Clutch Up The Duff?

[Wyberton John]

I've been suss of my clutch since I bought the bike, 4 years ago.

The bike has always been noisy - the engine is free-revving and sounds fine, but once things are under load, it's always sounded rough.

I discounted it as the infamous "swirling nuts and bolts in a plastic bucket" sound that you get with the wind passing through the front inner fairing edges and panels on the Fazer.

The clutch has always been very heavy - no matter what I tried (lubed then replaced cable, change oil etc). Today, after around a 78 mile ride, I pulled into the garage to fill up - to that point it had been fine (though heavy clutch lever as always). As I pulled away, it sounded like my mainstand was banging against the frame - repeatedly.

This happened several times on the final couple of miles home - mostly after a gear change. When I got home, I put the bike on its mainstand and put it through 1st and 2nd and there were no untoward sounds at all - so it's only under load when the banging happens.

I don't think the gearbox is shagged, as it changes okay and drives fine (for now) up to 40-ish mph, not been over that since it started playing up.

If it's just the clutch shagged, I'm not too concerned, as I was intending to put a new one in anyway and have watched the tute vids on YouTube (never changed a bike clutch before) and it looks straightforward enough.
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Fazer Thou Gen 1

[sickpup]

[Islander]

As above, check your chain and sprockets (a hooked front sprocket can cause those symptoms) and the cush drive.

[Wyberton John]

Thanks for your suggestions - it had crossed my mind, but because I suspect the clutch of not being 100% I had discounted the drive chain and sprockets.

Having said that, I just went out and had a listen while I rolled the back wheel, and the front end is very noisy - so tomorrow morning I'll get that cover off and have a look.
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Fazer Thou Gen 1

[Wyberton John]

Didn't want to wait until morning, so I got the cover off and had a look - it's deffo not the chain or sprockets, though I do need new ones.

I rode it around my yard and there was no weird noises or clunks, so what I'll do is take it for a gentle test ride tomorrow, not pushing it too hard (to start with, at least) and not too far from home.

Maybe something stuck to my tyre and lodged under the mudguard - though I doubt it, but ya nevva no.
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Fazer Thou Gen 1

[sickpup]

[Bhud]

[Freddyfruitba...]

[Wyberton John]

[chickenstrip]

[myvision]

I put the standard exhaust back on my 1000 for the MOT and the Bike safe course and heard a rattle from the clutch area as the bike was so quiet.
Rode it for 400 miles as the rattle goes when you pull the clutch lever in put the scorpion can back on and can't hear the rattle again.

Spoke to an owner and he says he too has a rattle from the clutch maybe they all do it?
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VFR800FI, YZF600R Thundercat and FZS 1000

[chickenstrip]

[Wyberton John]

Well, guys, I took it for a ride yesterday morning and it was just fine!

Phew!!!

Reckon maybe something got stuck on a tyre or in the mudguard.

Just booked my 48k service today - it's a 2 day job and they didn't want me to have a courtesy bike overnight. I told them another dealer had offered me one - so they said I'd get a "workshop" MT07 to use

Seriously thinking of switching to the XSR700 in a year or two.

Also just ordered the Oxford OF949 solar panel charger for my Rainex bike cover. No need to piss about with powering my current charger, then

Ha! Smiles all round today....

Tomorrow I'm off to Sportsbikeshop to buy a new helmet... more smiles ...
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Fazer Thou Gen 1