cluthch oddity

I finally got the '83 put back together and on the road. Purrs like a kitten and growled on request.

However, put about 20 miles on her and shut her down for about 5 to 10 minutes. Upon restart clutch operation for first 5 minutes was real sharp ..... engaged real fast and could feel it grab sharply. So much so that it killed the engine a couple of times (in first gear). After it ran for 5 minutes or so the clutch was back to normal.

Any thoughts on this for my '83 XJ750 maxim? :?

 

Check your oil level; and what kind of oil are you running?

 

Using Honda oil. GEN4 10w40 and changed oil before test ride.

 

Check the clutch cable free-play, should be about 3mm at the lever.

 

It might be an early sign of GALLING.

The Clutch can become rather harsh if the Frictions and Drivers don't float as they should because there are hammered detentions on the Bosses of the Clutch Basket.

 

I took it out for a 20 mile ride today and did'nt notice the problem, but again I didn't stop to rest it either.

I'll keep monitoring the symptom however I have no idea Galling is and what type of headach it will cause. I have just enough tools to make myself dangerous.

Could this be exaserbated during a long hot ride? Strand me somewhere I don't want to be? :?

Thanks for your comments.

 

Well, for starters if you're going on "long, hot rides" then you need to be running a 20-basis weight oil, not 10W.

Yamaha recommends 20W40, but since it's hard to get, 20W50 is fine.

 

thanks Bigfitz - I'll keep the oil selection under consideration if I ever get on a long hot ride. As of now it's not been on a long hot ride with me. At least my definition of a hot ride. I would consider a long hot ride to be from western Oregon to eastern Oregon in August. No plans on that in the near future and I've not gotten her more than 20 miles from home to date.

It was more of a hypothetical question just in case and wondering if because I let it sit for a few minutes the oil heated up enough to cause the issue, hence, I may see the problem on a long hot ride.

Thanks again for the oil hint. 10w40 seems to be best where I ride here in western oregon according to everyone I talk with as the weather seldom get hot and often has cool mornings even during summer.

 

Anything over about 60*F means time to use 20W-something.

Yamaha only recommends 10-basis oil below about 40* F.

 

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll change over at next oil change to 20w-siomething. It's usually after July 5 that summer begins and we mornings to 60 deg or better.

 

I agree on running 20W/50.

That's all I run all Season long.
20W/50 provides greater protection for moving parts at high rpm's.

My choice used to be Castrol GTX, ... when it was safe for Motorcycles.
Since the formulation changed to add friction reducers to GTX, ... I run their 20/50 formulated for Bikes.

Castrol 4T

 

thanks again. I'll continue to monitor the clutch performance, change over to the 20w .... and try to determine if it affects the clutch issue.