****! no clutch!

[Shahin]

ok so i was riding yesterday and grabbed the clutch... nothing happened. i pulled over safely and checked things out. the chain has way too much slack and is resting on the swingarm and the clutch does not engage. so im thinking that the clutch is either totalt gone or something happened with the cable linkage. either way the bike is unridable... well not safe to ride anyway. but i have no experience with transmission or clutch maitenence and i dont have a lot of money so im not sure what to do. if anyone has any knowledge about this kind of thing i would appreciate them sharing. or if anyone knows where to get cheap sevice done that would help. the bike is a 2001 suzuki bandit 600s and i would like to be back on it by the end of next week.

[CBR400RR]

I can take a look at it and most likely fix it for a fraction of what the dealer would charge you, let me know (619)672-0929

[Philo]

Have you been doing burnouts??? Tsk tsk tsk.

When you pull the clutch in, is there pressure pushing it back??? IOW when you pull the clutch in, would it snap back if you let go? Prolly, so clutch cable/springs are fine.

If your chain is that loose, it may have slipped off the front sprocket. You'd probably hear it grinding, but it's possible it could come off and move away from the sprocket. Follow the chain towards the engine. Shine a light in there and see if it's on the sprocket (little circle with teeth).

Otherwise, the clutch plates could be burnt/glazed. They're not that expensive and it's not hard to replace them.

[Philo]

DOH!!! You mean the clutch won't dis-engage? Like you can't sit at a stop sign with the clutch lever pulled in and sitting still???

I'm dumb. Has it been a long time since you rode it last???

[Shahin]

the lever snaps back but the clutch will not engage ill check the sprocket and see if maybe thats something because i did hear it grinding thanks

[dre_2k2_f4i]

Just so we are clear on our terms here, Shahin (because I think we are confusing the hell out of Philo):
Clutch Engaged means that the gears are engaged to the drive. (Clutch lever released)
Clutch Disengaged means that the bike is essentially in neutral no matter what gear you are in. (Clutch lever pulled into the handlebars)

Are these the terms you are using Shahin?

[Philo]

What happens when you re-engage the clutch. Whatever you do, DO NOT psuedo-engage the clutch. LOL, sorry I'm dumb. I think I know what you're saying.

Check the front sprocket. If it did fall off, you're going to want to inspect the teeth on it.





BTW, think the proper terminology is when the clutch is engaged, the input/output shaft are disconnected. When clutch dis-engaged, input/output are connected.

DON'T READ THAT!!!!!

[dre_2k2_f4i]

Originally posted by Philo
BTW, think the proper terminology is when the clutch is engaged, the input/output shaft are disconnected. When clutch dis-engaged, input/output are connected.

DON'T READ THAT!!!!!
/me smacks forehead.

I don't know!! -- just trying to get everyone on the same page here! :-p

[Philo]

I know. I always say it backwards. The only time I use the terms correctly is when somebody calls me on it. :-p

[Shahin]

ok the clutch will not disengage i prefer broken or nonoperational. but yeah thanks for trying to help.

[Shahin]

i have never done a burn out on the bike.

[Bryant]

Hrmm... wish I could take a look at your bike right now. Is your cable broken perhaps? If you can't disengage your clutch by pulling in the lever.. then either your cable is broken (if this is the case then your clutch lever will not spring back out when you release it), something wrong with the linkage, or perhaps your clutch springs are messed up somehow... Shaggy, what u think?

[Shahin]

the cable seems to be ok and the lever snaps back.

[Philo]

Did you check the chain yet??????????????

Forget engage/dis-engage. Explain what exactly happens when the bike is in gear and you pull the clutch lever in? What happens when the bike is in gear and you let the clutch lever out? Which is the problem?????


**edit** I stand corrected. When the clutch lever is pulled in (towards the bars) it is officially "disengaged". When the lever is out and you're accelerating the clutch is "engaged".

:bowdown: Sorry Bryant and dre_2k2_f4i (http://www.vf750fd.com/blurbs/shifting.html)

[Shahin]

ok when i pull in the clutch lever nothing happens when i let it go nothing happens it is in neutral now because i managed to shift without the clutch to neutral to stop but if i turn on the bike and squeeze the clutch nothing happens but i could kick it into gear and have the bike stall if i wanted to but i see no point in doing that.

[swll360]

Originally posted by Shahin
ok when i pull in the clutch lever nothing happens when i let it go nothing happens it is in neutral now because i managed to shift without the clutch to neutral to stop but if i turn on the bike and squeeze the clutch nothing happens but i could kick it into gear and have the bike stall if i wanted to but i see no point in doing that.

The same thing happened to me. I replaced the cluth cable just to find out it was a small adjustment.

Try this..(I'll try and explain this the best i can) Look at where the clutch cable connects to the clutch rod. There should be a little adjustment there (Clutch Rod Adjustment) were you can use a small screw driver. If it's to loose, that mean it's not pushing the clutch rod all the way in and disengaging it. If it's to tight, it will be the exact opposite. (If anyone know's what i'm talk'n about and can explain better, that would be greatly appreciated). I know this isn't what you adjustment looks like but hopefully it will give you some kind of an idea.

http://rds.yahoo.com/S=96062883/K=motorcycle+clutch/v=2/l=IVI/*-http://www.dansmc.com/clutchrod1.jpg

[swll360]

Here's a better Picture. It's a digagram of a Bandit Clutch. Check out Part#19 and #20. #20 is a nut that needs to be loosen. #19 is the adjuster screw i'm talk'n about. Mess with that a little bit and hopefully that will be your answer to your problem. Here's the link i got this diagram from. Good Luck!

Bandit Clutch Micro Fiche (http://www.ronayers.com/fiche/300_0311/clutch/clutch.cfm?CFID=3228528&CFTOKEN=22394446)

http://www.ronayers.com/fiche/300_0311/clutch/clutch.jpg

[Shahin]

it was the clutch rod it broke new one on the way thanks for the help everyone

[CjrJAM]

Wow, that is called going above and beyond! What a way to help a fellow member out. Good job swll360! :cool: