Clutch drag on 82 KZ750-R1 (GPz)

Hi,

I've got this new ride. Pretty awesome but there's a problem i need to solve.

My clutch is dragging even with the adjustment screw from the handle at the max (1 turn more the cable goes out!).

When i'm stopped it's very hard to engage the first gear from neutral (with the handle pulled at max) and when i press on the gear selector i hear some rattle (this indicate that the transmission gears are spinning right? Thus the clutch is dragging a little bit) and then a BIG clunk.

Any clues ?

I know little about this bike...

Best Regards,
Laurent

What weight and type of oil is used in the engine? Most of the car oils contain a friction modifier that is not good for our wet plate clutches. I'd suggest the Shell Rotella oil or any oil designed for Diesel engines as they have a nice Zinc content.The Zinc reduces wear, especially on cam and bearings.

I think you can get the Rotella oil at the local Wal-Mart cheaper than the auto parts stores.

Castrol 20w-50 regular mineral oil for motorcycle (just changed btw!)

Me too i've thought that the oil wasn't good that's why i've changed it but no improvement except clear yellow engine oil instead of black tar!.

Some bikes have another adjuster mid-way in the cable, often located alongside the left front frame downtube near the left header pipe.

This mid-cable adjuster may be used to supplement the other adjuster at the handlebar, to further extend the cable sheath in relation to the inner cable.

Perhaps spreading further apart the mid-cable adjuster will allow less extension needed at the lever adjustment, and afford sufficient "pull" to fully disengage the clutch plates.

Good Fortune!

Nice i will check this out tomorrow.

What will happen if i pull to much the cable ?

Will it break something?

thank you!

Here's a link to the clutch cable carried by Z1E, and shows the mid-cable adjuster.

Might be time to consider a brand new cable, and one that's known as a correct fit for the bike in question.

Click here > www.z1enterprises.com/detail.aspx?ID=284

Good Fortune!

Here's the troubleshooting section from the pdf manual of this model... by experience what i should look right after clutch cable play?



-Oil level is right in the middle
-Oil viscosity is 20w-50
-Oil is brand new
-Clutch play has been taken but i will try to extend more with the second adjustment



Regards,
Laurent

Btw, of course i will change the cable but i think even a bad one is able to pull the clutch correctly just wanna be sure it's the cable before changing everything!

EDIT2: Btw, is it possible to have a look to the clutch without draining oil, damn it's brand new oil !!

Here's an example.

Nice picture, yeah I've seen it on my bike.

I'm afraid to break something if i also extend this adjuster... what could go wrong?

Is there a stopper which prevent the clutch release system to go further than designed ?

Sorry to be nervous about that it's because breaking something transmission related is my biggest nightmare... Ask me to totally rebuild the engine no problem but when it come to gears and stuff forget me !

With usage, the inner cable stretches, whereby the sheath adjustments are made to compensate.

Adjust so that when the hand lever's squeezed, there's slight cable motion before requiring the normal stronger grip squeeze needed to disengage (separate) the clutch plates.

Don't let Godzilla squeeze the clutch lever, and nothing will break.

Imo, going into the clutch isn't needed yet. But with bike on sidestand (and perhaps tires slightly elevated on boards), may remove clutch cover plate with very little if any loss of engine oil.

Good Fortune!

I promise i won't be godzilla

Very nice explanation Patton.

Time to sleep, i'll try your advice has soon has i get from work tommorow!

Best Wishes,
Laurent

Not familiar with this bike but as in most Kawi models back then...

Doesn't this have a clutch push rod mechanism adjustment in the left side cover as well?

Maybe not....

OMR