I assume you've had the clutch lever off to check that isn't corroded and sticking on the pivot pin? My MTS was sticking and had clear salt corrosion in that area -
Definitely something sticking, a tight lever as already suggested, a damaged push rod or o ring on the push rod broken and wedging the rod tight, dirt in the master cylinder stopping the fluid returning after application of the lever. Careful examination and elimination I think. Pumping the lever might just be enough to move it enough to get the clutch to bite. Steve
Checking to see if it's corroded / sticking The pivot lever bolts to the master cylinder bracket - if it's corroded and shitty , clean , lube adjust free play
Do you have standard levers or replacement adjustable ones? Check the lever gives you enough free play? Change it to give the longest throw (further from the bars) and see if this helps.
When you say "engaged", is this a mistype for "disengaged"? Otherwise the sentence does not make sense.
Ah, I see. You use the words engaged and disengaged in the opposite sense to everybody else. Fine, that's up to you, but it does make it rather tricky to diagnose your problem and suggest solutions.
If the clutch is not gripping to provide drive, then the clutch is slipping. They don't usually slip as badly as yours seems to be doing though. If the clutch is so bad it will provide no drive at all, then the clutch could be described as gone but the more usual scenario is to have a clutch that won't disengage and this is where someone would normally be pumping and bleeding. It's very odd that pumping your clutch helps, I can only imagine that pumping it is allowing the plates to move together and grip more. Could some of your bolt threads be stripped, so only a few springs are pushing against the pressure plate??
Sounds to me like the pushrod's jammed up. I don't recall many people having big problems with the clutches on Multis and being a wet one probably puts people off doing any "Black Magic" modifications
Exactly. The pushrod locates in a bearing in the pressure plate, which is holds the friction and plain plates together by means of 6 clutch springs. When you pull the lever, the pushrod transfers the push from the slave on the left to the pressure plate on the right and allows the plates to separate. When you release the lever, the pressure plate is pushed down by the springs and presses the plates together. Something is interfering in that process.
Not exactly the same, there may be a pin through the end of the rod that locates in another part in the slave cylinder that stops it spinning. You only need to replace the seals if they're damaged, the 2 little O rings could have disintegrated causing your woes, I'd lubricate it with a bit of engine oil rather than that grease.
If he pulls the pushrod out from the left, will he ever get it to locate back in the bearing without removing the r/h cover and pressure plate??? Never tried it myself...
Should be able to might be a bit of a fiddle It's gotta come out anyway, worst case would then mean dropping the oil and removing the side casing, no bigee Then the plates shouldn't be worn out
Does the engine oil smell like burnt brakes?, 30 mile round trip with a slipping clutch is going to cause some issues. Do you know any decent competent bike shops where you live?, doesn't need to be a £100 an hour Ducati specialist. Could be a number of things but it sounds like if you've been riding around in all the salt and muck could be corrosion related. You need some free play in the master cylinder push rod for it to release the slave correctly and self adjust but if you haven't fitted any levers or adjusted them recently this should not be your fault. If you take the slave cylinder away from the engine you should be able to push the piston back with your thumbs, if not it's sticking. To be fair if you're not sure how the hydraulics should feel and react it may be best taking it into a shop?.
Excellent news but bear in mind that all that slipping may well have worn or glazed the friction plates. Abnormal amounts of worn friction material could also have contaminated the oil, so get your next oil change sooner rather than later.
Hi.not read all the replies but a just a heads up on the clutch fluid situation. both my Italian bikes suffer from lever fade if the fluid is not renewed regular, piece of cake just crack off the slave nipple 8mm spanner loads of kitchen roll wrapped around just keep filling the master while it uses gravity to purge out the old fluid.a few chamber full will do.5 or 6 mins tops.do it a few times a year. same with brakes front and rear just a little harder...finish off with a little brake cleaner in case the fluid has soaked through onto the bike.
