Stiff clutch handle

[shammon]

Stripped the clutch down today as the clutch lever was so stiff. And once all re assembled and back together still the same? The bikes being rebuilt but do i have to run the engine and ride it for it to ease of? the handle, cable inc outer cable cover are all ok as it the clutch arm selector and return spring. There is plenty oil in there also. Onlt stripped it back half way so did not check the rest of the friction plates.
https://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/shammon/mini-STCL.jpg
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YAMAHA YZF 1000cc THUNDERACE- 'ƃuıןןǝds ʇnoqɐ ʇıɥs ɐ ǝʌıƃ ʇuop ı

[Guest]

Looks like a conventional UJM clutch from here. You've had the operating arm off the sprocket cover and cleaned/greased it and it's nice and free?

That 'mushroom' in the middle of the clutch basket - I'm guessing that the operting arm works a pushrod through the middle of the gearshaft to push the mushroom out and release the pressure plate - have you tried pushing the pushrod back and forth? It's probably stuck in the seal or gummed into the gearshaft. without the pressure plate on there should be no resistance at all.

[shammon]

All is well greased etc. i removed the oil cap and with the help of a torch was able to see the plate move in and out ok when it was all reassembled. The mushroom part is ok moving freely, i think it has to be the pressure springs they seem to be too hard to compress? can they deteriorate and become stiffer?
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YAMAHA YZF 1000cc THUNDERACE- 'ƃuıןןǝds ʇnoqɐ ʇıɥs ɐ ǝʌıƃ ʇuop ı

[doggone]

They can't become stiffer - most likely someone's deliberately fitted stronger springs for some reason.
It may be better when ridden about a bit.

[Guest]

Does seem odd. The plates shouldn't make a difference, when you operate the lever all you're doing is pushing (or pulling) the pressure plate against the springs.

Looking at the pic again, it seems the operating arm is on the clutch cover, not the sprocket cover? if so it pulls the shaft round that's got the worm gear on that pulls the pressure plate outwards.

If the shaft isn't positioned right it could give problems meshing with the other worm gear.

[Ichy]

For what its worth, I had a XJ750 for a few years and the clutch was pretty heavy on that. Stripped it all down and cleaned it but it made very little difference. All I could do was just make sure the cable was well oiled.

[map]

[the grim reaper]

Be careful though, if someone has fitted a teflon lined cable, some oils cause the liner to swell and the cable gets worse instead of better.

Cheers

Grim
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[Kickstart]

Hi

I would be tempted to just replace the cable. They are cheap (and you can still keep the old one as an emergency spare). Cables are often nylon lined and oil causes the nylon to expand, making the cable stick.

However if it has been like this since you bought it then I would suspect someone has fitted aftermarket heavy duty clutch springs. As such it is probably worth replacing them with stock springs (which should be fine on a standard engine).

All the best

Keith
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[the grim reaper]

Nylon, that's the word I was looking for, WTF I got teflon from is beyond me

Cheers

Grim
____________________
Adverts don't always work: Remember that advert, where the army are running across the desert and they have a wounded man on a stretcher. They get to a ravine, the bridge is down and a caption pops up that says, 'What are you thinking?'. I don't know about you but I was thinking, 'Christ, I'm glad I'm not in the f***ing army'.

[Guest]

[ZRX61]

[shammon]

Relised i had to go to work Half covered in oil and bits every where relised i started in 40mins.hence only half stripped it down. Thanks for the replys.
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YAMAHA YZF 1000cc THUNDERACE- 'ƃuıןןǝds ʇnoqɐ ʇıɥs ɐ ǝʌıƃ ʇuop ı

[bidman]

Have you tried just sliding the inner clutch cable in and out to see how free it moves if its even remotely stiff i think this will be your problem, if so get a new 1 greasing it never seems to work properly and they arent too expensive i think around 10-15quid, if not check your clutch springs to see if they are stock, if not replace them , Dan
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