Advice please, clutch slave I hope not

[Basmaf]

Hi Guys
I am looking for some advice please
I have a 04 Twin spark 1150R with 27K on the clock and have had her for about 2 years and she is just fuggingfantastic
I have always had to pump the clutch from cold about 3 times to get her to engage first, but yesterday I had to pump the clutch about 7 times to get first gear and then set off.
Before coming back I had to do it about 5 times, and again she was cold.
I had and and have no further clutch problems apart from the "from cold" issue and so do not believe there is any trapped air in the system.
I removed the cat 18 months ago and fitted a Y piece and she was dealer serviced 3K miles ago
I changed the gearbox oil last year to the Castrol recommended.
Is it possible I have the dreaded clutch slave issue and will have to replace it or am I just missing something else?

Any advice would be gratefully accepted please

Many thanks

-Basmaf

[timl]

Do you ever have to add fluid? Why do you think there is no trapped air? Have you replaced the fluid recently?

[Basmaf]

I have never added fluid and the level is where it was last year when it was serviced and the fluid was replaced. I have no problems changing gear at all, and am able to freewheel without any problems and can hold the clutch in, and in gear at junctions without trouble. It may just be me being paranoid, but I have suffered all the other common problems, except for the dreaded spline failure listed here.

Many thanks

-Basmaf

[twindave]

I had a similar problem. At a full stop, I was having a difficult time shifting from neutral to first gear. Cleaning and greasing the shift linkage cleared up the problem.

When was the last time the shift linkage was cleaned and lubed? Just a thought.

Do a search here on "shift linkage." I think there is a thread on that topic.

[Basmaf]

Didn't think of that one.
Will make if first job in the morning and let you know how it goes

Thanks for that

[iowabeakster]

Lubing the linkage is a good idea...period. But it might not help with the cold shift from netural.

It doesn't sound like you have the typical clutch slave issue (failed seal in clutch slave). The likely symptoms that the clutch slave seal has failed :

The first thing you might possibly notice is the bike would pull forward, in gear, even with the clutch lever pulled in. This is what would happen if you had air in clutch system, too.

Next, the leaked clutch fluid would spray around around and contaminate the dry friction material... and the clutch would slip (like the friction material was worn out) while applying power. You might not notice the first symptom at all.

That is not at all what you described.

It just sounds like the tranny stops spinning quickly after the clutch is disengaged. It won't shift once the tranny has stopped spinning. The tranny will spin more freely (for a longer period of time) once the oil has warmed up. This is normal.

Either try shifting immediately as you pull in the clutch, or you might want to try another method of shifting into first, when it is cold.

Try these:

Pull in clutch
Apply some downward pressure on the shift lever
Slowly let out clutch

or

Pull in clutch
apply some downward pressure on the shift lever
roll bike slightly forward or backward


Both will work. It'll drop into first with the first rotational movement of the tranny. The rotation can come from the engine, or the rear wheel. No damage, no worries...and it'll work everytime, the first time.

[sweatmark]

Pull in clutch
apply some downward pressure on the shift lever
roll bike slightly forward or backward

Me too. This is the trick, though I confess I sometimes forget that these stupid Getrag oilhead gearboxes are cranky when trying to smash into 1st gear when cold... clutch-push-clutch-push-clutch-push, watching that neutral light blink mockingly at me, until I remember the trick.

This same 1st gear reluctance has been evident with our Rockster, Roadster, R1100R, and R850R. For some reason the R1200C Cruiser just eased into 1st gear no matter what.

[CycleRob]

There's nothing wrong with the slave. From what Basmaf describes, it is only a shift dog alignment issue since the input shaft stops so quickly because of the heavy drag of the cold, thick, tranny oil. The fix is to shift into 1st gear as the clutch lever reaches the handlebar on a quick hand lever squeeze.

So . . . . there's nothing wrong with the bike. It's only a new owner getting acclimated to a Boxer transmission characteristic shared by most all manual transmission cars when they shift into reverse with a cold engine. When the input shaft gear stops and drive tooth meets driven tooth rather than the desired tooth meeting slot, it cannot be shifted into gear. Letting out the clutch and shifting into gear quicker immediately after clutch release solves the mystery dilemma.

.

[Basmaf]

Worked an absolute treat, slips in like, well not exactly like a hot knife throu butter, but you know what I mean. and I have lube the linkage as well. Swwweeeeeeet
Thanks guys

_Basmaf