clutch problems?

First off i just want to say how helpful everyone has been in this fourum,without you guys i would be lost.

ok, here is the situation. I bought a kz900 hardtail several years ago for $500 bux,started to work on it slowly and discovered the engine was shot and lost interest.I gave the bike away for free to a buddy of mine who had a parts bike.Two years later i run into him and asked about it he had done nothing with it and offered to give it back to me with the parts bike he got.So what i have been dealing with was a total basketcase project with no experience building a motorcycle.Little by little this thing has come together over the last few months with the help of kzr and ebay.My latest roadblock is the clutch.This motor is a 1982 kz550a that sat for who knows how long,the clutch was stuck and wouldn't disengage but i managed to get it free.now the problem i am having is that with my cluch lever pulled in(and there is plenty of pull) it feels like the clutch doesn't fully disengage and the bike wants to creep forward or die on me.I have been playing with the clutch adjustments and still the same thing.Now on top of that i'm hearing noise from the clutch basket with lever pulled in like a grinding.I wanted to check with the brain trust before spending any more money i don't have,any ideas?When i had this all apart i lost the ball bearings in the actuator and replaced them with what i thought was a similar size at the hardware store,maybe those are wrong?i think they are american 3/16 balls.Any suggestions would be appreciated,thanks.

here are some pictures of what i like to call "the lawnmower of death".Purists might want to cover their eyes.

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did that, been playing with it for a while and still can't get the clutch to let go completley.I think it may be the actuator.got a new one on the way from ebay i'll post when it comes in.

been a while sence last post,tore it apart and discovered that i needed new clutch plates.All fixed now shifts great.

Bike is complete and on the road now after carbs, clutch, wiring, and complete top end rebuild,a little paint and creativity,and lots of help from kzr and parts from ebay (loudhvx cam timing page is the only reason i didn't screw it up)i have a pretty badass little chopper that gets more attention than any $50,000 harley.I feel like i learned alot,and now that it's done i want to build more. here is what the bike looks like now

I think you put too many layers of "clear coat" on it - I can't see it. :laugh:

Good Fortune!

sorry bout that,let's try again

martin_csr wrote: How are you adjusting the clutch? On the 550, I believe you're supposed to turn the adjusting screw counterclockwise first until hard to turn, then clockwise 1/4 turn.

I always did it to the right then out a half turn, are you kidding me.

Some clutch push rod actuators adjust the needed gap by first closing it to lightly seated (zero gap) by turning clockwise and then turning back out counter-clockwise 1/2 turn before tightening the lock nut.

Other clutch push rod actuators adjust the needed gap by first closing it to lightly seated (zero gap) by turning counter-clockwise and then turning back out clockwise 1/2 turn before tightening the lock nut.

The instructions in some manuals are misleading or erroneous.

If the adjustment fails, may try again by reversing the sequence.

Good Fortune!

Is that a birdman seat?

I cut a skateboard in half and shaped it like a seat.I don't know what a birdman seat is.I'ts more comfy than it looks.I saw somone do it in the"dirtbag challenge" thought it was a smart cheap way to make a seat.