R1200GS Clutch

[albe]

Hi all!
I have just taken my bike from the BMW dealer where I had it serviced for the 6,000 miles check.

Apparently a gasket was loose and let oil into the (dry) clutch. They repaired it but...

The clutch lever was light and the bite point was somewhere in the middle of the lever range (did not notice any problem!). Now it is stiffer and and it bites at the very end.

Did anyone experience the same problem?? Could it be that the service people overfilled the liquid reserve (I read this in a different thread??)

Thanks

 

[Bart]

Had my clutch replaced under warranty last month (12000 miles). The new one is definately sharper and harder to get a smooth gear change, the biting point, like yours is right at the end of lever travel. I know BMW were having difficulty getting clutches and apparently got a new supplier (according to the dealer). Maybe it's just the different make of clutch, may have heavier springs in it or summit.

At least this one aint slipping which is the important bit

The initial problem with mine was an oil seal between engine and clutch which contaminated the clutch plates.

Hope you get on okay with yours.

 

[timeandtide]

Wot Bart said

 

[albe]

Thanks Bart,

It looks like my GS had the same problem as yours.

Have played a bit with the lever adjustment - now feels slightly better, but will ask on Monday BMW if they have an explanation similar to yours..

 

[peterh]

If a new clutch was installed it may be of a later type and will also need other new internals (push rod I believe) to avoid operation being adversely affected.

Then again, that only applies if a new clutch was fitted of a later type (requiring new pressure and friction plates, housing and push rod).

 

[littleredrooster]

Aahh! That explains it! My clutch was changed under warranty earlier this year because of the usual back-gearbox-oil-seal problem and I thought the biting point was much sharper. More difficult to get a smooth take-off, especially two-up. I never thought that it could be a different make of clutch. It feels very different to the original.

 

[albe]

Aahh! That explains it! My clutch was changed under warranty earlier this year because of the usual back-gearbox-oil-seal problem and I thought the biting point was much sharper. More difficult to get a smooth take-off, especially two-up. I never thought that it could be a different make of clutch. It feels very different to the original.

This is exactly how it feels! So bad BMW is fixing a faulty gasket with a poor quality clutch.

It feels like these gaskets are costing a lot BM..

 

[peterh]

Mine was also changed (very efficiently by CW) because of a leaking oil seal - but I have noticed no change in the way the clutch feels or works.

My 05 now has the latest model clutch but as I noted, it's not just a simple switch of a contaminated plate but effectively a completely new clutch system.