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I posted this on another forum and no one answered it. Maybe some of you mechanically knowledgeable will help me out. I just purchased a 1973. It seems to run pretty well but when I try to put it in gear, it acts & sounds like the clutch isn't disengaged. I have adjusted the cable on both ends and assured myself that the cable is not broken and is actually working. I took the outer cover off and can see the cable pulling the little arm. Does this definitely mean I need a new clutch? I'm guessing it still is the original clutch, but I forgot to ask the previous owner. The bike has almost 29,000 miles. Oh, and the bike had been regularly ridden before I bought it..so, it isn't one of those that has been sitting up somewhere for years without being used. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks
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Does it bang into gear and when was the last oil change? Clutches can act pretty funny from bike to bike, is your idle too high, like 1200 to 1500 rpms? Try this: when you start the bike and warm up, pull the clutch in several times and hold it in. Crack the throttle a couple times and now drop it in gear at idle. Or just try holding the clutch in for a while before dropping it gear. Mine works better this way and so does my Goldwing with a hydraulic clutch. Paul
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Yes, it bangs into gear, but I have a hard time forcing myself to do that because I wonder what damage I'm doing to the gears themselves. I don't know when the oil was last changed. The previous owner said he always changed oil & filter every 3000. What I don't understand is; when it's in gear and I hold the clutch in it doesn't try to creep forward...so you have to say the clutch is disengaged, right? Holding the clutch lever in for a long time doesn't seem to help, but I will try to cut the idle down a bit. Thanks for advice.
Mike
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Does it still bang into gear when you hold the clutch in for a while and crack the throttle a couple times? You could try less slack in your cable or might just be the norm for your bike. They all do it some.
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Many thanks for your response. I've only had it for a week and I may just need more time to get used to it. Yesterday, I got a chance to ride it some. I tried what you said and when I got ready to pull out of the driveway, instead of banging into first, it sort of clunked into gear. That's what I'm used to on Hondas I've ridden. Riding it, it seemed to shift pretty good until I finally came to a stop sign about a block from home. I clutched and shifted down to first and then, all of a sudden, the shift lever went completely slack...nothing. I pushed it home and took the outer cover off the clutch housing and the little throwout lever inside was stuck completely forward. I popped it back and then rode it a little but I gotta tell you, I was scared to death it would happen again even though I tried to be very gentle on the clutch. Pushing that big heifer a block wore me out. Two or three would certainly kill me.
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I think you meant your clutch lever went slack. Try some WD40 on the clutch shaft and lube your cable. Also check the routing of the cable to make sure it moves good and not pinched somewhere. The lever may be much easier to pull when you do this. The clutch shaft sticking may be your problem. Downshift while the bike is still rolling. If you downshift at a stop doesn't work too good.
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not sure if this will help
but i bought a 74 k5 last year and had all sorts of wierd clutch probs, slipping,grabbing etc and thought i would have to pull it apart [the bike had been sitting for 10 years i reckon] but i found a triumph web site that explained similar symptons and how to fix them long story short the plates were stuck
1 change oil
2 fit a new cable [my cable had anasty pinch in it]
3 fit the bike on the centre stand and get her running clutch in, my bike then would start the rear wheel turning get the revs up jam on the rear brake presto clutch disengeged i had to do 1/2 a doz times until those plates freeed up
4 change oil after a 1000 miles
now she runs great and i didnt have to overhaul the clutch and yes she has the honda clunk when i put her into gear
cheers
derek
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Yes, sorry, I did mean clutch lever. I didn't expect these problems with this particular bike because I'm pretty sure the previous owner was riding it fairly regularly. In other words, it wasn't a barn bike that had been sitting for years. Anyway, I applied several of the suggestions I received and rode it yesterday. Wow, it performed well and even that first shift into first went smoothly. First chance I get, I will change oil & filter. Many thanks for all the help, guys.
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