay and love the thing.   it takes a bit of getting used to cuz there is on play at all...but you can adjust it if you like but that would make getting one kind of useless