Wildguzzi.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: bigbikerrick on July 14, 2018, 12:03:11 AM
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Hi Folks, a couple of days ago, I washed my LeMans, I used gunk spray degreaser to wash the engine/ transmission, then did a normal hand wash on the rest of the bike. After drying well, I rolled it onto my lift to do a valve lash check, and general inspection/detailed cleaning, so it stayed on the rack for a couple of days.
Today, when I went to ride the bike, when I put it into first gear, it lurched forward violently, and stalled out. WTF? I restarted it and same thing happened x3. I checked my clutch freeplay , the cable ,and the lever behind the gearbox, all is fine. I actually reduced the cable freeplay to almost nothing, and tried it, it again stalled out, putting it in neutral was impossible, with all that clutch drag.
I decided to take it for a ride to see if anything changes, so I take off through the gears like normal, and after about 3 miles, I come to a stop, and the clutch is now acting normal. No more lurching, easy to find neutral, shifting perfect, absolutely no sign of clutch drag.
I have never had any clutch issues with this bike before. It has 32K miles, and I took it for another ride this evening, and again the clutch acted perfect. Could these symptoms be caused by washing the bike and letting it sit a couple of days? I rarely ever wash any of my bikes, I keep them clean by wiping them down, spray detailer, etc. and they are all garaged. But when I do wash one, I like to de grease, and get into all the nooks and crannies to make it worth while, maybe I should never wash the older Italian iron.... :grin:
Rick.
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Rust on the clutch plates, perhaps?
My car's iron brake rotors sometimes do weird things like that if the weather is very wet or humid and I don't move it for a few days.
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Yeah, it's not unheard of for the plates to stick. As you found, it's not terminal.. :smiley:
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Dry clutch Ducatis are famous for it
These bikes have a different style of clutch of course I cannot remember but it's something like 12 or more plates and open clutch covers are common
It happens to my 1098 after it's been laid up, it's not common but not infrequent.
The Guzzi of course has the clutch enclosed but some moisture could get in and stick the plates together which is what I think happened
It should be fine and nothing to worry about
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My Ducati used to do it occasionally.
I would usually start it on the centrestand in top gear with the clutch in and gently apply the rear brake, this would "crack" the clutch more gently than slamming it into first gear from neutral.
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Yup.
Old bikes, old cars, old bulldozers.
My Aermacchi/Sprint 350 has an exposed dry clutch, and gets parked with a ziptie on the clutch handle else it's a long ride until it comes loose and smooths out again. I've had the Guzzi clutch ('85 LM1000 btw) stick like that 3-4 times.
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My 84 SP does this when it is cold.I always thought that it was related to the splines on the clutch not being greased properly from the factory or the dreaded grooved splines.I guess when they moved up to 4mm splines this problem went away.When I first start out with the bike I rev it a little and slide the clutch to put a little heat in it.Then it is fine for the day.
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Thanks so much Fellas, for setting my mind at ease. I was thinking that a frame crabbing was in my future....I am happy I dont have to do that right now, that would be more of an over the winter project. I have always pondered, that if I ever had to take the engine and transmission out of the frame,for some reason,that I would do my best to return it to raw aluminum as original. One of the previous owner painted those parts satin black.
Thanks again
Rick.
(https://thumb.ibb.co/btqBE8/20151120_174107_85_Le_Mans.jpg) (https://ibb.co/btqBE8)
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Always been afraid to ask.
What is frame crabbing...?
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(https://thumb.ibb.co/btqBE8/20151120_174107_85_Le_Mans.jpg)
I like the look, actually, but Lucky Phil sez I a have taste for spit. :smiley:
Always been afraid to ask.
What is frame crabbing...?
Huzo, it's a method of unhooking about everything, and pivoting the frame around the front motor mount bolt. Just a quick and easy way to get to the motive unit.
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Always been afraid to ask.
What is frame crabbing...?
Pete Roper put together an excellent guide - it may be the first part of his 5 speed gearbox guide
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Here's some crabby action for ya Hugo, the victim is a CX100 LeMans.
(https://thumb.ibb.co/jbgMWo/518185_E5_E0_E4_4_E76_95_E5_67749_D4_E664_E.jpg) (https://ibb.co/jbgMWo)
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Jesus H....!
Looks like you've had a head on with the Rock of Gibraltar...
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Thanks so much Fellas, for setting my mind at ease. I was thinking that a frame crabbing was in my future....I am happy I dont have to do that right now, that would be more of an over the winter project. I have always pondered, that if I ever had to take the engine and transmission out of the frame,for some reason,that I would do my best to return it to raw aluminum as original. One of the previous owner painted those parts satin black.
Thanks again
Rick.
(https://thumb.ibb.co/btqBE8/20151120_174107_85_Le_Mans.jpg) (https://ibb.co/btqBE8)
I do prefer the bare Al but simply for practicality, eventually paint will flake and detracts from the look.
That said i think that looks fabulous and as long as it stays that way I'd be more than pleased, to me it looks better than the bare Al
Beautiful bike bigbikerrick
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Thanks for the kind words, One of the previous owners went through alot of trouble to properly paint the engine/trans/rear drive black, and the frame tubes and swingarm all red. Automotive paint was used, its not a rattle can job. The nice compliments now have me re thinking, the re paint......
Rick.
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Well, IMHO.. it *is* a good looking bike. :thumb:
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Number 1 rule when you wash a bike,always start it up and take a 5 mile or so ride,get some heat in the engine so it can dry out all the places you can't get to!
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I learned my lesson ,Guzzimatic, and I will always ride the bike a few miles after washing it in the future. FWIW,Yesterday I took the LeMans on a 75mile ride, and it performed flawlessly. The clutch action was perfect, no dragging, or any other abnormalities.
As usual, the sage advice on this forum saved me from alot of un necessary work, and expense.
Thank you
Rick.
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Great color scheme. Great bike. I rode that thing thru several epic long distance floods that would have had Noah scrambling for the arc. Never missed a beat. Glad to see you still have her, and your health!
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OldMXdog61u, Thanks for the kind words, Bruce. You took good care of the Le Mans, and passed her to me very nicely sorted. It is my current favorite Guzzi to ride, but the Eldo is still my favorite to look at, and drool over!
I hope you are enjoying yours,
Rick.
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Wish ya were closer. I love the Eldo!