KLR Clutch Question

[North]

When the Bike is cold, the clutch play is fine. When the Bike warms up, the clutch / lever has a 1/2 of play, that was not there when the Bike was cold. It's a newish KLR, one year old. Any ideas on what could cause that?

Thanks

 

[Sparkle]

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Hi North:

I think your bike is normal.

Clutch plates work in an oil bath. Cold oil has a higher viscosity than warm oil, and the clutch plates will squeeze together tighter with warm oil than cold. This is often why a clutch will feel notchy or even slip a bit when first starting out with a cold engine. The clutch friction will heat the oil in seconds, and allow the plates to seat, but initially there might be less clearance in the clutch pack.

Also, clutch plates and spacers may have a slight warp when cold that changes as the bike warms up. With the high mechanical advantage a very small change in the clutch can result in a large change at the lever.

I think this is true on most bikes and sounds normal to me. I like to have lots of slack in the lever, as long as I have full disengagement when I pull in the clutch and that's about as good as it gets. I adjust it when the bike is hot and running.

another .02cents

Sparkle

edit:Once the weather gets warmer, you might not notice a differance.:ss:

 

[North]

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Thanks Sparkle,

The Bike belongs to a friend who asked me if I knew the cause.

What you said makes sense. My KTM clutch is just like that too. There is more play when the bike is warm.

Rick

 

[franhoser]

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phew,

i tought you gone nuts and traded your 530 for KLR; straigh up.

 

[North]

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franhoser wrote:

phew,

i tought you gone nuts and traded your 530 for KLR; straigh up.

LOLNo, not yet. Although, I do like theKLR.:tup: