2005 Breva 1100 Clutch issues

[tris]

Hi everyone

The clutch on my B11 is misbehaving and I would appreciate some pointers

Symptoms
a) It feels for all the world that the clutch isn't disengaging properly making it difficulty to up shift
b) Makes a "chirp" (just like a squeaky garden gate" when you release the leaver
c) On setting 1 on the lever the clutch engages in the 1st 10/15mm of lever movement
d) All of the above is true until it decides not to do the above!!

PS I've changed the clutch fluid

Now it all sounds horribly similar to the problems that Jas67 & Astralpilot experienced back in 2013 - see here http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=64821.0

Any comments would be appreciated

[guzzisteve]

Pull it apart or at least the swingarm to have a look-see on the rod, bearing, slave end. and then more if it needs it.

[jas67]

.....
Now it all sounds horribly similar to the problems that Jas67 & Astralpilot experienced back in 2013 - see here http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=64821.0

I hate to say it, but, this sounds familiar.    In my case, the friction zone actually seemed to "move around".   In retrospect, I think what was happening, as that one or both clutch discs was slowly disintegrating, and pieces of it would be pinched between the clutch disc and the pressure plate, flywheel, or intermediate disc.   It is only a matter of time before it completely comes apart, and locks up entirely, preventing you from disengaging it at all.

Sorry, but, the only way to know for sure is to pull apart.

[tris]

Hi Jas67 I hoped you might respond 👍

How many miles had yours done? Mine is at about 25k

How hard did you find it to do?

Also I need to find a clutch alignment tool to borrow / hire in the UK .


 Any offers?

[jas67]

Hi Jas67 I hoped you might respond 👍

How many miles had yours done? Mine is at about 25k

How hard did you find it to do?

It was around 23-24k miles.    I ended up getting it done at the dealer (Europa Macchina) due to just not having the time to do it.   Other things just got in the way, and when 10 months had gone by, and I still hadn't started the job, I wanted the bike back on the road.

It is a big job, you need to remove the rear swing arm, and then basically lift the rest of the bike off the engine/transmission unit, then separate the engine from transmission.   I'll let one of the dealers on this forum chime in as to the hours required, but, IIRC, I paid for 9 hours labor, which would translate to 13-16 hours for me to do the job.

[tris]

9 hours equals about £500 - I think I'll do it myself!!!

However since my first post over the following 2 days I've put about 300 more miles on the bike and it decided NOT to play up....... GRRRRR

Watch this space 

[jas67]

9 hours equals about �500 - I think I'll do it myself!!!

9 hours labor for only $500??   That's very cheap shop time.   Shop time typically is more like $90/hour around here.

[tris]

I'm in the UK Jas - that 500 was Stirling so about the same with the exchange rate

[jas67]

I'm in the UK Jas - that 500 was Stirling so about the same with the exchange rate

D'oh!   My bad.

In any case, IIRC, there was a newer design replacement clutch that is less prone to this.   I got mine from Moto International (Dave Richardson) in Seattle before I ended up having my local dealer do the job.   You might want to contact them to find out the particulars.   Or, I'm sure one of the many good people here that are more knowledgeable than I am will chime in with info.

[tris]

Aha I'll check that out thanks

My intuition despite him behaving himself for a bit is that I still have an issue

[Doppelgaenger]

My bike loves to remind me on a monthly basis that it's Italian, mostly by doing weird things that scare me which go away on their own.

Like the time it just slowly dropped the revs and conked out after coming to a stop, then started right up again with no issues and has never done it again.

[jas67]

Aha I'll check that out thanks

My intuition despite him behaving himself for a bit is that I still have an issue

Mine did the same thing.   It would get better, then worse, then, one day, it wouldn't disengage, and it needed to be trailered home.

[tris]

Well I've been doing some more thinking and researching as I'm reluctant to rip into this bike ..... just yet

A bit more back ground.

a) After I bought the bike I worked out that there is a good chance it stood for a year 
b) The squeak/chirp only happens when I release the clutch lever and is somewhere low down on the bike

My thought process is .....
The only thing moving any distance in the system is the clutch release pusher rod (or whatever its proper name is) and its located about where I think the noise is emanating from

So my question is
a) Is this rod lubricated by the gearbox oil or could the standing time have caused it to corrode/stick a bit
b) If corroded or gunged up could it stick enough for the clutch not to disengage properly?

Any thoughts much appreciated

Tris

PS
DG - mine did exactly that the other day.  Now if the clutch was not disengaging properly I guess its feasible to stall the engine with the clutch lever pulled in

[pete roper]

Tris, I think your friction plates have gone to hell. Wishing won't make it better, just hoe in and do the job.

Pete

[tris]

Pete

I normally welcome your input but this is one of those situations when I could do without your knowledge, clarity and logic!!

Deep down I think you're right, but I just want the ride the bike at them moment and not rip into what is likely to be a 2 month mission for me tearing it all apart

If the thing would just get on with it and break properly it would be an easy decision!!!

Thanks though in advance as I suspect I'll be back on here to get some more advice.

1st things 1st - track down a clutch alignment/compressor tool!!

[twowings]

I'm in the UK Jas - that 500 was Stirling so about the same with the exchange rate

Have you already 'Brexited'? I thought Euros were the currency of choice, still...

[tris]

Not yet - but wait until the 23rd June when either the world will cave in or nothing will happen .... depending on which bunch of liars politicians you listen too

Sorry Dusty - I know "NO DAMN POLITICS ON A CLUTCH THREAD"