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CLuch lever not working

Started by ikeman1983, March 20, 2018, 07:05:56 PM

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ikeman1983

I have a 1987 FJ1200

Went out this morning to go to work (I always start bike in neutral to warm up) and when I tried to put it in gear, it immediately died. It appears that the clutch lever doesn't disengage the clutch. Any ideas?? Bike has a small oil leak but I check it every day and fill when necessary.

Pat Conlon

Sometimes the clutch slave leaks. Are you sure it's an oil leak and not brake fluid coming from the slave?
Very simple to put a new seal in the clutch slave.
http://rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=Clutch%3AS%2FK&cat=39
1) Free Owners Manual download: https://tinyurl.com/fmsz7hk9
2) Don't store your FJ with E10 fuel https://tinyurl.com/3cjrfct5
3) Replace your old stock rubber brake lines.
4) Important items for the '84-87 FJ's:
Safety wire: https://tinyurl.com/99zp8ufh
Fuel line: https://tinyurl.com/bdff9bf3

fj1289

A sudden malfunction like that sounds like it may be in the side stand/neutral/clutch switch "safety " system. 

Does it feel like the clutch lever is working?  Does the clutch master still have fluid?   

ikeman1983

the clutch lever feels softer and easier to pull. Ill have to check on the clutch master fluid.

aviationfred

Quote from: ikeman1983 on March 20, 2018, 07:05:56 PM
I have a 1987 FJ1200

when I tried to put it in gear, it immediately died.



This should be a good indicator if it is a mechanical clutch issue or a switch issue as Chris mentioned.

When you pulled the clutch lever in and the bike immediately died...... This could be a Clutch switch, side stand switch problem.... Did you recently change the oil and possibly pinched the side stand switch wire in the oil filter cover?

When you pulled the clutch lever in and engaged 1st gear....Did the bike lurch forward violently? This would be an indication of a mechanical clutch failure, Slave cylinder failure or master cylinder failure.



Fred
I'm not the fastest FJ rider, I am 'half-fast', the fastest slow guy....

Current
2008 VFR800 RC46 Vtec
1996 VFR750 RC36/2
1990 FJ1300 (1297cc) Casper
1990 VFR750 RC36/1 Minnie
1989 FJ1200 Lazarus, the Streetfighter Project
1985 VF500F RC31 Interceptor

balky1

If it is soft, you have air in the system. You will have to investigate how it got inside. Leaking slave, like mentioned, will be obvious by peeling color around it. Also, lever pivot point tends to wear out and then lever doesn't push the master piston the way it should.


FJ 1100, 1985, sold
FJR 1300, 2009

fjbiker84

If my bike has been sitting for a week or so since it was last run, I have to warm up my clutch after starting or there is a significant crash into first gear.  I do this by pulling the clutch lever in and holding it for several seconds, release it and then repeat several more times.  This is a bigger problem in the colder months.  That said, it sure sounds more like the side stand safety switch - either it's not working properly or it's working and you're forgetting to raise the side stand before engaging the bike in gear.  I ran into this several times when I first bought the bike before discovering the bike had this safety feature.