Motorcycle Repair: clutch problem, honda shadow vt700, clutch lever

Question
hi chris i own a 1985 honda shadow vt700 and i had it sitting in florida for about five months due to me movin the clutch lever seems to of lost pressure and wont let me shift into gear it starts fine and has some pressure but i am not sure if the plates are stuck together or if it needs fluid, if it needs fluid i was wonderin if you could walk me through on how to fill it thanks

Answer
Hi Andrew.

A hydraulic clutch is handled a lot like hydraulic brakes.  Fill the master cylinder and bleed the system just as if you were bleeding the brakes.

In addition to that, you may want to use the following proceedure as well;

1) Bleed the clutch line like normal.

2) With a rag placed over anything near the master cylinder that you don't want to get hydraulic fluid on (and while wearing safety glasses), place a wrench on the banjo fitting and depress the clutch lever.

3) With the clutch lever depressed, crack the banjo fitting loose and retighten without releasing the clutch lever.

4) After the banjo fitting is tightened up again, check the clutch.  If it is not as it should be, then repeat steps 2 and 3, but no more than 3 or 4 times.  And make sure that the fluid level does not get low in the master cylinder.

Start with that and let me know what you find.

Good luck and ride safe.
FALCON