► Clutch drag, slip and faults

[Martin]

I took the bike in as the clutch slipped when I hit 6000 revs on full throttle. They stripped the clutch and found it was burnt out. They couldn't explain why it had happened and said they would send the bits off to BMW with a report.
The garage had known of two other 800GS's with burnt out clutches, but they were on bikes that were used heavily off road, and if I remember rightly, were on an overseas jaunt where it was virtually pure off road riding.
My bike has never been off road and I don't abuse the clutch, so have no idea why it self destructed.

 

[simongough]

clutch slip

hi just been out on my 2009 gs today the bike has only covered 2600 miles i am also getting bad clutch slip between 4500/6500rpm i must say i never had had this on any other bike i am quiet dissapointed .. i believe (in my own opion that the clutch cable could be the underlying cause as there is little on no adjustment and from new there has been no free play at the leaver ?)

has any one else noticed this problem ??

cheers simon

 

[sijohnston]

it's likely too tight? mine did this a few weeks ago and after getting it loosened off some, it's perfect. anything above 3500 revs and it just revved with no drive at all. hopefully nothing serious with yours, but keep us posted.

hi just been out on my 2009 gs today the bike has only covered 2600 miles i am also getting bad clutch slip between 4500/6500rpm i must say i never had had this on any other bike i am quiet dissapointed .. i believe (in my own opion that the clutch cable could be the underlying cause as there is little on no adjustment and from new there has been no free play at the leaver ?)

has any one else noticed this problem ??

cheers simon

 

[Andrew B]

not sure if this is relevent in this case but IIRC my year 2000 650GS used to slip the clutch quite badly when i used synthetic oil rather than semi
dont know if it helps!

 

[GS Biker]

My machine is now in the shop awaiting "parts" not sure what but the dealer will come back to me later today. Will let you konw the findings once i hear from them. On another note, the service guys at South London BMW are an awesome bunch, really good service so far!

 

[simongough]

booked in

hi just a quick update

the bike is going in on friday for the clutch to bee looked at ,,,,
at slm im sure they guys there will sort the issue out

just to add

the cable is fully slackend off but still has no free play what so ever

im still sure thus us the underlying iaaue but as soon as i get a answer ill let you all know

si..

 

[Dave Ett]

There is plenty of adjustment at the engine, just none at the bar. I find the spring keeps the lever under tension so it feels like there is no free play, but I can feel the difference when the slack is taken up and the clutch itself starts to lift.

 

[simongough]

update of clutch issue

new clutch fitted under warranty by bmw .... bike feels so much better now i have 2/3mm free play on clutch leaver now and it bites very strong .. very impressed with the speed that slm sorted the issue

thanks guys

si

 

[Morticia]

I am calling into my dealer tomorrow, i am going to enquire about this...thanks for the heads up.

Morticia

 

[GS Biker]

Got my machine back last week. Took a week for the cluch to be replaced as there were no spares in the UK. Never the less, fantastic service from the SLM gang. Had a f800st from them during the fix, nice bike but much rather prefer the GS!

They said that it failed, no more detail, the tec that installed the new one was not there when i collected my gs so could not find out more. Anyway, fixed under warranty! Feels much better and pulls well now!

 

[ILMV]

*Cries* I had to do a bit of wild accelerating today to get clear of a knob head in a Vauxhall Nova. I lost a bit of power, and it keeps happening anything up from 4,500 revs when I accelerate hard.

I have not used it for any off road, and I don't abuse the throttle. I do have hand guards installed, but I cannot see where that would cause an issue?

Should I get on the blower to CWs?


Thanks

 

[GS Biker]

I have not used it for any off road, and I don't abuse the throttle. I do have hand guards installed, but I cannot see where that would cause an issue?

Should I get on the blower to CWs?


Thanks

I would get on the phone and book it in, When did you get your GS, Not around March/April this year by any chance. They should fix/replace the clutch under warranty. It appears its happened to a few of us. Still love my bike though!

 

[ILMV]

I would get on the phone and book it in, When did you get your GS, Not around March/April this year by any chance. They should fix/replace the clutch under warranty. It appears its happened to a few of us. Still love my bike though!

Yes, I recieved the bike early March.

I can still ride it quite nicely, just when I want to accelerate that little harder than usual it feels like the clutch is being engaged, only slightly, but enough to reduce the power at the back wheel.

I will give them a call in a hour or so, I'll keep you informed.

Edit: Oh by the way, when I get a service I get a loan bike, which I have to pay £12 for a day, do you have to pay for a loan bike for warranty work?

Cheers, Ben

 

[ILMV]

Ok, so I gave CWs a call, the mechanic suggested I need to adjust the clutch cable slightly, as I have no play at the moment :S

So I will do just that, and see how it goes.

 

[Martin]

Five pounds says you'll end up having the clutch replaced.

They should provide you with a free loan bike if yours is in for warranty work.

 

[ILMV]

I'm not a betting man

If it doesn't p1ss down again I will adjust it so it has a bit of play and then slap it down the motorway and see how it goes. My lack of knowledge with regard to gearing systems means I cannot be sure what to believe at the moment, but considering there have been numerous 800GSers with clutch problems, it's look like customer 4, bmw 0 :S

 

[ILMV]

So the guy told me to check the amount of play in the clutch lever and adjust as necessary.

I have no play at all, and I cannot adjust because the adjustable bolt thing is already set as far as it will go. I will of course give them another call tomorrow, are you all still convinced it's a clutch problem, and not a clutch cable play issue?

Cheers, Ben

 

[ILMV]

Well I visited the dealer on Saturday, they guys managed to change the clutch cable tension bolt assemble to give me some play in the cable, well, quite a lot actually. But now it doesn't slip in higher gears, and even though it feels a bit weird at first, the problem seems to have subsided. The service guy said he has had lots of 800GS' with this problem, so if the clutch melts in a couple thousand miles time, I will get a new one.

 

[Sooty09]

I have had lots of bikes with cable clutches, all but the GS have had an adjuster at the bars and at the clutch operating lever. Its something Iv often had to tweak on very hot days or after miles of heavy traffic. Sometimes to take up slack, other times to add slack. The BM is a very poor design without this facility, Im sure there are not enough tools in the kit to make an adjustment. I cannot think why BM decided to remove this universally accepted adjustment method.

 

[reubadub]

Cluth Problems

3000 Miles and as you say, go to accelerate and the bike goes straight to red as though you are slipping the clutch, its at the dealers having a new clutch and springs fitted, has anybody had new clutch etc done and had any further problems or does the new clutch work ok...