Today’s current motorcycles come with various components whose primary function is to ensure you have an extraordinary riding experience. However, most systems tend to malfunction whenever a motorcycle user doesn’t service the bike frequently and as required.
With that in mind, this article narrows the focus to one crucial part of a motorcycle known as the clutch. It clearly explains a clutch, a common problem called clutch slip (a problem of the clutch), and how to take care of this issue, among many other topics.
The aim is to equip you with the required knowledge to avoid the problems that can arise during a clutch slip.
Before going into details about a clutch slip and other related topics, you first need to understand a clutch and its value on a motorbike.
What is a Clutch?
A clutch is a lever you hold onto whenever you are shifting gears. As soon as you pull it in, it disengages engine power temporarily, preventing it from circulating to the rear wheel, thus giving you room to switch gears.
If you are an enthusiastic motorcycle rider, you already know that it can be difficult to gain speed and torque without a clutch. The clutch works for hand in hand with spring pressure and friction rotating plates, among other components. You also avoid various scenarios like being unable to move forward whenever the motorcycle is at a standstill.
The clutch of a bike is susceptive to a few types of malfunctions. One of those being experiencing clutch slip or a clutch drag. Sometimes you may end up experiencing both, and when that happens, you need to have your clutch checked out by professionals as soon as possible (avoid riding your bike while in this condition to prevent further damage).
The most common issue is however, is the clutch slipping. It is a widespread issue that almost every experienced (and non-experienced) rider has experienced at least once before and if they haven’t, they will be sure to encounter a clutch slip at some stage of their riding days
What is a Clutch Slip?
A clutch slip is a type of motorcycle malfunction in the clutch preventing the bike from delivering the required torque. When this occurs, it becomes hard for you to gain control of your Sherco motorbike while on the road, which is something all riders dread and is a scary experience for some.
You may also find yourself riding your bike at full throttle without gaining any speed. As soon as you start experiencing clutch slips, you should start looking for a clutch shop for you to make the necessary replacements. This is because, at that point, it is only a matter of time before your clutch stops working completely.
However, you should not confuse issues such as faulty spark plug, stuck power valves on a 2-stroke, and compression loss with clutch slip.
The problems may come with a slightly similar outcome, but none of them will make your Honda Africa twin rev up without moving. Once you find yourself in such a scenario, you should rule out the malfunctions stated above before putting it down to a clutch slip.
It’s now time to understand what causes a clutch to slip.
What causes a Motorcycle Clutch Slip?
There are various reasons as to why your motorcycle clutch is slipping.
Some of these reasons are due to the common mistakes you make while handling your bike without realising it. Some of the common causes include:
Excess Oil in the Transmission or Engine
Just like the transmission, a motorcycle’s engine allows only a certain quantity of oil for it to function correctly. Exceeding that limit always brings about certain disadvantages, including experiencing clutch slips.
You should always drain the oil and replace it with the correct oil quantity. Also, make sure the oil you are using is compatible with your bike’s engine. Using the incorrect type of oil is only going to make the problem worse.
Weak springs in the Clutch Basket
Also commonly known as “fingers” or “tangs”, the clutch basket is responsible for withstanding both axial and lateral force during engine operation. Most bikes with a higher mileage tend to experience this problem. The same goes for motorcycles that undergo heavy usage.
The function of the clutch basket is to ensure that the clutch engages well and returns entirely as soon as you disengage. With time, the springs weaken, making it hard for the clutch to go back to its required position.
That is how you end up with clutch slips. You should first go ahead and remove the springs, examine them to see if they show signs of weakness.
If that is the case, you will have to get ktm parts online and make the necessary replacements.
Thin Clutch Plates
Like other
parts of your motorcycle, the clutch plates also undergo wear and tear after prolonged usage. This is why you should examine your clutch plates as soon as your bike reaches 30,000 miles.
Have a look at the thickness of your plate. If you notice that your plates are thin, know you are about to start experiencing clutch slips. This is because the plates become too thin to provide friction and go back to their position after disengagement.
This is the time to make the necessary replacement to avoid future clutch slips. Specialist stores such as Kawasaki Australia offer new and reliable plates.
What You Can Do to Stop Clutch Slipping?
The long-term solution on how to stop clutch slipping is to replace the clutch plates. You should, however, do that only if you find out that your clutch plates are thin or after you experience complete clutch failure.
Otherwise, you can go ahead and make sure you are using the correct oil type. Another way to stop it is to make the necessary adjustments to the cable. Make sure it is not too loose and equally not too tight. Lastly, you should make sure that you tighten the spring bolts correctly to get the correct torque.
That is everything you need to know about clutch slips and should better prepare you in the future if you or someone you know starts experiencing the dread of clutch slip. It also explains how you too can end up with an optimal functioning clutch system. If, however, you are ever in doubt, please take your bike to see a professional.
Ensuring that you maintain your clutch and plates on your bike will provide the complete functionality of the system in the long run. The last thing you want is to increase your bike’s speed only because your clutch is not working correctly.
https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/comments/6gv6pi/how_do_you_fix_a_slipping_clutch/
https://mechanics.stackexchange.com/questions/32959/clutch-slipping-on-motorcycle
https://www.triumphtalk.com/threads/slipping-the-clutch-bad-or-not-bad.41845