Clutch slippage in higher gears when I'm getting on it.
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- Posts: 13
- Joined: Sun Mar 18, 2018 7:05 pm
- Location: Bakersfield, CA
- Motorcycle: 1975 and 1979 Honda GL1000 Goldwing
Clutch slippage in higher gears when I'm getting on it.
My 1975 seams to slip during extreme acceleration. usually at 5,500 to 7,000 rpms (hard acceleration). Another symptom is the bike is not great off the line and the clutch will slip if I push the bike very hard. I am not very clutch cable adjustment savoy. Bakersfield, CA is very limited on older Honda mechanics.
Recommendations?
Recommendations?
Re: Clutch slippage in higher gears when I'm getting on it.
Sorry to say if you already know this, but many don’t know that wet clutches need proper oil with no friction modifiers. A 77 I had did exactly as yours until I changed the oil from regular automotive oil to Rotella 15/40.
They make motorcycle specific oil as well.
I currently run Rotella T6 I think. It doesn’t seem to shift as smoothly.
The gearing is poor for quick takeoffs, but up at 5500 they come to life pretty well. There are aftermarket rear rims that are an inch smaller in diameter that help a little.
They make motorcycle specific oil as well.
I currently run Rotella T6 I think. It doesn’t seem to shift as smoothly.
The gearing is poor for quick takeoffs, but up at 5500 they come to life pretty well. There are aftermarket rear rims that are an inch smaller in diameter that help a little.
- Fred Camper
- Posts: 1339
- Joined: Sun Aug 16, 2009 9:15 pm
- Location: Metro Detroit, MI
- Motorcycle: 1977 GL1000, 1976 LTD GL1000
Re: Clutch slippage in higher gears when I'm getting on it.
Oil is a big deal for wet clutch use. If you are using a motorcycle specific oil or a Rotella or similar oil known to work well in motorcycle clutch use, then perhaps it is getting worn out.
The 1975 did not have a strong clutch, it was said it could last for less than two days at the dragstrip. The 1200 clutch is said to be stronger but requires engine removal to drop into place.
The 1975 did not have a strong clutch, it was said it could last for less than two days at the dragstrip. The 1200 clutch is said to be stronger but requires engine removal to drop into place.
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- Posts: 13
- Joined: Sun Mar 18, 2018 7:05 pm
- Location: Bakersfield, CA
- Motorcycle: 1975 and 1979 Honda GL1000 Goldwing
Re: Clutch slippage in higher gears when I'm getting on it.
Can the 1200 clutch work with the 1000?
- Fred Camper
- Posts: 1339
- Joined: Sun Aug 16, 2009 9:15 pm
- Location: Metro Detroit, MI
- Motorcycle: 1977 GL1000, 1976 LTD GL1000
Re: Clutch slippage in higher gears when I'm getting on it.
A kit is available to move to the Hydraulic lever version but pretty sure the 1200 also had a cable clutch on early versions but I do not know that for sure. I plan to install the Hydraulic version sometime soon in my 1977.
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- Posts: 13
- Joined: Sun Mar 18, 2018 7:05 pm
- Location: Bakersfield, CA
- Motorcycle: 1975 and 1979 Honda GL1000 Goldwing
Re: Clutch slippage in higher gears when I'm getting on it.
Thank you. Good info
Re: Clutch slippage in higher gears when I'm getting on it.
Good tutorial by Oldfogey here: https://www.ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22244
It may be somewhere here too. Probably easier to drop the 1200 clutch in with the 1200 motor still attached.
It may be somewhere here too. Probably easier to drop the 1200 clutch in with the 1200 motor still attached.
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- Posts: 66
- Joined: Wed Aug 17, 2011 5:22 pm
- Location: Bellevue, NE
- Motorcycle: 1977 GL1000
1975 CB750
2011 NT700VA
Re: Clutch slippage in higher gears when I'm getting on it.
I did the 1200 hydraulic clutch conversion on my '77, it's good. That won't cure your slippage problem, though. You need the cover plate from an '84-only 1200; there were no cable clutches on 1200s. There were several Hondas of the era that had hydraulic clutches; the master cylinders are all about the same, except for the angle of the reservoir to fit the bars they were made for. You can JUST get the cover and slave cylinder in without taking the engine out.
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- Posts: 13
- Joined: Sun Mar 18, 2018 7:05 pm
- Location: Bakersfield, CA
- Motorcycle: 1975 and 1979 Honda GL1000 Goldwing
Re: Clutch slippage in higher gears when I'm getting on it.
Guys, this is all very good information. My close friend is an airplane mechanic and we are going to change out the oil this week and well as make a minor adjustment to see if it improves.
A quick note, my 1979 does not have this problem so maybe the clutch is just near its end.
A quick note, my 1979 does not have this problem so maybe the clutch is just near its end.

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- Posts: 219
- Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2010 12:53 pm
- Location: La Crosse, WI
- Motorcycle: 1977 GL1000
Re: Clutch slippage in higher gears when I'm getting on it.
My 77 still has the original clutch at 223,000 miles and the only time it has ever slipped is when the clutch cable was starting to stick.