"Lazy" clutch ?

[Spud]

Occasionally my clutch lever doesn't seem to want to return to it's released position very quickly, especially when setting off in first gear.
This makes it seem as if there is slight "slip" especially when setting off on steep hills sometimes, but I feel it just feels like the clutch is being slow to engage rather than it "slipping" as such.
There are no signs of it slipping in high gear/open throttle type testing of it.

Is this something that perhaps something as simple as changing the fluid would sort out, or is it more likely to be something else ?

Bike
2002, 1150Gs 83000 miles, as far as I know on the original clutch.

Many Thanks

 

[DrAlf]

I'd start off by having a look at the fluid in the clutch master cylinder and inspecting the area around the slave cylinder at the back of the gearbox. Seals on slave cylinders do fail eventually.

 

[Spud]

I'd start off by having a look at the fluid in the clutch master cylinder and inspecting the area around the slave cylinder at the back of the gearbox. Seals on slave cylinders do fail eventually.

Thank you. I'll have a look at the manual and see how easy it is to get to etc

 

[Hay Ewe]

Not quite I think!
start off checking the easy things first

check for full and free movement of the lever. Is it brushing / being stopped by the handguard?
it might only be a bit, enough to cause some laziness, but as you are in first gear and moving from stationary, it will be more noticable.

Then, if you have non braided hoses, the fitting at the clutch end can corrode and that could be causeing leakage.

If all that checks out, remove the starter motor to make it easier to see the clutch plates and look for thickness and any contamination.

IF the clutch pushrod actuator does need replaceing, that would be the last thing I would be looking at, its not that bad a job but not as easy as the items above.

5cent bet its the handguard

 

[Steptoe]

Could be the clutch lever pivot.
They have an insert/bush that can swell if contaminated with fluid which causes the lever to act the same as yours.

 

[Spud]

Could be the clutch lever pivot.
They have an insert/bush that can swell if contaminated with fluid which causes the lever to act the same as yours.

I'll dismantle the pivot and give it a clean out. There's no obvious signs of leaking and the levels are steady, but I'll give it a good looking at and a clean anyway. It does seem to be rather intermittent, so would be plausible explanation...
Thank you Steptoe