V9 Clutch Issues

[mainsail]

Well, got a call that another biker needed some allen wrenches so hopped on the bike to go lend aid. 

Suddenly now I have only about 50% clutch travel, so it's not completely disengaging and getting it into neutral was impossible.  I was able to shift through the gears, although they clunk much harder than normal.

So the clutch isn't disengaging.  I'm guessing it's something internal?  I don't see any issues with the lever or cable.

It's a 2017 v9 with 10,600 miles on it.

[Dirk_S]

First order is to check your free play at the handlebar lever. Page 60 of the owner’s manual, if you’re not certain how to check:

[mainsail]

I'm confused because everyone says this, but I don't understand how the symptoms I'm describing would have anything to do with the free play.

It feels like the clutch lever goes about half-way back and hits the wall - it isn't going any farther than that. In other words, without exerting full adult upper-body-strength squeeze on the lever, it's done traveling at about halfway to the handlebar.

It's also a true indication - in that the clutch is only about half-way disenaged when the lever stops (half way to the handlebar).

[mainsail]

OK, now I have to come in here embarrassed at how dumb this one was....

I disconnected the cable at the transmission and it moves freely inside the sheath, so it wasn't that.

To disconnect the cable from the lever down at the transmission, I had to squeeze the shift lever with a big pair of channel locks and boy if it felt like it was moving smoothly...

That pretty much left the lever on the handlebars but it was also moving ... or was it?

The heated grip has a big knob where the wire goes in and it had, over time, rotated itself around and was blocking the shift lever from moving fully rearward.  It wasn't easy to see from any normal vantage point which is how it was happening without me noticing.

So you are all welcome to razz me - I can't believe I missed it.

[Tom H]

Oooppseee

Your description of the lever movement in your first post was a bit vague. You cleared it up to the lever travel Now we could get serious on the problem. But......

You found it already! Congrats

I know yours was the clutch lever, but... Throttles have a way of moving sometimes and they can block the brake lever. So it's not the first time something like this has happened.

Tom

[Vagrant]

That is the first thing to watch out for when installing aftermarket heated grips.

[Moparnut72]

The Oxford heated grips will do this. I know, ask me how I know.
kk