Motorcycle Repair: Clutch, friction plates, clutch lever
Question
68 Dream
I have a 68 Dream that I parked for the winter in a garage. Before I put it away the clutch was working. When I took it out the other day and started it up the clutch was not was not engaging.Engine runs fine. I changed the oil and still was not working. Any suggestions?
AnswerRon,
Honda clutches have been known to "stick" together when stored for a long period of time, causing them to stay engaged and not disengage, when the lever is pulled. The steel plates and friction plates eventually squeeze the oil out between themselves and then the materials in the friction plates bind to the steel plates. The only correct cure is to drain the oil, remove the left side exhaust, footpeg and then the clutch cover to access the four clutch bolts/springs so you can disassemble the clutch plate pack for cleaning. You can generally reuse the parts, once they are cleaned.
If your clutch is actually not engaging at all, then you have a different set of circumstances. Loosen the clutch cable adjusters, then the bolt that secures the clutch adjuster on the kickstarter cover. Turn the adjuster clockwise until it stops, then back it off about 1/16" and tighten the lock bolt. Make some cable adjustments at the lower case adjustment, allowing for some fine tuning at the clutch lever, itself. Make sure you have about 1/4" of free play at the clutch lever.
If the adjustment doesn't affect the engagement process, then you will have to pull the clutch apart to see what has occurred. Usually it is just a lack of free play in the clutch cable system, which prevents clutch engagement.
Bill Silver
