Suzuki GS550E heavy clutch?

[Steve Bycroft]

I just bought a '79 GS550E, It seems fine but, the clutch is REALLY
heavy and doesn't want to disengage properly, so getting it into neutral
with the engine running is near impossible.
The bike had new friction plates fitted before I got it, and I have
dismantled and re-assembled the clutch assembly to verify it was put
together right, which it was. I have a new cable to fit, in case the old
one is stretchy, and maybe this is causing the problem.

Does anyone here know GS550's from this period, were they noted for
having clutch problems?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Steve

[Dan]

Hey Steve;

I'm just starting to have this problem with an '82 650. As far as I know,
the bike has the original clutch (43K miles) and I'm having a real touchy
time adjusting it between where it drags too heavy and slips.

Since it doesn't seem to be the clutch (yours is real new; mine's real old)
I'm thinking it must be the cable. This got worse, in my particular case,
right after I oiled it up.

Dan.

Steve Bycroft <stev...@net.ntl.com> wrote in message
news:38F7760D...@net.ntl.com...

[pusnboob]

I think that if the springs were changed as well, they can be a lot more
stiff than the stock ones. I changed the plates and springs on my wifes
Virago, and I had to put the old springs back in because they were too stiff
for her.

[frank650]

I had a 78 gs550e for 18 years, loved it!
I don`t know if its the same on the 79s but mine had a clutch
pushrod going through the transmission, I had to replace it
because it was very slightly bent and made the clutch hard to
pull. Make sure the left side clutch cover, the one with the
pushrod mechanism, is on tight. mine would loosen up over time.
have fun!

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[Rich]

Hi,

I suffered with a stiff clutch on anther Suzuki for a long time, until
I got a new cable. Now it's a pleasure to shift.

Rich

Dan <i.d...@like.spam> wrote in message
news:a5QJ4.841$93....@news1.iquest.net...