► Clutch drag, slip and faults

[DesertStrom]

Had something similar on a previous bike. Reason was I had been using car-engine oil instead of motorbike oil.
Grade and viscosity was the same, so I thought it did not harm, the result was a slipping clutch.
After replacing the oil with motorbike oil, the problem was solved.

 

[sijohnston]

snow mobile clutches

the clutches on these things are pretty much bullet proof. i've had mine apart and couldn't believe how many plates there were in it. After nearly 40k miles and much of this off-road with a recent load of abuse in Kazakhstan and Mongolia, it wasn't the clutch which failed, but the big thrust nut in the centre which came off outside Irkutsk. I've threadlocked it back on so it shouldn't come off. There's plenty of miles left in the clutch yet though. As it happens, I've a brand new one on a shelf now, so if anyone needs one, let me know.

 

[Ragnar]

David, are your hands big enough to let the clutch all the way out yet?

Haha, only just!

 

[Ragnar]

Well, I've not had the clutch apart on mine .... yet!
No problems either.

I've just looked at my adjuster (having imagined the 'secondary' lever adjustment ) and mine's right in the middle, roughly the same number of threads showing top and bottom. The bike's done 15k, 13 of which are mine. I'm not gentle with it and have ridden it how it was designed to be - the adjustment's never changed!

I can't access my manual just at the moment but will have a look at it when I can to see if anything springs to mind - I recall a thread a while back which went into the details of the actuating mechanism, it might be worth a look...

G

Cheers again.

NOG said that they've had a couple back where the springs had lost their tension - could well be the problem I think.

I've had a look at the RepROM and I can't find any other adjusting mechanism other than the one at the actuating lever - my cable has no threads remaining at the top for further adjustment.

 

[Ragnar]

David

What oil are you using? (serious question!)

Greg

I know what you're thinking (car oil?). Last time it was serviced was by the previous owner, who took it to BMW themselves, so I think the oil's OK.

 

[ILMV]

I had the same problem, could not adjust from day one, CWs changed it FOC for me.

 

[skywalker]

The problem is more likely to be a faulty batch of friction plates. The difference in a worn or slipping clutch is that the top friction plate measurement to the tip of the clutch basket will be 4mm where as when you install the new clutch then the clearance reduces to 2mm and thus you get your cable adjustment back.
If you've used an oil designed for a car application then you won't get it under warranty as it will have damaged the clutch. Car oils tend to be full of esthers (friction modifiers to you & me ) the last thing you want on a wet clutch system

 

[Ragnar]

Clutch was indeed "cream crackered" as the service guy at NOG described it.

Bike picked up in the morning, clucth replaced under warranty and new chain & sprockets fitted under the recall. Delivered back in the evening

Happy bunny again, except that now I keep stalling the damn thing

 

[TheJoker]

Glad it's sorted!

 

[skywalker]

Presumably they will do the work under the warranty? My clutch went at about 23K and I had to pay for it.

After they fitted the new clutch I didn't notice there was zero adjustment left on the cable and set off the day next on a 7000 mile three week trip. By the time I got back I was struggling to find neutral and the gear change was awful. They took a look and said that there was a particular washer or nut or something which they had left out when they fitted the clutch because the instructions told them it wasn't required on the 650 twin. (Greggers - can you throw any light on my mechanical ignorance here?)

They reopened the clutch, inserted the missing bit, and it has been dead smooth since then with plenty of adjustment on the cable. They didn't charge for this but I'm worried that the 7000 miles without this bit may have worn the new clutch plate. I didn't have any slipping at the time, and it seems ok at the mo. I'll see how long it lasts.

I didn't make an issue of it because I used an extended clutch cable when I fitted 2" risers on the bars. I assumed that the non-standard cable may have thrown them when they fitted the clutch. It's odd that they didn't mention there was no adjustment left before I set off.

They recently fitted new head bearings and managed to screw that one up too. I took it back three times complaining of movement in the steering column. Eventually they spotted that the edge of the wire cable guide on the steering head had got caught up when they tightened up the system. They reckoned it was on upside down, possibly since it left the factory. Why didn't they notice this when they first replaced the bearings??? They assured me that they had taken out the new bearings and checked for damage before putting things back together again correctly. All fine now.

I'm starting to lose faith here and might take the bike up to Rainbow in Rotherham. It's an hour away, so I'm annoyed I can't rely on my local dealer. Am I being too picky??

Hi Malcolm
Steve's got your mail at Rainbow. Don't know if he's replied yet as they've been shut for a couple of days due to staff being snowed in.

 

[Malcolm Leick]

Not heard anything yet, but the snow has been very bad up there.

 

[Richie N]

Mine slips slightly at around 5.5 to 6k, seems to slip at 5.5 and then grab again at 6k! Going in for 6k service Sat so will mention it...

 

[CillaJara]

F650GS twin

Guess F800 has same clutch as F650 so.... 2009 bike, 20k per year mainly commuting.

Had similar problem, no space for clutch adjustment at engine side. First they installed a new cable which gave a few extra mm space. Second solution was using a thinner nut (!!) which should give it another few mm space.

Did not agree and showed them the position of the lever on the engine was very different then with new bikes: new bikes about 20-30 degrees and mine 45 degrees. Finally they replaced clutch under warranty and gave it excessive space. Now 200 km further and again: no free space anymore and will go back once more. Perhaps the latter is because it has to be adjusted once after wearing in of the new clutch?

After replacing old clutch they said they did not see anything suspicious on the clutch itself, but the channel where the 'pen' (from clutch to lever where cable is connected to) had some problems; they could not put back this pen and had to clean the channel. Maybe there is the problem, too tight channel, not straight, weak pen??

 

[Kendo]

Clutch Fault @ 7000 miles

Well my lovely 800gs has died!! The clutch started slipping this morning and after a few conversations i took it to the garage and apparently its failed!. I thought these 800's are supposed to ne reliable? Anyway will update on the outcome depending on what the problem is when they get it stripped down but they have told me it will need a new clutch so i will have to wait and see what the warranty department say. I hope they will find it faulty or else its going to cos me a fortune. Got an f800r whilst its fixed and its the most disgusting bike i have ever ridden!

Fingers crossed!

 

[georgehardwick]

Sorry to hear @Kendo, lets us know how you get on.
George

 

[Dave Ett]

The clutches aren't the strongest, although there are various theory's as to what's wrong. The one on my bike was replaced at about 6000, whilst half way across Africa. Maybe the owner was riding the clutch a lot whilst off road...

A main culprit seems to be the cable, which tends to be adjusted slightly too tight by BMW themselves, meaning that the clutch is on the point of slippage anyway. Not to be confused with the clutch level adjuster by the way.

The other problem is the clutch nut, which on a few bikes has come unscrewed - mine included. On mine it fell into the gearbox and lunched a few other parts - all replaced under warranty thankfully.

Good luck, let us know how you get on - and don't take "no" for an answer!

 

[Kendo]

Its Fixed!

Well it turns out one of the clutch plates had disintegrated and was the cause of the problem. According the the chap i spoke to they have had half a dozen in in the last 12 months with the same problem. Anyway it was fixed FOC under warranty. Phew thats a releif! The could have washed it as well!

Thanks for all the interest

 

[Ross Dean]

... Got an f800r whilst its fixed and its the most disgusting bike i have ever ridden!

Got to disagree with you there - perhaps I rode the one I tried (my partners) without the stress of a broken bike. I found it a fast bike with good handling. Looks good too ...

 

[ILMV]

Got to disagree with you there - perhaps I rode the one I tried (my partners) without the stress of a broken bike. I found it a fast bike with good handling. Looks good too ...

I concur, sorry to hear about the duff clutch, hope it all works out... but I like the F800R too... although being 6' 5" it does a number on my back, but nevermind

 

[scarpro]

New clutch @ 6000 miles

Just picked me bike up today after having clutch done under warranty.noticed it was slipping a bit on Sunday when over taking, had a look at loosening the cable a bit, only to find no adjustment left. Rode to Bristol motorrad Mon, clutch slipping like mad from stationary and any sudden acceleration. Bristol managed to fit me in between jobs but no clutch gasket, hence the wait till today to pick it up. turns out a couple of plates had given up the ghost and needed new cable, it seams on newer models there has been a redesign on the cable allowing for more adjustment.

The only down side now is it's gone back to being a tad snatchy, guess it may have been slipping for a bit and I've not noticed?