clutch problems

[briankeith1983]

I recently bought a 1983 GL1100A Aspencade. When I put it into first gear from neutral, like at a stop light, the gear is still turning. Also, sometimes when I pull the clutch to change gears the lever goes mostly slack. I can move it more than half way before feeling resistance. This usually goes away pretty quick, but then will happen again in a few minutes. I cleaned the crankcase with seafoam three times and now have 3.5 quarts of Honda 10 30 oil in it, but it didn't make a difference. Is it time for a new clutch? Thanks in advance.

[indianakid]

from what you are describing, clutch not disengaging and lever going slack, it sounds more like a cable / lever / linkage problem. make sure that the cable is correctly adjusted at both ends and that the lever is in good shape.

[briankeith1983]

Thanks Indiana, that was a problem when I first got the bike. The cable was frayed with only a few strands left. So I got a new cable from Honda and that helped, but the above problems, so far, refuse to go away.

[indianakid]

OK……….
you have an 83 therefore you do not have a lift lever adjustment. That takes one potential problem out of the mix.
Has this problem been there since you have had the bike???? Does the clutch disengage and engage properly, (other than that hanging up thing) does it slip under acceleration?

This is my take on the problem of the clutch lever being pulled in to disengage the clutch and having it hang up then release. AND the problem has been there since you have had the bike or did some work on the clutch.
There is a return spring on the clutch lifter shaft. You can feel the spring if you move the lift lever through the free play in the cable. The clutch springs along with this spring is the resistance you feel as you disengage the clutch (pull the lever to the bar).

The lift lever has a cam feature that acts against a Clutch Lifter Rod that pushes against a Clutch Lifter Guide that rides in a bearing that disengages the clutch. If something was not put together correctly (or worn real bad) this lever / cam feature could over rotate causing the cam to almost come on center not allowing the clutch to release.
Check the position of the lift lever. I took measurements of my 83 as an example (see Figures 7, 8 and 9). With the clutch disengaged (lever to the bar) the distance should be. approximately 2.30. If it is much less AND the clutch is hanging up then you could be centering on the cam.

This could also be caused by severely worn parts causing the lift feature to over travel or hang up in a “detent” worn into the clutch lifter rod (see Figure 6). Or too thick of a clutch pack stack up or “extra plate” (assembled incorrectly or incorrect parts).

Best of luck

[indianakid]

continued.......
Figures 7, 8 and 9...

[briankeith1983]

Thanks again Indiana. I'll check the measurements today and let you know what I find. It has done this as long as I've had it. The clutch is not slipping under acceleration. It just doesn't disengage all the way when I shift (gears still turning). This happens when up shifting. Down shifting works okay, except, of course, when the clutch lever goes slack. Then it is hard to downshift, and I often have to work with the throttle and clutch to go down in gears.

[Hankgl1100]

I could really use some help here. My clutch hasn’t worked since I got the bike (82 gl1100) thought it was the cable, changed that, thought it was the lever spring, that’s fine, thought the clutch was stuck bc it sat for over a year, tried to lift the back wheel put it in first and hit the break, no change, so I just took the clutch out and non of the plates were frozen or anything and the clutch springs were all within the serviceable range. I don’t know what to even do now. I pull the clutch cable in and the lever goes up and only goes about a quarter down and it feels like it’s only going down bc of the lever spring and nothing else. Almost like the clutch is stuck engaged. If I pushed it a little then threw it in first I could ride it in first.
Thoughts?!

[Rambozo]

Sounds like it's out of adjustment. Maybe it was assembled with the wrong length rod?

[Hankgl1100]

Sounds like it's out of adjustment. Maybe it was assembled with the wrong length rod?

1.jpg

2.jpg

Okay I spent hours today trying to figure out if I needed number 11 and apparently mine does not have that lever rod (it also was not there when I took the clutch out. It does have number 5 and I was not aware there were different sizes. How do I know what size I need?

[Rambozo]

Ok. For 82 it does look like yours doesn't have a lifting pin. 80,81,82,83 they seemed to make changes to the clutch every year.
I just wonder if someone tried to change the clutch or part of it and mixed up things?
Does it look like it was apart before? (Things like gasket sealer, etc.)
Do you have any history of the bike?

You might want to check the cover and measure from the face to the clutch lifter, then compare with the clutch pack height.

[Hankgl1100]

Ok. For 82 it does look like yours doesn't have a lifting pin. 80,81,82,83 they seemed to make changes to the clutch every year.
I just wonder if someone tried to change the clutch or part of it and mixed up things?
Does it look like it was apart before? (Things like gasket sealer, etc.)
Do you have any history of the bike?

You might want to check the cover and measure from the face to the clutch lifter, then compare with the clutch pack height.

Judging by the fact that there are 60,000 miles on this bike and these clutch plates look fairly new. I would say that someone has been in here. I thought maybe that something was too short like the clutch liver or something like that, but I don’t know the spec says to what the size should be. I’ve been looking for them, but I can’t find them and a lot of things about this clutch are weird and I don’t know what is what just like I thought I needed a ride on the 82 but apparently I don’t.

Currently my two theories are, the lifter rod is worn down and too short or the screws for the clutch pack were in too tight. I don’t know like I said I’m brand new to all this so I’m just guessing