clutch problem

[toadjam]

took my pd out of the shed today ( been sat there since september ) for an mot . i got about 12 mls down the road when the clutch packed in (wouldn,t engage , lever pulled back to bars with no resistance ) , went home to get the trailer ,when i got back to the bike the clutch was ok . on my ride out it felt like the cable needed oiling , took it for mot (passed ) .
set off home and the same thing happened , i stripped out the plastic piston ( intergrated bearing ) this was a tight fit , bmw manual says pushrod should come out ( no chance ) .cleaned it all up , greased it , refitted it all .
clutch felt smoother but after about 12 mls it started to feel rough again , rode home doing clutchless changes , pulled clutch in at home and it wouldn,t engage again . left it to cool down and its ok again .
i changed the g/box oil when when i had the piston out and it was emulsified .


help.

 

[Kenny]

Basics first...you've lubed the clutch arm etc so that's OK. 2mm or so free play in cable at lever. You could probably feel the clutch pushrod move a touch when you lubed the plastic piston etc so that should be OK.


Just check this measurement..........

 

[Steptoe]

Fairly common problem.

Clutch thrust bearing is sticking in the back of the gearbox when it's hot. Once it's cooled down it's releasing and acting normal. Until it heats up again and sticks.

 

[Kenny]

Looks like a jiggle of the pushrod didn't free it....time to get that clutch arm off again ( tw*t ) of a job with bigger hands...get the Mrs to do it. As you say, swingarm blocks removal of the pushrod but long pliers/grips may well get it out enough to clean/lube ??

 

[toadjam]

fixed

clutch is now ok .

didn,t do anything else to it , fixed itself .

is that what the expression , its got character means .

 

[Kenny]

I wonder when you cleaned out/lubed the clutch actuating arm/gummizes....that some lubricant has crept along the short distance to the clutch thrust bearing