Oh no, Clutch Slip

[Pukmeister]

I was told when my clutch first slipped that the dealer would strip and inspect under warranty, if faulty then I would get a free repair, if wear and tear etc then I pay £900.

I told them to leave well alone.

I've had the odd random clutch slip, thought it cured itself but it did it again last week, yet today's ride was faultless. I reckon it might be grabbing on the splines, I doubt it's knackered at 16,000 miles of normally steady riding with only the odd fast overtake in tall gears at high rpm.

I may strip and replace it myself this summer, but I'd rather be out riding than spannering.

 

[B4ndit]

Mine had its 12k service last week after being stood for three months over winter with no reported problems except needing a new throttle cable.

Took it for a ride into the Dales today and the b*stard clutch was slipping

Once I'd filled up with fuel in Skipton and headed up the Grassington road it seemed to sort itself out. Don't know if it was an airlock in the hydraulics preventing the clutch engaging properly, a glazed clutch plate or something more serious like an oil leak contaminating the clutch plate.

There's no evidence of oil misting/leakage on the r/h side of the engine, the clutch fluid level isn't too high and the lever isn't touching the hand guard.

I'll be pretty pissed off if it needs a grand spending to sort it out after 2 1/4 years and 11200 miles

New throttle cable at 12000 miles. Is it Japanese? Or worse Chinese

 

[tanneman]

Ok, I checked the clutch lever and it wasn't touching the hand guard. The clutch fluid has not been changed or otherwise if it was overfilled it would have slipped the clutch from day 1. Checked under the engine/gearbox joint and didn't spot any oily residue. I keep the bike clean so would notice it easily. I rode the bike in the mean time but only on the local roads not too far away from home. Yesterday we went to the BSB test day at Snetterton and noticed the same symptoms as descibed earlier. It got worse when we came back but the bike is still ridable, it's only when you get over the 5500rpm mark in 4th that it slips when accelerating hard. Had a look under the engine/gearbox joint and no oily residue. Took the bike to BMW today and accelerated hard in 5th and it the clutch slipped but not in 6th. Wollaston said they have get the bike in and split it to see what's wrong and then if one of the oil seals are leaking put in a goodwill claim to BMW. The bike has been sold by them to the original owner who had it for 3800mls and then to me who has clocked up over 13000mls on it and it has been serviced by them. Total repair bill estimate is circa £514 of which the labour is around the £370 mark. I asked to include all the oil seals in the estimate as we don't know which seal has gone if any. I have booked the bike in for I would not be able to do this job on me own at home. For that price I can buy a bike lift and parts to do the the clutch change. I've read the sticky on here for clutch change and on ADVrider. I recon it would take me 2-3 days to do if I have all the tools.

 

[jacro]

Hey mate. Take it to your dealer. Be real nice and explain that you do not expect the clutch on a premium brand procuct to need replacing until atleast 50,000 miles and would they please inspect and fix, no charge. If they are unwilling? Send an email to bm headquarters outlining the fault, again premium product 3 rd bmbike owned, others were brilliant bikes, bmw is brilliant blah blah. And hopefully they will and should facilatate free fix. If not,tell them we shall march on Munich and demand justice.
Keep us posted
Jack

 

[Stonker]

Are you guys serious, clutches needing replacing inside 12,000 miles?

 

[jacro]

Seriously. My'77 cb 750 35 thou. 79 z 900 29 thou. Z1000 j 20 thou. 3 bm gs with 40 thou plus didnt need clutch replacement. Big clutch shouldnt need replacing till atleast 40000.
If im wrong im wrong bit im wright.

 

[tanneman]

The problem is that one of the oil seals might be leaking oil into the clutch housing.

 

[BBB61]

Are you guys serious, clutches needing replacing inside 12,000 miles?

My first Triumph needed a new head gasket at 12k miles. At 18k miles it needed new pistons and rings because it had started to burn oil.

 

[Stonker]

My first Triumph needed a new head gasket at 12k miles. At 18k miles it needed new pistons and rings because it had started to burn oil.

The difference is that this is beginning to look like a common occurence Bob

 

[Sgt Bilco]

The difference is that this is beginning to look like a common occurence Bob

Really???

 

[Stonker]

Really???

Seems to be....let's not hijack the thread though eh? Bob & I clearly have our differences

 

[BBB61]

The difference is that this is beginning to look like a common occurence Bob

Based on what?

 

[BBB61]

Seems to be....let's not hijack the thread though eh? Bob & I clearly have our differences

But you seem to feel the need to resort to personal abuse, which speaks volumes about you. But only to be expected from a man who still doesn't comprehend that a contract between a dealer and a customer to carry out accident repairs is not the responsibility of the vehicle manufacturer.

 

[Sigster]

Ok, I checked the clutch lever and it wasn't touching the hand guard. The clutch fluid has not been changed or otherwise if it was overfilled it would have slipped the clutch from day 1. ...

The clutch fluid was mentioned because with increasing wear on the clutch the reservoir gets fuller, not emptier.
So in extreme cases it could be that it's too full and the clutch isn't fully released even if you release the lever.

-S

 

[tanneman]

Well, the bike went in today to Wollaston BMW for a look at the issue. All the usual checks were done and they had the starter out but the clutch housing is totally dry so they report. Tomorrow one of the service guys will give it a good ride back to BMW because the symptoms only appear once the bike has been run for a while like when we went to the BSB test day at Snetterton and a ride out to the Cotswolds. The mystery continues and maybe it will disappear like mentioned earlier in the thread.

 

[Spike]

Hope they sort it for you.
I doubt it will just go away though, heres hoping

 

[Stonker]

But you seem to feel the need to resort to personal abuse, which speaks volumes about you. But only to be expected from a man who still doesn't comprehend that a contract between a dealer and a customer to carry out accident repairs is not the responsibility of the vehicle manufacturer.

Crikey Bob, you're really struggling to let this go aren't you? It's not abuse, we have clearly got differences in opinion. I have accepted yours but you don't seem to accept mine. I can accept that too but do you really have to keep being provocative about it?

Just let it go now mate eh?

 

[TeZREX]

My clutch started slipping, then oil on the cat then ...well the bloody oil seal had gone 04 gs with 13000 miles on it. Not bought from a dealer, none within miles (at least 100) so pulled it to bits myself, now got a 600.....bloody thing will only run on one pot...Grrr (the more I spend on 'quality bikes' the more I love my ZRX 1100...)

TeZ

 

[tanneman]

Ok, the bike was taken for a proper test ride. The feedback was that the symptoms points towards the clutch slave cylinder. Dipping the clutch and then accelerating briskly in 4th gear causes the clutch to slip, yes the lever was fully released. So, thinking about it, fluid leaks past the slave cylinder making the return of the piston slower hence the clutch slip. Just after that the bike was accelerated without dipping the clutch and clutch slip. So we'll see what BMW makes of it under good will as the dealer has ordered the parts and work will be done next week.

 

[rudiemoto]

A non abs gsa1200 takes me 47mins to remove gearbox and another to fit seals and clutch
When I did my 1st one it took 1 day and 3 painfull hours
When I work at dealers bikes with 600miles had gearbox seals leek
After all it's just a seal
Bilco will tell u how easy he fitted his