Quick reply appreciated regarding clutch!

[Format]

Hi Guys,

If you have read my previous posts you know that I have already had BMW assist out this week regarding petrol leak on my GS 1200....well...

Today set off to work (pishing it down) and noticed that the grab on the clutch was different, I thought it was that I had changed to my old gloves as I put my usual gloves in the freezer as they were starting to smell a bit.

No problems going to work, taking it steady due to the torrential rain. Parked the bike up and set to work.

Finished work and noticed straight away that the bite again was different and that it jiggered like hell in trying to get a smooth start.

Got to a dual carriageway and started overtaking, when I did so the bike just died and revved it's ass off, let go of the throttle and winded it up thinking I was spinning the rear but I didn't then all was fine again.

Finally got to the end of the bypass and there was a terrible smell of clutch. Got home and it seems to be coming from the left hand side of the bike.

The strange this is that the clutch travel seems to have moved to 1/4 inch now? it never used to be like that before. Strange that this has happen in a day!

From the previous owner who states the bike has done at the most 4k miles with a new clutch fitted. Any ideas please as I need to go to Sheffield in the morning or should I go straight to the dealer. More importantly so I am off to Italy and Switzerland in less than two weeks.

Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

 

[John Armstrong]

Is the lever fouling the hand-guard?

 

[Pukmeister]

Common problems with the 1200 clutch for owners so far:

1) Prematurely worn clutch plates.
2) Problems with slave cylinders (mostly newer GSA's)
3) Clutch lever fouling inside handguard (even slight will cause clutch slip)
4) Too much fluid in handlebar reservoir causing expansion when hot leading to clutch slip (easy fix, drain some off with syringe).
5) Use of DOT4 fluid causing seals to swell. Clutch uses Mineral oil only (Vitamol V10, never DOT4 etc).
6) Leaking engine or gearbox seal contaminating clutch friction plates.

Take your pick, some easy to check and fix so start there first.

 

[DrFarkoff]

JUst check the tip of the clutch lever is following the groove in the handgaurd! and getting right out to it's rest position.

If the handgaurd gets knocked up or down (even slightly) the lever cannot return to its rest position and release it's pressure completely

It takes very little relaxation of the spring tension to make a clutch slip under load

 

[Format]

Thanks folks,

As usual you have come up trumps. Will check the advice in the morning if nothing is found then I will be straight back to the dealer.

Once again thanks for the reply's.

Have a good weekend

ps are you saying that when you engage the clutch lever and release back there should be no touching at all?????

 

[luckylucian]

Lever should not touch guard when released, move guard up/down 'til it doesn't touch

 

[Format]

Well it seems that the guard was touching as there is a slight scraping to the inside of the handguard.

They checked the clutch and its going in for further investigation, something about a seal might not be right, ah well.