XJ550 Seca clutch issue

Hello everyone, nice site you got hear. I've got a problem with my 83 XJ550 Seca. I've had it for about a month now and I swapped the stock handlebars for some clubman style bars. The change in the placement of the controls cause a small issue (the throttle cable was routed in such a way that it caused the enigine to rev). I fixed this by rerouting the throttle cable. Now my clutch has an issue. It'll start fine, but when I try to shift into 1st, it shifts hard and dies. Almost as thought the clutch is not pulled in all the way. So I disconnected the clutch cable on the engine side and I shifted while my brother manually hold the clutch into "neutral" with some channel locks - same thing happend. I'm a little confused hear. Thinking back the bike did shift a little hard before. Any advise? Thanks in advance.

Edit: Just read another post, could it be the kickstand switch malfuntioning?

 

Sounds like a switch... as you recently played with the clutch switch try there, but it does sounds more like the sidestand switch. Try cleaning that up first... you can always bypass them in the testing phase.

 

Joe;
I'm having the same trouble. yesterday I took mine out and everything worked fine went to put it up in the shed and everytime I put it in gear it stalled. So I pushed it in the shed. Went back out an hour later and it worked fine. I think Woot is right about the kickstand switch . Going to clean mine tonight and see if thats the trouble.

Woot: I haven't looked at the switch yet . Can it be disassembled and clean the contacts, or do I just spay with some cleaner and penatrating oil?

 

The PO of my bike bypassed the switch... I haven't gotten around to un-bypassing it.

But yes - there should be a little spring/plunger dealio where the sidestand swings up. Wipe it off and have a look - try and press it a few times to make sure it moves properly. Some sort of lube might be ok... check it out first... just remember that lube attracts dirt so it might be better to be clean that lubed

 

Since you verified it isn't your cable, try this:

With your engine off, put it in gear, squeeze in the clutch and try rolling it. It should roll easily. If not, then you have a problem with your clutch - perhaps your plates are sticking and/or warped, causing it to not disengage fully.

 

If it was the clutch being stuck - I would have expected the bike to lurch when it was bumped into gear... maybe even some noise from the gear box.

Very real possibility though... good point

 

Agree with Woot on this one, clean the switch with an electrical type cleaner (brake cleaner in a pinch, but go easy, it will melt certain types of plastics and ruin paint!). Then ohm it out while playing with the actuator pin. Depress it several times (test leads with alligator clips and a friend are invaluable at moments like this) and wiggle the pigtail around a bit. If it switches each time, every time, it isn't the switch. The bike rolling bit Woot spoke of is spot on for the clutch check. You should be able to narrow it down a little from there. Good luck!

 

Finally had a chance to play with the switch and that was the cause if the problem. For now I ended up just pulling the switch assembly off and bolting it back on with the plunger facing the other direction.

thanks for your guys help