I was working on the clutch cable for my Sidewinder project and I noticed I could not turn the engine sprocket with the clutch cable pulled. I messed around with this most the day thinking it was my cable. So I cut the cable leaving enough hanging out so that I could put some vise grips on the cable and pull it. Still no luck. So I removed the right cover and pulled the clutch plates out. Pulling the clutch cable then It seemed I was getting enough movement in the center shaft to disengage the plates. So I reassembled the clutch and pulled the cable with no luck turning the sprocket. It seemed like the clutch plates moved very little. Im wondering if maybe the sprocket will not turn by hand but If it were on the bike the the leverage of the rear wheel and gearing of the sprockets would allow it to turn. If so then I removed the cover for no reason.
While pulling on the clutch cable the is a popping sound when the cable is pulled hard. I assume this is over travel of the cam mechanism. BTW with the clutch plates removed I inserted the center stud and pulled the clutch cable and got plenty of smooth movement of the center stud. Can someone point me in the right direction.
:embarrassed:
I did see that the engine was very clean inside and I also think I found a way to plumb in the oil cooler. But thats a question for another day.
Thanks
Zeusrekning
I think your clutch plates are sticking. It always happens on my bike when I leave it alone enough to cool off. Even with the clutch pulled I can't push the bike very easily. In fact just to break the sticking if I need to bump start it I have to put it in like 4th gear to get enough leverage by myself to break the clutch free then I go to 2nd and bump start.
When I Pull on the clutch cable , how much movement should I see in the clutch basket? I mean am I looking for a 1/4" rise or just 1/16"
Is it tough if it's in neutral, or only when the bike is in gear with the clutch pulled in? My bike is definitely harder to push with the clutch in instead of neutral, but I eventually just started to assume that was normal, although mine isn't hard to push, just harder than neutral.
Well, all I am doing now is trying to spin the sprocket on the engine with two fingers. And in neutral it is very easy. I can make no movement while pulling the clutch when it is in gear. It is the same as not pulling the clutch at all.