125-200cc Clutch Drag?

[Tentontimmy]

Hi all

I've recently noticed that when I'm coasting downhill with the clutch pulled in, the engine revs don't drop off completely. The engine will carry on making a kind of a "yinn, yinn, yinnn" sound, haha.

At first I thought something was up with my jetting, like I was lean on the pilot circuit. But then I noticed that when I put the bike into first gear and keep the clutch pulled in, the revs drop off, so that I have to keep a little bit of throttle wound on else the bike will stall.

I am now pretty convinced it is just the clutch dragging. Does that sound right?

If so, I believe I can adjust at the clutch lever and at the adjuster on the cable itself to sort this out?

 

[2premo]

When you are at a stop is it easy to shift
If so your clutch should be fine as is

 

[Tentontimmy]

Thanks for the response. The bike won't shift into neutral with the engine running.

 

[2premo]

there's your answer
you need to address the clutch adjustment or plates

 

[Oldscool]

That type of engine note on over run (throttle closed down hill) can indicate rich on the pilot.
Doesn't change your clutch drag issue though.

 

[ohmygewd]

How often do you change the tranny oil?
With the bike is stationary and off, how does it feel pushing forward in neutral compared to when it is in 1st gear and clutch in?
Oldschool is correct but the bike should calm down rather than continually "yinn,yinn,yinn"..which would indicate clutch drag.

 

[Tentontimmy]

Tranny oil gets changed every 10 to 15 hrs of run time.

Pushing it in 1st gear with the clutch in and engine off is noticeably harder than pushing in neutral.

I have owned the bike from new in 2012 and can say for sure that the clutch has never been adjusted in that time. Maybe the cable has stretched a bit, such that when the clutch lever is pulled fully in, it's not totally disengaging the clutch?

 

[Tentontimmy]

OK, assuming the clutch is dragging, how to fix it? Can you dial-out the drag using the adjusters on the cable, or do you need to open up the clutch?

Really hoping it's the former!

 

[2premo]

how much play do you have on the lever?

 

[Tentontimmy]

about 1/8 inch, if you measure the gap between the lever and perch

 

[2premo]

sounds a little loose but in range
you might have some plate issues
did this just start or happen over a period of time

 

[Tentontimmy]

It came on over a period of time.

 

[rancher1]

I would try adjusting it at the cable first, no harm in that and it can easily be reversed.

 

[ohmygewd]

If you got nothing to do (), pull the clutch plates out, inspect the steels and fibres, good clean and then reassemble - sometimes they can bind. Whilst inspecting, you might just have a few fibres worn or a steel warped which is a cheap fix and replace.
Like all of said, adjust from the clutch lever and see if that makes a diff.

 

[lankydoug]

All of the above + your clutch cable could be fatigued and stretching... maybe it's time to replace it.

 

[NCSteve]

How many hours on that 125? Probably just time for a clutch rebuild.

 

[Tentontimmy]

Thanks everyone for the thoughts and suggestions.

The bike's got just under 160 hours on it.

I'm going to try:

1. adjusting the cable;
2. a new cable; and
3. if those don't work it looks like a clutch rebuild is on the cards!

 

[2premo]

get a Motion Pro Terminator cable
they are the best

 

[justintendo]

not that expensive either.