Major Clutch issues - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

mtds4 · 07-04-2005, 09:13 AM

Okay, here's the deal! My '87 Intruder 1400 has some major clutch problems. We've replaced all fibers, steels that needed replacing, and still slips. Not sure what else to do. Help!!!

Dave2122 · 07-04-2005, 10:02 PM

I have seen fully synthetic oils cause this problem. Also is your clutch basket in good condition? The ears on the basket can get grooved holding the plates from engaging and disengaging.

mtds4 · 07-05-2005, 08:30 AM

Sorry, I replaced the basket too. I just forgot to list it. Also, I don't have synthetic oil in it.

Dave2122 · 07-05-2005, 12:16 PM

Your problem may be in the shaft drive then. Start looking into that system.

blackie1491 · 07-05-2005, 04:44 PM

Do you have motorcycle specific oil in it. Car oil has friction modifiers in it. This causes the plates to slip.

mtds4 · 07-07-2005, 07:18 PM

Well, I tried the oil. I put genuine Suzuki oil in it and . . . no change. Any other ideas?

Dave2122 · 07-07-2005, 09:37 PM

Exactly what is the clutch doing? Describe the problem. Isnt that a hydrolic clutch on the VS1400?

stp1971 · 07-08-2005, 11:18 AM

Maybe the linkage is out of adjustment,, or if it is Hydaulic check the lines and amke sure they are not kinked. If there is any blockage or kinks it could be holding pressure at the clutches and causing it not to relaese the pressure by bleeding back up into the reservoir,, look at the sight glass and see if it might have an air pocket in it,, that would be an indicator that it is low on fluid meaning that pressure might be still applied.

I had a truck that kept wearing the left side pads down twice as fast as the other side. My immediate reaction was that the caliper was sticking,, so I greased everything and put it back together. Still kept doing it,, so the next thing I thought was that the piston in the caliper was sticking,, so I replaced the whole caliper,, still did it,,errrrrr.....

Next thing I thought that the proportioning valve's metering valve was bad,, replaced that,, still doing it. Then I replace the rubber line,, still did it. Finally I noticed an ever so slight bend in the metal line from where it looked like something might have hit it,, replaced that part of the line,, problem fixed..... Luckily it was a company truck and not even my boss could figure it out,, he suggested some of the same things as well so I didn't feel so bad.

So point is,, check the lines to make sure no kinks or bad hoses if hydraulic.

dirtyfingers · 07-10-2005, 11:37 AM

You didnt mention them so I gotta ask, did you replace the pressure plate and springs? If that plate has any grooves on the friction surface it may cause slippage. Also if you have a service manual, use it to check your stack height on the clutch pack.

mtds4 · 07-14-2005, 06:27 PM

Okay, more detail - The clutch generally works better when cold. The hotter it gets, the more it slips. It will be fine at low rpm's, but when you get on it you lose all power. When it gets really warmed up, you can't hardly move it. The clutch fibers were definitely bad at first so we replaced them. Then, somehow fuel got in the oil so that when it heated up it warped some of the steels. Replaced those, no luck. I'm starting to worry that something else got damaged because of the clutch. Still scratching my head.

07-04-2005, 09:13 AM	#1 (permalink)
mtds4 Newbie Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 7	Major Clutch issues Okay, here's the deal! My '87 Intruder 1400 has some major clutch problems. We've replaced all fibers, steels that needed replacing, and still slips. Not sure what else to do. Help!!!

07-08-2005, 11:18 AM	#8 (permalink)
stp1971 May 2007 Member of the month Joined: Mar 2005 Bike: 2004 Suzuki Intruder 1500LC / 2005 Suzuki DL650 V-Strom Location: Douglasville, Georgia Posts: 7,808	Maybe the linkage is out of adjustment,, or if it is Hydaulic check the lines and amke sure they are not kinked. If there is any blockage or kinks it could be holding pressure at the clutches and causing it not to relaese the pressure by bleeding back up into the reservoir,, look at the sight glass and see if it might have an air pocket in it,, that would be an indicator that it is low on fluid meaning that pressure might be still applied. I had a truck that kept wearing the left side pads down twice as fast as the other side. My immediate reaction was that the caliper was sticking,, so I greased everything and put it back together. Still kept doing it,, so the next thing I thought was that the piston in the caliper was sticking,, so I replaced the whole caliper,, still did it,,errrrrr..... Next thing I thought that the proportioning valve's metering valve was bad,, replaced that,, still doing it. Then I replace the rubber line,, still did it. Finally I noticed an ever so slight bend in the metal line from where it looked like something might have hit it,, replaced that part of the line,, problem fixed..... Luckily it was a company truck and not even my boss could figure it out,, he suggested some of the same things as well so I didn't feel so bad. So point is,, check the lines to make sure no kinks or bad hoses if hydraulic. __________________ Biketoberfest 2006 flashback courtesy of Intimid8er: "Like you knew damn well you shouldn't eat something like that, but all be damned to hell, you were gonna eat it!" __________________

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07-04-2005, 10:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
Dave2122 Sprocket Pilot Joined: Sep 2004 Bike: Which one of the 9? Location: USA Posts: 887	I have seen fully synthetic oils cause this problem. Also is your clutch basket in good condition? The ears on the basket can get grooved holding the plates from engaging and disengaging.

07-05-2005, 08:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
mtds4 Newbie Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 7	Sorry, I replaced the basket too. I just forgot to list it. Also, I don't have synthetic oil in it.

07-05-2005, 12:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
Dave2122 Sprocket Pilot Joined: Sep 2004 Bike: Which one of the 9? Location: USA Posts: 887	Your problem may be in the shaft drive then. Start looking into that system.

07-05-2005, 04:44 PM	#5 (permalink)
blackie1491 I took the All Bran Challenge Joined: Jun 2005 Bike: C50SE Location: Aldergrove, B.C., Canada Posts: 7,236	Do you have motorcycle specific oil in it. Car oil has friction modifiers in it. This causes the plates to slip.

07-07-2005, 07:18 PM	#6 (permalink)
mtds4 Newbie Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 7	Well, I tried the oil. I put genuine Suzuki oil in it and . . . no change. Any other ideas?

07-07-2005, 09:37 PM	#7 (permalink)
Dave2122 Sprocket Pilot Joined: Sep 2004 Bike: Which one of the 9? Location: USA Posts: 887	Exactly what is the clutch doing? Describe the problem. Isnt that a hydrolic clutch on the VS1400?

07-10-2005, 11:37 AM	#9 (permalink)
dirtyfingers Ditch Magnet Joined: Mar 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 167	You didnt mention them so I gotta ask, did you replace the pressure plate and springs? If that plate has any grooves on the friction surface it may cause slippage. Also if you have a service manual, use it to check your stack height on the clutch pack.

07-14-2005, 06:27 PM	#10 (permalink)
mtds4 Newbie Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 7	Okay, more detail - The clutch generally works better when cold. The hotter it gets, the more it slips. It will be fine at low rpm's, but when you get on it you lose all power. When it gets really warmed up, you can't hardly move it. The clutch fibers were definitely bad at first so we replaced them. Then, somehow fuel got in the oil so that when it heated up it warped some of the steels. Replaced those, no luck. I'm starting to worry that something else got damaged because of the clutch. Still scratching my head.

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