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dragging clutch, on V7 MK2

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IMP View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote IMP Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: dragging clutch, on V7 MK2
    Posted: 24 Jun 2015 at 16:59
Hi, there

Can anyone advise on a clutch problem, that I am experiencing.

I am having to adjust the clutch cable fairly frequently - around 6 times in the first 900 miles - as it drags severely, when in traffic - once it gets hot.

It does get hot here, now 30 degrees - which obviously is a factor. However, it gets so bad that I can no longer get into neutral and,  even with the clutch fully pulled in, I have to hold it on the brake at traffic lights to stop it moving forward -until I can pull over and use the cable adjuster!

Is this fairly normal and  just happening as a result of the cable stretching?

Comments appreciated!

Ian     Confused
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Ken-Guzzibear Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Jun 2015 at 20:08
Well yes new cable will need adjustment BUT I suggest if the bike is new and under warranty get it to a dealer IF that is NOT the case then slacken the cable at the top end and go through the adjustment from the gearbox end up following every step accurately and finally adjusting the lever making sure the free play is spot on (4mm on the older big block bikes)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote easyr17 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Aug 2015 at 17:47
hi all
 
My new guzzi v7 II stone has similar issues to that described by IMP.
 
The free play on my clutch lever is now too wide even when I have adjusted the nut out to the end.
 
Tried going down to the adjuster on the actuating arm at gearbox end to turn the screw/knobbly-bit on there but there was hardly any room there. I was only able to turn it about 4mm clockwise before I ran out of space!
 
Anyone know if there is a decent tool to make this easier??
 
Al.
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Scousus maximus Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Aug 2015 at 19:30
Welcome to the forum.
I doubt if there's a tool for this but one could easily be made I'm sure. BUT the bike is under warranty so get it back to the dealer to set it up properly. If you do any more and things go wrong you may find the dealer reluctant to help.
Regards,

John
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote easyr17 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Aug 2015 at 21:17
hi
 
Thanks for advice John & a fair point too.
However, I am not too confident about the dealer I bought it from.
 
First day I took it from showroom to ride home, the bike became very temperamental after a few miles. Wouldn't shift up or down, neutral was impossible to find & it kept stalling at the lights. Many times I pull in clutch fully & it did not disengage so bike kept moving forwards still. And sometimes it would just stall immediately I shifted into 2nd gear.
 
I eventually pulled over & got the dealer to come pick it up. Back at base they made adjustments on the clutch lever end, said nothing wrong with it & I rode it home thereafter, stalling about 3 times on way home but not as bad as my first experience with it.
 
On subsequent ride outs I was still having these issues fairly frequently.
 
Found out that I had to adjust the free-play on the clutch lever after every long-ish ride even though I believe I shouldn't have to do that every time. The free play would be 3mm when I rode off but by time I get back it had slackened to about 1.5cm!!
 
Eventually I couldn't adjust the free play anymore coz the nut had been turned back as far as it could go.
 
That's when I had to go down to the adjuster screw at the actuator arm as suggested by various experienced forum members.
 
But it was such an incredible pain to get to that adjuster. Hardly any room to manoeuvre down there. Lots of cursing ensued!!
 
Anyhow, after I made that post on this forum, I went back to have another go & finally did get it to turn 1/4. That immediately took up all the slack in the cable & I was then able to adjust the nut at the clutch lever end properly once again with a 3mm free play.
 
Took it out for a test ride & it rode like a dream. Nice smooth shifts & the Neutral was very easy to shift into at every stop-light. The bike felt completely transformed.
 
Now I'm a happy bunny!
 
Al.
 
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Brian UK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Aug 2015 at 21:51
Just a shame you had to do all that, it should have been set up better in the first place.
Brian.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote easyr17 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Aug 2015 at 23:51
hi brian
 
You are right. It should have been set up better, probably by the manufacturer in Italy before they sent it to the UK.
 
The dealer told me they took it for a 5 mile ride to test it before passing it onto me. Most likely the test ride was a 10min jaunt on quiet uncongested roads which was unlikely to show up any problems.
 
The clutch adjustment issue on guzzi bikes appears to be quite common if you google it.
 
Still, it's a great-looking, great-sounding bike & I woud not swop it for anything else!!
 
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote red leader one Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Aug 2015 at 23:53
Obviously the PDI was not done correctly by the dealer.

Who was it?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Brian UK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Aug 2015 at 00:01
Things like the clutch cable adjustment are left to the dealer to get right before sale.
Brian.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote easyr17 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Aug 2015 at 10:29
hi guys
 
Clutch adjustment is something we should all be able to do ourselves & not have to rely on the dealer. That's just my own opinion. That way I can fine tune it to exactly the way I want it.
 
My previous bikes have always had hydraulic clutches & I've never had any issues with them. This is the first bike I have owned that has a dry clutch.
 
I have noticed that the clutch cable can stretch a little when engine is warm as oppose to when it is cold. This obviously affects the free play. I assume this is one of the characteristics of a dry clutch.
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mike H Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Aug 2015 at 00:20
Get this on the old big blocks, I think it's actually the plates expanding when hot.

Edited by Mike H - 15 Aug 2015 at 00:21
"Chicken nuggets don't dance on a Tuesday."
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote theoneandonly Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Aug 2015 at 11:40
new bike ..in warranty ? TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER .
https://www.facebook.com/BaldricksWorkshop
http://baldricksworkshop.co.uk/

motorcycle slut, if it has wheels and an engine , i will ride it .
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote motopete Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Aug 2015 at 19:32
Hi Ian,
I've just joined this forum, I too bought a new V7 II this year.
 
My experience to date (3 months, 2k miles) is the clutch did start dragging within the first 100 miles, then again at around 400 miles.  Both times I sorted it with a small cable adjustment at the lever end. 
 
After a short while I noticed the clutch operating arm was getting a battering from road grit through the gap between the rear mudguard and swinging arm. On a freshly dressed road a stone actually lodged behind the clutch arm and I felt a horrible crunch when I next pulled in the clutch...
 
Thinking this can't be good, I've fabricated a "curtain" to shield the clutch arm from the rear wheel. It's simply a piece of flexible plastic damp proof membrane held in place by the 2 studs/nuts just inside the mudguard, and runs down in front of the swinging arm.
 
Since installing the shield and spray greasing the arm pivot points, the clutch adjustment had remained constant with no further adjustments required.
 
IIRC the correct adjustment is 2mm free play and the inner end of the lever (I think this is from the handbook). I have to say the clutch operation is very smooth and progressive, better I'm told than the earlier V7.
 
HTH,
Pete.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Brian UK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Aug 2015 at 22:19
A bit of extra protection can only help.
Brian.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mike H Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Aug 2015 at 13:20
Originally posted by theoneandonly theoneandonly wrote:

new bike ..in warranty ? TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER .


He has intimated that he doesn't trust the dealer he got it from. BUT should still be able to take to someone else? Warranty allows that?


"Chicken nuggets don't dance on a Tuesday."
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