sl350 Clutch issue

swensy77

swensy77

New Member
Hey All,

I just swapped out my motor on a project bike so that I can rebuild the original motor. I used a SL350 motor which is slightly different. I have made all of the appropriate alterations for the brake pedal, kickstart ect. The one issue I am having is haveing the clutch engage. I have adjusted it appropriatley multiple times but when I start the bike and try to put it into gear after pulling the clutch arm, push down on the shifter the bike jumps and dies ( the clutch arm is still pulled all the way) From my understanding the clutch is not working, and I cant figure out why. The gears shift great when the bike is off, there is appropriate pressure when I pull the clutch arm but nothing seems to happen. I do not know what else to do at this point. Any help would be great!

Thanks,
 
I do apologize, I should mention this is my first project and I am a newbie. I did not measure what you were asking..... I do know that this motor was on a decent bike running fine before the swap......
 
swensy77 said:
I have adjusted it appropriatley multiple times
Click to expand...

What part did you adjust - the cable end by the lever or the clutch actuator behind the left rear crankcase/sprocket cover?
 
I have adjusted it correctly according to all of the posts and manual. I re-greased it and did not loose any parts.
 
obviously the clutch is not engaging I suspect it is out of adjustment. Without the engine on put it in gear and roll it forward does it roll with the clutch engaged? if not draw the nut out until it does. Fine tune with the adjustment nut at the lever. Either that or you are missing the little ball bearing or disc in the clutch. That may have fallen out when you placed the chain on and had the cover off. Good luck.
 
That is a good approach, I will try it. I do know for a fact that I did not loose the ball bearing. I had some trouble on the 1st motor I had in this bike and my 1st time with a motorcycle clutch. I learned a lot from that, in fact I was able to help others around town with simple trouble shooting. This problem I am completely lost in being that I cant figure out why it wont engage. I am praying that it is not something internal being that I want to ride it a bit more before the snow. This is my very 1st build. 4 months ago the bike pictured was all in a box. I know I am no expert but I am baffeled by this issue.
 
Is there a way to easily know if everything is ok internal? I also believe that the clutch will not disengage instead of engage. meaning when I pull the clutch lever and it is in gear it will not roll freely.......there is a lot of tension , 2 finger strength, but nothing is happeneing.
 
so you've tried unscrewing the clutch adjustment at the sprocket cover and it won't adjust to a point the clutch engages? even with it fully unscrewed it doesn't engage? ?
 
Yes I have done that. And that's why I think I'm using the wrong terminology I don't believe the clutch will disengage? After I've adjusted everything to the specific requirements and I pull the clutch lever and nothing happens. I'll leave the motor off now pull the clutch lever and it will not allow me to roll freely. When the motorcycle is on and running and I pull the clutch lever and I put it into gear it jumps forward and dies. I have tried to break it free by kickstarting it while it is in gear ect and nothing....... Do I have to take it apart and take out the clutch plates to break it free I don't know.


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quoted from Honda twins...
"Put slack in the cable.... I recommend you "set" the threaded adjuster at the handlebar perch at about 1/2 way in....That way you have some adjustment left in either direction.
Cable bottom adjuster (at case cover): thread it ALL the way in so you have maximum slack inside......
With case cover off engine, VERIFY the #10 ball bearing is in place (grease it in)....
Loosen adjuster locknut on case and screw the slotted bolt FULLY CLOCKWISE until it stops (This is the maximum clearance point, "Arm" should be fully " down" as pulled by the spring).....
Replace cover and snug the Phillips head screws...... Tighten the slotted adjuster COUNTERCLOCKWISE (anti-clockwise) until you feel it start to apply pressure to the clutch (you actually feel the springs push back)... Turn it CLOCKWISE until the pressure JUST releases, Then 1/8 turn CCW, and snug the locknut......
Pull the clutch lever against the grip..... Tighten BOTTOM cable adjuster (out) until the lever JUST touches/closes at the perch.....Lock it in place......
Minor adjustments for desired lever "reach" and release points can now be done at the UPPER (perch) adjuster........"
 
Yep that is exactly how I learned to do my last clutch adjustment and I've helped many others do it because of that posting on Honda twins. This one for some reason just won't work.....


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You mentioned this motor came out of a running bike. Was that bike ridden or just running? The clutch pack may be stuck together.
If you have all adjustments correct and it's still not engaging, I would pull the clutch and investigate.
 
It was ridden regularly about a year ago, stored properly as well. I have tried every trick..... kickstarting it in gear, making sure the clutch lever had a lot of pressure to almost none, rolling it in gear while pulling the clutch ect....... This is driving me nuts! The shifting is a little stiffer than the other engine I have noticed as well..... a little more travel in the shifting pedal. The kick starter does not seem to catch as well either. It will once in awhile right off the bat, but not every time. Sometimes it wont catch at all to turn it over, others it will catch in the middle. I am thinking I need to drain the new oil, pull the cover off and pray that I dont need to buy a new seal to inspect the clutch and ect. From what else I have said has anyone else ran into these issues and from your experience what could it be?

Thanks,
DS
 
Just went through this same issue with my 1973 SL350, It had been sitting for 10 years and I got it running then when it was running I doped it into gear and it would jump forward and stall. Turned out that my clutch plated were stuck together. It was a simple fix and now the bike shifts fine. But even after I got it unstuck it still gets caught when it sits. So it gets stuck again but is easily broken when I shift into gear after starting. Iv only ridden the bike like 2 times since the fix and that was only around the yard so i believe that the clutch will work itself out after ridding it.

Hope that helps!

Here is the forum where I worked it out with some help and goes into more detail.
http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=54316.msg612925#msg612925
 
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