Stuck in first, no clutch

[tim.kyfl]

Whoa is me. Just finished carb clean an rectified most run problems. When returned from impressive 20 mile test ride, as I pulled in, clutch was slack and bike stalled, of course. Temp showed about 1/3 up gauge, so it was not over heated. Would not start as in gear. Used kill switch and starter to drive to final park. Today, opened reservoir cover. Fluid in reservoir,but, rubber gasket extremely distorted. Clutch had resistance, but, still locked in gear. There was, as i pulled in some smoke and sizzling in the carb area. Don't think it related as fluid is not present and no oily residue in area. Was looking for clutch housing and bleeder, can't find. Found pic on old thread by Wingman (in 2010), and mine looks nothing like it. It shows a hand gap tween motor and frame with bleeder sitting on top of clutch slave cylinder. Ive got maybe 1/2" between frame and i cannot see nuttin.
Am at a loss as to problem, and location of bleeder. I think I found housing near bottom of motor but don't see slave or bleeder. PO had replaced motor but said it is an '86.
I know i need a shop manual, but have to wait for next s/s check . Any ideas? Thanks
I want to ride and I've got other things to fix!

[tim.kyfl]

OK, found bleeder. Boy am I screwed. Dead center, bottom. Can only get to it from under. Maybe an1/8th turn at a time if my fat hands can get to it. Was hoping if there is undue pressure it would release. But why would there be if none in reservoir except for distorted rubber seal indicating what I would think as extreme vacuum? Clutch must not be disengaging if no shift. HELP!

[LeMaitre]

Try rocking the bike back and forth. I sometimes have trouble shifting into neutral and moving the bike will let the internals move. Does the clutch switch work? If not you cannot get the starter to work until the bike is in neutral.

-Mark

[CrystalPistol]

Whoa is me. … etc … Today, opened reservoir cover. Fluid in reservoir,but, rubber gasket extremely distorted. Clutch had resistance, but, still locked in gear. There was, as i pulled in some smoke and sizzling in the carb area. … etc …

… etc … But why would there be if none in reservoir except for distorted rubber seal indicating what I would think as extreme vacuum? … etc …

Well, did it … or did it not … have fluid in the MC Reservoir?

Sounds to me like it's all been pumped out over time, why rubber gasket is pulled down. It went somewhere. Could be a leak in a line why you heard a sizzle maybe. Keep looking is all I can say, … & bleed the clutch line too.

[tim.kyfl]

Thanks for reply. Yes there was fluid in reservoir. It is puzzling as to why the diaphragm was so distorted. Can't re-fit into cavity. Laying in bed thinking about situation, I deduced if there is no clutch operation then there is nothing to allow hydraulic pressure. Thinking a blocked port, or, failure of the piston to make pressure, or makes pressure but not allow it to pass. Does not appear to be leakage as nothing on the engine or ground. I guess I do need to access the bleeder valve and see I fluid flows. I don't know how. I'm going to get at it. Amazed, as always, why the engineering is such that serviceable parts are inaccessible.

[tim.kyfl]

Hey Mark sorry, your message got lost. Clutch does not work. Bike has been rocked to and fro, to no avail. Used starter to move into shelter with kill switch on, no clutch

[tim.kyfl]

Well, it seems resolved. Since a few responded with interest, I thought I'd bring it up to date.

The good news is I got the clutch to respond. Shifted into neutral, and out, and in etc. The bad news is the owner is an idiot.
I disconnected the banjo fitting and pumped the handle which emitted a spit of fluid. Studied th inside and noticed the return opening was on the side and a little high up in my opinion. Fluid was not covering the complete opening. I sopped out the fluid, cleaned the reservoir, refilled, bled the piston, reconnected, and, voila. It was about 1/2 full and am surprise it was not enough
Still have the horrible disfigured diaphragm to replace. Don't know if I can ride w/o till new one arrives. I guess I won't.
Thanks guys

[alanc1100]

I thought of doing the same thing, just bleeding out old fluid until it was good. Well, the mc was full of black fluid and crud, so I rebuilt the mc. It needed it. Then removed the slave and it was covered in what looked like sand.

Unreal1

Unreal2

Unreal3

I was shocked! After thinking about it, I remember just last week seeing a post with another slave that looked like mine. So, unless you’ve rebuilt your slave and mc in the recent past, you might want to.
Alan

[tim.kyfl]

Gee, thanks for that tidbit. Is there anyway to turn the bike over to get at it:). The clutch, as in many need to get to service items, is in a near impossible spot.

[alanc1100]

I had to remove the engine guards and headers, the left foot peg, the left side drain box just to get access with my hands. It is tight, but you can do it. My two lower bolts were covered in crud and did not want to come out. Major pita! Good luck with yours.

[tim.kyfl]

WOW! Well. I think I may need to replace a header gasket or two. That based on sound when hot. Haven't defined yet. That would be the time to do it. Guess it's time for a lift, though that may be in the way while performing the duties. Running out of summer.

[WingAdmin]

That "sand" is what brake fluid looks like when it leaks out and then dries out.

[tim.kyfl]

As the pics are of the inside, it would appear there was no fluid present for some time.

[grand rouge]

Still have the horrible disfigured diaphragm to replace. Don't know if I can ride w/o till new one arrives. I guess I won't.
Thanks guys (quote )

Just wondering if the diaphragm is 'horribly disfigured' because perhaps a fluid other than brake fluid had been in there... ATF or motor oil even. Those fluids...others too....swell and distort braking system ' hydraulic clutch system small parts.

[tim.kyfl]

Interesting. I don't think ATF was used as it usually is colored. P. O. was experienced rider/owner. I feel he would have known better. Though, at this age I am not surprised by much when it comes to the masses.
What has surprised me is that the new one has started to disfigure. Went to check/add fluid and had difficulty sweating it.
It appears I will be installing new water pump and will also install head gaskets. Will drain and fill clutch system then. What's another day of "mechanicing". Just ordered lift as it's much harder to get up and down on the ground, plus, my ever expanding girth makes it harder to stay bent so far over .

[alanc1100]

Actually the area you see the crud on faces the clutch pack. The fluid area is behind the piston. The piston seal leaked out and that’s why it crudded up. Still gotta clean out the area between the slave and the pack.