98 KX80 Clutch Problems
Cam Mitchell
Hey, just thought I'd let you guys know about a friend of mine and the
problems he suffered today. On the 1st lap of a 2 hour hare
scrambles, he lost all his power more and more (fairly quickly) until
the rear wheel wouldn't spin anymore, regardless of what gear. Every
gear seemed like neutral. Also, there was no play anymore in the
clutch lever. The bike is only about 5 hours old, and he's definitely
not a clutch abuser. He's a top-3 80 B rider, fast but doesn't
fan/abuse the clutch. We had also heard about another rider who broke
something in his clutch or tranny on a brand new 98 KX80 (I forget
what it was exactly). His Grandpa and him are looking into it, but
just thought I'd drop a note to say that there seems to be a problem
with the bikes. Later!
--
cmit...@uniserve.com / http://users.uniserve.com/~cmitchel
94 Kawasaki KX500 (For Sale)
64 BMW R60 (For Sale)
TMaxel
I haven't heard of any problems with the clutch locally... I am
listening, I want one for Tyler. :-)
However, Mike Ivers just lost his crank in his '98 YZ 125. :-( I don't
know any details yet.
TMaxel
RM 250, #53, Me
RM 80, #44, Tommy
KX 60 & LEM CR3 Works, #35, Tyler
Thank you Team Cycle Emporium
Direct EMail -> MAXEL%MTC...@Navistar.com
Patrick Riley
Cam Mitchell wrote:
>
> Hey, just thought I'd let you guys know about a friend of mine and the
> problems he suffered today. On the 1st lap of a 2 hour hare
> scrambles, he lost all his power more and more (fairly quickly) until
> the rear wheel wouldn't spin anymore, regardless of what gear. Every
> gear seemed like neutral. Also, there was no play anymore in the
> clutch lever. The bike is only about 5 hours old, and he's definitely
> not a clutch abuser. He's a top-3 80 B rider, fast but doesn't
> fan/abuse the clutch. We had also heard about another rider who broke
> something in his clutch or tranny on a brand new 98 KX80 (I forget
> what it was exactly). His Grandpa and him are looking into it, but
> just thought I'd drop a note to say that there seems to be a problem
> with the bikes. Later!
> --
It seems to me that someone should discover root cause. It should not be
too difficult. It could be that the clutch lever was maladjusted,
allowing the clutch to slip right from the beginning. This would burn
it up quickly. The other possibility is that something loosened up, ie:
the big nut holding the clutch hub, or the bolts holding the springs.
The clutch for the 1998 KX-80 is all new, but the design is very similar
to the 125. If there is no play in the lever, it should NOT be
something loose.
Let us all know what the problem is.
Pat Riley
Cam Mitchell
Patrick Riley <ri...@co.intel.com> wrote:
<snip>
>It seems to me that someone should discover root cause. It should not be
>too difficult. It could be that the clutch lever was maladjusted,
>allowing the clutch to slip right from the beginning. This would burn
>it up quickly. The other possibility is that something loosened up, ie:
>the big nut holding the clutch hub, or the bolts holding the springs.
>The clutch for the 1998 KX-80 is all new, but the design is very similar
>to the 125. If there is no play in the lever, it should NOT be
>something loose.
>Let us all know what the problem is.
The clutch has been ruled out, should have results fairly soon. Must
be tranny. if you've got any ideas, let me know.. here's what I know:
- Power bogged more and more until wheel stopped spinning
- shifter clicks into gears, but they all feel like neutral
- clutch is fine
If that helps any, maybe someone's experienced this and knows the
problem. I'll update when I hear what it was. Later!
>Pat Riley
Cam Mitchell
Patrick Riley <ri...@co.intel.com> wrote:
>Doesn't sound good. Are you sure you didn't seize the piston or
>crank?? Assuming it is not a piston/crank seize... I would pull off the
>right side cover and examine the shift mechanism, hoping to find some
>simple problem. But, it sounds like something more serious... like
>maybe a rotating gear has seized on its' shaft in the tranny.
It wasn't the piston or crank, the bike still runs strong, sounds like
normal. I'll update you some time next week when I hear what the
problem was. Thanks for the insight Pat!
Patrick Riley
Cam Mitchell wrote:
>
> Patrick Riley <ri...@co.intel.com> wrote:
> <snip>
> >It seems to me that someone should discover root cause. It should not be
> >too difficult. It could be that the clutch lever was maladjusted,
> >allowing the clutch to slip right from the beginning. This would burn
> >it up quickly. The other possibility is that something loosened up, ie:
> >the big nut holding the clutch hub, or the bolts holding the springs.
> >The clutch for the 1998 KX-80 is all new, but the design is very similar
> >to the 125. If there is no play in the lever, it should NOT be
> >something loose.
> >Let us all know what the problem is.
>
> The clutch has been ruled out, should have results fairly soon. Must
> be tranny. if you've got any ideas, let me know.. here's what I know:
>
> - Power bogged more and more until wheel stopped spinning
> - shifter clicks into gears, but they all feel like neutral
> - clutch is fine
>
> If that helps any, maybe someone's experienced this and knows the
> problem. I'll update when I hear what it was. Later!
>
Doesn't sound good. Are you sure you didn't seize the piston or
crank?? Assuming it is not a piston/crank seize... I would pull off the
right side cover and examine the shift mechanism, hoping to find some
simple problem. But, it sounds like something more serious... like
maybe a rotating gear has seized on its' shaft in the tranny.
Pat Riley
MX Tuner
>> - Power bogged more and more until wheel stopped spinning
>> - shifter clicks into gears, but they all feel like neutral
>> - clutch is fine
>Doesn't sound good.
>But, it sounds like something more serious... like
>maybe a rotating gear has seized on its' shaft in the tranny.
Yeah, one of the gears on the countershaft. Maybe not enough
clearance. Or if a shim/thrust washer was incorrectly installed.
MX Tuner
Kenneth Murphy
: >Doesn't sound good. Are you sure you didn't seize the piston or
: >crank?? Assuming it is not a piston/crank seize... I would pull off the
: It wasn't the piston or crank, the bike still runs strong, sounds like
: normal. I'll update you some time next week when I hear what the
: problem was. Thanks for the insight Pat!
Has anyone checked the rear brake for stiction? It sounds like it might
have stuck.
: >Pat Riley
: cmit...@uniserve.com / http://users.uniserve.com/~cmitchel
--
O aka Ken Murphy (kmur...@ford.com) Owner/Operator: 98YZ250
<M>erfMan Supported by: Jen, Erin, Acerbis, DNA Racing, Boyesen, Twin Air,
_/ \_ Apex Sports, FMF Racing, Sprocket Specialists, and Slavens Racing
Disclaimer: Don't even pretend you thought I spoke for Visteon/Ford Micro
Kenneth Murphy
: Patrick Riley (ri...@co.intel.com) wrote:
: > DJones7454 wrote:
: > > Merf wrote:
: > >Has anyone checked the rear brake for stiction? It sounds like it might
: > >have stuck.
: >
: > If I remember correctly he said it acts like it is in neutral all the time.
: He originally said tha the bike 'started boggin down'. That is why I am
: guessing that a gear may have seized on a shaft, rather than having a
: broken shaft. The bike could appear to shift OK, but it would have 2
: gears engaged at the same time, when one is supposed to spin free on the
: shaft.
Not being a tranny-guy, I would never had thought about it like that.
Seem though, that if two gears are engaged, of different ratios, a loud
<clunk> would be heard, quickly followed by a slippery floor. At least
that's what I remember from my days in a 67 Chevy pickup that would
often "cross gears". ;)
: Any work yet on final cause??
Cam's the man. He's on vaca at the moment. Hopefully he'll let us
know when he gets back.
: Pat Riley
Patrick Riley
MX Tuner wrote:
>
> >Not being a tranny-guy, I would never had thought about it like that.
> >Seem though, that if two gears are engaged, of different ratios, a loud
> ><clunk> would be heard, quickly followed by a slippery floor. At least
> >that's what I remember from my days in a 67 Chevy pickup that would
> >often "cross gears". ;)
>
>
> I would think if the shift drum were damaged/broken (same with shift
> forks) then it wouldn't feel like it was shifting normally. If one
> gear was seized on the countershaft, it could give this exact symptom.
>
> MX Tuner
On two occasions I had a gear sieze on a shaft in a KX-80 tranny... a
few years back.
It is possible for a broken drum or fork to cause this same behavior
Ithough I think it unlikely).
Pat Riley
MX Tuner
Cam Mitchell
kmur...@chip1.uucp (Kenneth Murphy) wrote:
>
>Has anyone checked the rear brake for stiction? It sounds like it might
>have stuck.
That wouldn't be it, the wheel moves freely when you push the bike.
The problem is the countershaft isn't spinning no matter what gear you
put it in. I'll probably have the rest of the story by the end of the
week guys, have patience :)
>--
> O aka Ken Murphy (kmur...@ford.com) Owner/Operator: 98YZ250
> <M>erfMan Supported by: Jen, Erin, Acerbis, DNA Racing, Boyesen, Twin Air,
> _/ \_ Apex Sports, FMF Racing, Sprocket Specialists, and Slavens Racing
>Disclaimer: Don't even pretend you thought I spoke for Visteon/Ford Micro
--
Dirttrackz
the springs may be to soft,
or the R&D guys designed too much length were the springs are and the springs
cant put enough presure on the plates.
has any one tried a flywheel weight?
can u let out on the clutch lever and keep the engine running?