Neutral impossible, oil leak, clutch weird

[warmachine81]

Been riding around the old girl for a couple of months now after some rebuilding. Anyway, just noticed an oil leak from near the front sprocket (no its not chain lube) and won't go into neutral without a fight. It has currently won the last three bouts. The clutch feels really odd too. It's a fairly new cable. I'll try to take the new found slack out of the cable and check everything else. Anybody else had this problem?

[Big Rich]

Set the clutch cable to the service manual (all 3 points). How bad is the oil leak? If your oil level drops too far, it will affect how your wet clutch operates.

[warmachine81]

I've adjusted the cable at the lever, the leak is a couple of drips in between riding which is daily. Oil level is still good. I'm starting to think it's the clutch because ever since I've had it at times when I'm giving it the berries it misses 6th gear.

[Big Rich]

Adjust the clutch per the manual, that's the only way to know for sure. The oil leak is "probably" from the shifter or output shaft. The GS clutch is pretty robust, it usually only goes bad from extreme abuse.

Just guessing, are you from the UK or Australia?

[warmachine81]

Cable adjusted. I'll ride tomorrow and see how she goes. That's exactly where I feel the oil is coming from. It's a K4 Australia, that has asked very little of me over the years, and given so much. Wouldn't be surprised if this was the original clutch

[warmachine81]

Took the old girl out after adjusting the cable. I'm able to hit neutral again, but it still feels a little off. I'm not really in the habit of ringing it's bell, so I don't trust it. Any other way of diagnosing a worn clutch? I'm certain that it's the original clutch.

[Big Rich]

Well, you could pull the clutch cover off (get a new gasket before you do), measure the steel and fiber plates for the proper thickness, check them on a pane of glass to male sure they are perfectly flat, and inspect the clutch housing.

Or.....

Wring out the engine in 2nd / 3rd gear and feel if you are getting a constant pull.

When a clutch goes bad, it will slip at higher rpms - which is especially noticeable in lower gears.