SFC1000 clutch sticking

A

andre

Senior member
Hello Guys
I'm getting my SFC1000 back to life after a 5 year hibernation.
Fresh fuel. Starts ok. Oil was fresh at hibernation.
I went to put it in gear and clutch plates wouldnt release. Must be a bit stuck together. Usually I'd have expected they'd free up when you crunch it into gear, but not this time.
My buddy Clive suggested I cable tie the clutch lever in for a few hours and maybe that would do something. Any other wisdom? I'd prefer not to have to remove plates naturally.

Thanks, Andre
 
Did you warm up the engine for about 10 to 15 minutes. If the clutch will not disengage when engine is hot I would open the primery cover and the clutch. Best idea would be to buy a new set of plates, cost are not so high, maybe 150€.
Good luck
Andre
 
Hmm.
In my younger days wouldnt hesitate to pull the plates out. Reluctant now.
I just gotta get it out of my basement garage. If I can get it into gear without stalling I'm sure i can get it to free up from riding.
Common issue on old British bikes but this seems quite stuck at first try.
I did replace one friction plate and a few steel plates in 1989 when I burnt the clutch while Bears racing. To hell with the cost... I recall maybe i also put slightly heavier springs in after that.

Cheers
Andre
 
I don't see the need to replace the clutch plates. Sticking has nothing to do with wear. Personally, if I've experienced sticking I just force the bloody thing to cooperate :eek::D. If that doesn't work get the oil nice and hot then with the bike off the stand just give the lever a good solid kick - it usually jumps fwd a little but once free it stays free. Maybe starting on the centrestand, rear wheel off the deck and get it spinning in gear and try running through a few gears while accelerating and pulling the clutch lever a few times. Make sure you're not going to be launched through a brick wall!!
 
andre said:
Hello Guys
I'm getting my SFC1000 back to life after a 5 year hibernation.
Fresh fuel. Starts ok. Oil was fresh at hibernation.
I went to put it in gear and clutch plates wouldnt release. Must be a bit stuck together. Usually I'd have expected they'd free up when you crunch it into gear, but not this time.
My buddy Clive suggested I cable tie the clutch lever in for a few hours and maybe that would do something. Any other wisdom? I'd prefer not to have to remove plates naturally.

Thanks, Andre
Click to expand...
Hi Andre,

this was written about in length on this forum, it seems to depend a bit on oil used how often this happens.

The best way to free up a clutch without having to dismantel everything that I have come accross was to use the following product:


Warm the engine up, put this in, let the engine run for a bit until it distributes everywhere. Then either strapp the front down while on center stand so that the rear tire is in the air or go for a ride up and down the street. Pull the clutch lever, keep revs up and push the rear brake several times hard. This should free up the clutch after several attempts.

Did work very well on an old DT125 with a completely blocked clutch. Took a while though
 
Start it on the centre stand with the front wheel against a wall and change up through the gears to third or fourth gear then stab the rear brake lever until it releases. they can be very hard to break free while moving.
 
Bump starting hasnt worked for me. If I lived on a hill...

So clutch apart. Offending plates unstuck, clean all up then ready for reassembly. Turns out primary chains are not far off replacement time so may as well do that too.

Cheers, Andre
 
Start the motor in neutral on the wet grass in the back yard, stomp on the gear lever into first, backwheel lights up and go careening across the yard in no state of any control, hit fence, bounce back onto the grippy grass and head for the street road, with clutch hand firmly pulling lever to the bar or beyond the bar, with some luck you may have the thumb hit the kill switch.

Or as many here do, tie the clutch lever half way to stop the plates compress adhering, tough on the cable though the wild mouse ride in the backyard is really only for the folk whom find it great fun being scared. HTH j.
 
As an indication, the clutch on my 3C was sticking very badly even though in regular use.
I took all the plates out after the bike was hit by a car and burnt. It would need a chisel to get them apart.
Paul
 
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