Can a clutch overheat?

clemsta · Scooby Slapper Joined: 29 Apr 2004 Karma :

I was having a blast on my NS125R, I’d been out for about an hour and a half, giving it lots of stick, accelerating hard, dumping the clutch, and practicing wheelies which consisted of redlining it and dropping the clutch, anyway the bike started to feel like the clutch was slipping when I dumped the clutch and accelerated hard.

I took it out a couple of hours later when it was cool and the problem had gone, this has happened once before in similar circumstances.

Could it just be that the clutch is overheating after having some severe treatment?

What do you think?

Thanks

Adam

Git · Brolly Dolly Joined: 17 Dec 2003 Karma :

I think yes.

mr jamez · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Aug 2003 Karma :

Probably if you are really giving it some abuse for an extended amount of time, though it should be ok as it has oil cooling it and being a 125 probably doesn't stress the clutch much. Obviously if you are always doing this then it will wear out quicker, but a clutch kit only costs about £30 so who cares Very Happy

Guest · Brolly Dolly Joined: 22 Apr 2004 Karma :

Imagine the palm of your left hand is a steel clutch plate, and the palm of your right hand is a fibre one.

Now rub them together very quickly.

Notice anything?

Surprised

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Yes they can overheat and have odd effects. If it is a Yamaha clutch on an FZ / FZR then they have difficult not overheating with only a bit of abuse.

All the best

Keith
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stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Yes. They tend to get hot with a lot of that, seems to make the lever come closer and closer to the bars before it disengages. If this starts to happen either stop and allow to cool down or go for a ride up and down the road as normal for a bit to allow it to cool down.

My Russian 2-stroke actually had SMOKE coming out the crankcase breather after a lengthy U-turn session when I was learning. Only holds a pint and a half of gearbox oil so not much wonder!
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clemsta · Scooby Slapper Joined: 29 Apr 2004 Karma :

Yeah mine had a little poof of smoke after doing a donut, and it was slipping badly, i just stopped for 5 minutes and had a breather, then it was fine again. I checked the gearbox oil but it is correct. I'll just have to take it a bit easier next time. Twisted Evil