Question-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
Mark,
I recently bought a used 1988 suzuki vs 1400 Intruder. It had 11,000 miles when I bought it. The bike runs great. I changed the oil yesterday with the recommeded $4.00 a quart suzuki 10w40 oil. I went out for a poker run and the clutch slips every hard throttle roll. I have heard about people using shims the size of banjo bolt washers in the clutch spring to force the spring to work better. Have you ever heard of this, if so, any advice on what I should do?
Thanks,
Dan
Answer -
Forgot to mention...
Use a premium oil available from your local car parts store. Of course Suzuki recommends thier own product. Suzuki doesn't produce oil. They buy it from one of the major brands and label it Suzuki. Does the Suzuki oil have either the API or SAE seal? No. Buy quality oil you've trusted for years.
Avoid synthetic oils not specifically labeled for motorcycles.
Mark
Mark,
Thanks for getting back to me so fast. I do understand the oil issue and will be using Castrol gtx 10w40 by tomorrow. The problem is, and has been a slippage in the clutch from the beginning, and if you look on the intruder alert cafe' page, you will finf every single intruder 1400 owner will tell you the same thing. Some say the answer is the weak spring, some say replace the clutch with an aftermarket high performance, some say simplt shim the spring. Have you not had any ? about these clutches yet? If not I am totally amazed, due to the overwhelming number of owners who all say the same thing about these clutches.
I love the bike, but I either need to resolve the clutch problem, or get rid of the bike.
Dan
AnswerHi Dan,
I haven't had a single complaint with this problem. I don't work at the dealeship these days either. That definitely is a recall/warranty issue, if Suzuki is willing.
You can use firmer springs or shims, but they will wear more quickly.
Contact Barnett (clutch plate mfg) and inquire if they can advise of a thicker fiber plate replacement to fit your MC (from another MC application).
Thanks for the heads up on the issue with clutches common to Intruder 1400 owners. I'll research this more thoroughly.
Respectfully,
Mark Shively
