About a week ago my bike started to feel as if the clutch was slipping. I imagined this was the problem and adjusted the lever with a proper amount of slack and also adjusted the nut above the sprocket case. The bike will move with the clutch fully extended but when I use the throttle, it feels as if the bike doesn't start to be usable until 6k rpm. It feels like the wheel is trying to catch up with the bike, (almost as if it is doing a burnout) this is why I suspected a clutch slip. Then at the aforementioned rpms the bike feels amazing and everything grips up. I'm not sure what's wrong as it did not feel this sluggish last season. The bike only has 4500 miles, and I've owned it for about 1000. This makes me believe the clutch is quite healthy, however I do not know. Any recommendations on what to check? I haven't seen a issue quite like this in the forum. Thanks!
Search for the three point adjustment description. It's in the manual and gsjack did a nice writeup. Also.
Minor clutch adjustments can be done at the lever.
Larger clutch adjustments are done down by the front sprocket.
Its described well in the Haynes and Clymer manual (get one if you don't have it already).
Here are the wiki links for the adjustments:
http://wiki.gstwins.com/index.php?n=Maintenance.AdjustClutch
http://wiki.gstwins.com/index.php?n=Maintenance.FrontSproketCoverRemoval
I found the clutch adjustment to be quite a bit more difficult to get right than I had anticipated.
If the 3-point clutch adjustment doesn't sort it, you might consider what kind of oil you have. My GS clutch is properly adjusted and will slip with the wrong oil. >15W will always slip, 10wt never slips.
But the description that it feels like it's slipping before 6k rpm doesn't sound like clutch to me. In my experience, a slipping clutch will slip at high revs and works fine at low revs.
It could just need an adjustment but what type of oil is in there?
Make, grade or weight isn't the issue. You need a type that meets with JASO MA or the equivalent API/SAE standard ....i.e. is suitable for use with a wet clutch as opposed to a dry one.
If you are not 100% certain you have oil in there suitable for use with a wet clutch change it RIGHT NOW for one that is before it ruins the pack for good.
Sorry for the late update, I had time to tinker this weekend so I did an oil change (was needed anyways), then started on the 3 point adjustment. When I got down to the clutch case for the adjustment screw I noticed something, the lock nut wasn't going all the way down. It seems like the nut is stuck on a damaged thread somewhere down the screw. I adjusted the screw without being able to lock it and rode around a parking lot, it felt amazing until it unsurprisingly loosened up. This guarantees this as the problem, but I don't know how to move forward as I cannot adjust the clutch properly, is there way to work around the issue or fix it?
I'm not sure if I'm understanding your post 100% but that adjuster is part of the clutch cable, so you might just need to replace the cable (cheap n' easy)
Here's a vid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OpQDR3bz_Q
that's a different adjuster I think. That's the tension adjustment under the cover on the left side of the engine. If the locknut is stuck, then you will likely need to replace it. I have never had it all the way apart but I would think you could just hold the screw and remove the lock nut, then if the threads on the screw are not fouled, put on a new locknut.
But yeah, that sounds like why it's slipping.
Quote from: mr72 on April 04, 2022, 02:25:27 PM
that's a different adjuster I think. That's the tension adjustment under the cover on the left side of the engine. If the locknut is stuck, then you will likely need to replace it. I have never had it all the way apart but I would think you could just hold the screw and remove the lock nut, then if the threads on the screw are not fouled, put on a new locknut.
But yeah, that sounds like why it's slipping.
Thats the issue, the threads on the locknut seem fine, the threading on the screw seem to be messed up
If you can remove it, a die may clean up the threads. But I you remove it, might as well put in a new one.
I sadly just got the part in. How would one go about installing the screw? I'm sure it is like most (put slack in cable and replace) but I'm not super familiar with the bike is there any guides on this?