Clutch insanely hard to pull

[300rman]

ok, my clutch lever is insane hard to pull. i have a longer EZ-pull lever, so it not the handle.

the cable isnt all frayed, it moves smooth as silk.
my hands are not weak, everyone that has ridden the thing bitches about the clutch pull. after about 5 shifts, i cannot pull the lever anymore, resulting in clutchless shifts.
and the pull is smooth all the way through, it doesnt "break free" or pull erratically.

Any ideas? maybe get some new OEM springs?
Vesrah replacements, or straight OEM?

also, even after pulling in the clutch and kicking into 1st, the bike will jump pretty hard, but it will not try to move after the jump. seems the plates are sticking together a bit. any ideas for that?

[rckstrgrl21]

Not to hi-jack your thread but is it bad to not use the clutch....besides when stopping and taking off?? I mean if it shifts smoothly without grinding when NOT using the clutch can it really be hurting it?

[atctim]

Sounds like your clutch basket needs some work 300Rman. Overtime, they will wear and get grooved, thus making it hard to pull the clutch in. Nothing a flat file and some elbow grease won't remedy.

[SWIGIN]

yup....look at the basket

[300rman]

checked it out last time i had it apart, about 10 riding hours ago. it did the same thing then, and now, and the clutch basket wasnt grooved up, it actually looked in great shape.


Not to hi-jack your thread but is it bad to not use the clutch....besides when stopping and taking off?? I mean if it shifts smoothly without grinding when NOT using the clutch can it really be hurting it?

not to be an ass, but this question is beating a dead horse. do a forum search, you will find 10 threads on it.

[tecat-z]

Yep, has to be either a grooved basket and in extreme cases even a worn inner hub. Or heavy duty springs. Get yourself some oem springs for that machine. People always thing bigger is better. Not always the case.

[Dammit!]

My 86 R is really stiff as well and I'm 99% sure it's the clutch basket. It's got the '89 update kit and a good cable. I do run aftermarket springs but they're only 20% stiffer than OEM. My clutch feels like an old Harley though.

[300rman]

i will pull it apart and check the basket again, but i am 90% sure that isnt the problem. there is no engagement problem after releasing the clutch, and it is dead smooth.
would Vesrah replacement sprigs be much stiffer than OEM springs? i do not want to bite the bullet at the dealer for HONDA springs, but i will if the aftermarket vesrah ones are harder.

i mean, this thing is like pushing in a car clutch with a hand lever. it bites royal ass.

[tecat-z]

Oem springs don't cost much. And they're the best. And you know exactly what you have. It's all i ever use. They also allow for even pushing out of the pressure plate. Which makes for even pressure both engaging and disengaging clutch. I've seen people use old springs that they "THINK" are good. That in itself can cause hangup of plates on a slightly worn basket. Tired, and or mismatched springs can allow pressure plate to be pushed out on an angle if they compress at different rates of pressure.

[1upfront]

If your looking for eazy pull don't get the vesrah's they are very heavy duty.

[300rman]

i am definitely looking for an easier pull. if its so stiff i cant pull it more than 5 times, its useless.

any suggestions for OEM replacements besides a dealer?